From Our Blog
What Causes Ice Dams on Roofs and How Can I Prevent It?
Many of us who live in the northern states enjoy the change in seasons. We love winter for its beauty after freshly fallen snow and for the outside activities we can experience in the mountains or in our own backyards. But as with many of Mother Nature’s gifts, winter...
What Might Happen If the 2021 Polar Vortex Meets Your Building?
What is the Polar Vortex? What is a polar vortex? While it sounds a bit like a phenomenon from a science fiction movie (remember the 2004 film The Day after Tomorrow?), the term polar vortex has been around for over one hundred years. The following is a quick...
Pocket Wetlands
Most land development and site improvement projects require stormwater management systems. When an impervious area is added (parking lots, buildings, etc.), it alters the site’s natural drainage by increasing surface runoff and adding pollutants to the drainage...
Building Security Design Factors
Rising concern for building security, especially at schools, has led to a growing demand for increased safety measures requiring architectural upgrades. As schools, universities, businesses, and other establishments across the country develop more...
The Building Blocks of Enclosure Evaluation
A major responsibility of building owners and building managers is to ensure that their buildings are as watertight, energy‐efficient, and safe as practical in the present and the foreseeable future. This means investigating and evaluating the building enclosure...
Roof Management Plans
Facility managers are being required to manage more buildings with less staff and budget than ever before. With many buildings to oversee, and less personnel available to stay current, it has become critical to develop organized methods for tracking past, current, and...
Photovoltaics: What You Need to Know Before Installing Solar Panels on Your Roof
With improvements in technology and the variety of federal and private programs providing options for installing photovoltaic (PV) arrays, or solar panels, building owners should be aware of the short- and long-term considerations, including cost implications for...
Porous Pavement
A Potentially Environmentally Sound Drainage Solution Sometimes an “out of the box” solution is needed. The porous pavement (shown on a rainy day) was installed in 2016 in a taxilane between two old T-hangar buildings at a New England airport. It was an...
Asphalt Pavement Evaluation and Management Plan
Timing is everything. Investing in preventative maintenance methods while bituminous/asphalt pavement is still in good condition can save money over the life of the pavement. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommends...
Managing Thermal Bridging in Existing Construction During Retrofit Applications
Are you experiencing problems with your exterior walls, such as damp or stained interior finishes or mold? Are the occupants of your building reporting thermal discomfort in occupied spaces adjacent to exterior walls? Are your building’s energy costs unusually high?...