Process of Repair Evaluation

Case Studies of Translucent Silicone Coating Repairs

Overview

Abstract

As the building stock ages around the country and the consequences of design and/or construction that are deficient or lack resiliency become apparent, it will become a challenge to find comprehensive solutions to address facade maintenance and repairs. Unlike roofing, where an industry standard has been established requiring roofing systems maintenance and periodic replacement, the conversation and practice of replacement or extension of the service life of the facade have not been as extensively developed, much less routinely incorporated into property management planning. One of, if not the most, common facade-related issues is water intrusion. Repairs or rehabilitation of exterior facades to address water intrusion range in complexity and costs and are frequently major financial investments for building owners. In the past, options have included restoration of the cladding finishes, partial isolated repairs, over-cladding, or full reskinning. The selected repair is dependent upon many factors including: the design of the original building, sources and extent of the water intrusion, and ownership priorities, among other things.

This paper discusses the process of addressing facade-related water infiltration at two different projects in Southern California, one originally constructed with adhered thin-brick over a cementitious stucco base coat and the other originally constructed with integrally-colored cementitious stucco. The selected water leakage mitigation method in both cases was to utilize a translucent, surface-applied silicone-based coating over the existing facade. This paper discusses the evaluation process that made this repair option a reasonable and effective solution for these specific projects.


Authors

Photo of Linda Fu, RA, LEED AP

Linda Fu, RA, LEED AP

Associate

Marx|Okubo Associates

linda_fu@marxokubo.com

Photo of Christopher Morgan, P.E.

Christopher Morgan, P.E.

California Office Manager

BC&E LLC

cmorgan@bce-llc.net


Keywords

Introduction

As the building stock ages around the country and the consequences of design and/or construction that are deficient or lack resiliency become apparent, it will become a challenge to find

Access Restricted

Members get unlimited access to all of our resources. Join now for the best value.

Background

Case Study #1 was a property which included two five-story office buildings owned by an institutional client who was interested holding the property and wanted to maintain the resell value

Access Restricted

Members get unlimited access to all of our resources. Join now for the best value.

Evaluation

The evaluation of the repair approach is a key step in the repair process. There are two primary aspects of the evaluation, which are client interests and goals, and the

Access Restricted

Members get unlimited access to all of our resources. Join now for the best value.

Application Procedures and Precautions

In the two case studies, there were application considerations that became crucial to a successful application. Job site and environmental conditions were important for coating type applications and performance. Due

Access Restricted

Members get unlimited access to all of our resources. Join now for the best value.

Conclusion and Future Work

In completing the exterior façade repairs with a translucent silicone coating in Case Studies#1 and #2, the process of evaluation and installation resulted in a successful repair project with success

Access Restricted

Members get unlimited access to all of our resources. Join now for the best value.

Rights and Permissions

All images by authors unless otherwise noted.