We don't expect our environment to maintain a consistent 21-degree Celcius, 55% humidity climate. So what makes us feel comforted indoors or outdoors is quite adaptive, and it's based on circumstance, the expectation of environmental conditions and what we're doing. For example, we use umbrellas when it starts to rain, or we're caught in a downpour; we dress in many layers (sweaters, jackets, toques) when it's cold outside or if you're headed out for a hike or to the beach. If you're exposed to the summer sun's intense UV rays, you would probably put on sunscreen and wear a hat. 

Why Are Building Envelope Remediation Services Important for Your Restoration Project?

We don't expect our environment to maintain a consistent 21-degree Celcius, 55% humidity climate. So what makes us feel comforted indoors or outdoors is quite adaptive, and it's based on circumstance, the expectation of environmental conditions and what we're doing. For example, we use umbrellas when it starts to rain, or we're caught in a downpour; we dress in many layers (sweaters, jackets, toques) when it's cold outside or if you're headed out for a hike or to the beach. If you're exposed to the summer sun's intense UV rays, you would probably put on sunscreen and wear a hat. 

But when it comes to our buildings, homes, and indoor spaces, we expect them to provide thermal comfort and real protection from natural weather elements. And also create a cozy space for us to live in under our ideal circumstances. 

A building's walls, doors, windows, and roofs regulate that temperature. But, in reality, the building's envelope makes that regulated temperature possible. 

(Find more on our general contracting services here: General Contracting - West Coast Building Restoration (wcbr.ca))

A building envelope comprises many elements, including structural integrity and air pressure boundaries. Traditionally, it refers to the roof and walls that can be drawn as a line around your house without going outside or inside. However, it includes things like moisture and temperature control due partly to its function - the physical separator between conditioned interior space and the unconditioned exterior environment. This separation is because forces, such as heat loss, are minimized by controlling what comes into contact with either side of this boundary (i.e., ensuring no holes).

The building envelope is the layer that covers and protects a building. It is important to remember that it's not just one thing- it has many layers. Each part of the building envelope should be seen as a collection of pieces working together for support in any given situation.

Ensuring the design measures up to perfection and that no cracks appear between windows, walls, or any edge is a part of creating a tight building envelope.

This can be tough, especially considering each part of the building's envelope faces a different challenge. 

• Roofs: hit hard with rain, hail, snow, and heat. 
• Walls: strong winds and rain/hail. 
• Foundations: wet, damp earth. 

Building Envelope Functionality Broken Down 

These building envelope components form a barrier to performing four basic but essential functions: Structural support, moisture management, temperature regulation, and airflow. 

1. Moisture Control: Envelope control can regulate moisture transfer which poses a significant danger to building integrity. Moisture must be considered for buildings, not experience decay.
2. Air Control: Controlling airflow is essential in controlling energy consumption, maintaining good indoor air quality, avoiding condensation, and providing comfort.
3. Thermal Control: Building up thermal resistance is an essential aspect of building design, and it's also one that we often overlook. Why? Well, heat rises! If you don't have enough resistance in your building envelope to prevent heat from rising right through the roof, raise your Building Envelope IQ (BEIQ) and prevent money from escaping.

Why Do Building Envelopes Fail?

Few occupants pay attention when the building envelope system is designed and constructed correctly. But when the building envelope fails- even if it was one of the best-built projects. Those failures can include the appealing look to a building destruction, corrosion, poor indoor air quality or energy inefficiencies, which may lead to life-threatening structural failure and eventual litigation – a builder's worst nightmare!

In some cases, subcontractors try to reduce the weight, size and quantity of building envelope components (aluminum, glass etc.) required on a project; this can lead to inadequate performance or capacity in materials specified. This is why hiring the right contractors is essential when updating your building. 

Sometimes, materials will fail to meet the published performance levels. It could be that there was a manufacturing error or mishandling- it's also possible for the product design itself to have the mistakes. For example, sealant adhesion may gradually degrade; laminated glass can experience delamination; metal fatigue is when metals become worn out. Even though what they are expected of these products often depends on statistical data from past measurements-the strength of materials can vary in different ways due to many factors, including climate changes which lead them to be weaker than anticipated.

Poor workmanship is a big problem during construction booms when it is common to find inexperienced, unsupervised, untrained personnel working on projects. It is not uncommon for building envelope components not to be installed per the manufacturing specifications.

Word of advice: Putting the right people in the right job goes a long way toward proper installation, which will also help with profitability!

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Even with a perfect installation, things can go wrong when environmental conditions exceed those anticipated during the design. For example, the effects of strong winds, pouring rain, and extreme temperature fluctuations can overload a properly designed and constructed building envelope causing damage to the system and making it vulnerable to further deterioration or failure.

While failures of this type cannot be stopped in many instances, they can be prevented through routine inspection or maintenance, which will identify minor problems before they become big ones.

Trust West Coast Building Restoration to Get Quality Work Done.

We at West Coast Building Restoration take pride in the work we accomplish, and when it comes to Building Envelope Remediation, we are the service you can rely on. 

West Coast Building Restoration has worked on projects involving Building Envelope Remediation in over five different construction trade sectors. Our projects are performed alongside a Professional Building Envelope Consultant, which ranges in scope from Full-Building Window Replacements, Concrete Repairs, Rough & Finish Carpentry, Waterproofing & Roofing, as well as all Siding and Cladding services.

This is why we are the leading experts in this field and want to hear from you about your next project that needs attention. So get it done right with us at WCBR. 

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