We value buildings because they provide shelter and protect us from exterior elements like water, air, and noise – and that protection is exactly what a properly maintained building envelope provides.
Why Building Envelopes are Important to Maintain
Think of the building envelope as the armor of a building. A poorly maintained building envelope can let in issues that quickly compound like water leaks, airflow complications, and other problems with structural integrity. These issues may worsen if left unchecked. Water leaks lead to mold and airflow issues causing buildings to poorly retain energy.
Mold can create poor air quality and cause rot, which could possibly compromise the structural integrity of the building. A building envelope with high air leakage means higher energy bills for the building’s owners or tenants and uncomfortable conditions for the building inhabitants.
Building Envelope Consultation in New or Existing Construction
Hiring a qualified building envelope consultant to examine and analyze each component of the building envelope can help protect your building from these issues – during or after its construction.
When you hire a building envelope consultant, they will go on-site to examine all of the components of a building envelope for proper performance in accordance with industry standards including:
- exterior glass curtain walls and storefronts
- windows and doors
- wall systems
- roofs and skylights
- balconies
- and at-grade and below-grade slabs, foundations, and basements
The building envelope consultant then collaborates with architects, building owners, and construction companies to create a building envelope that can withstand and protect the facility from the surrounding environment’s exterior elements.
A consultant can provide much more value than just preventative measures though. They also investigate any ongoing issues, such as water infiltration, and provide remedial design in existing construction. The remedial design process includes developing the scope of repair, obtaining bids, overseeing repairs, and providing construction management services.
A building envelope consultant is also integral during the new construction phase. As an independent, third-party contractor, the consultant ensures that all building envelope systems are installed in accordance with design documents, code requirements, manufacturer specifications, and industry standards.
Hiring a building envelope consultant can be the difference between a leaky, drafty, and energy-inefficient building and a dry, comfortable, and energy-efficient building. With specialized knowledge, experience, and understanding of the latest advancements in building envelope technologies, a consultant is well worth the investment to avoid costly repairs or damage in the future. While the value of protecting a building can be worth millions of dollars, our building owners also can consider the peace of mind a well-protected building provides.
