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Abby Chauncey, P.E. (well, maybe one day)
Here at ETC, we start training our techical staff quite young!! We’re confident Abby will grow up to be one fine engineer…or doctor…. or property manager….or artist….or princess! Thanks Abby for coming to visit your dad at work today. You’re the nicest thing I’ve seen in his office in a very long time! What’a smile!!!
Say What??!!
All restoration projects require good communication! Whether it’s getting your team together to walk the project or sitting down 
together for regular progress meetings, remember to keep the information flowing amongst your team! Joe & Steve (ETC), Marty& Joel (CWI) and Jim (Webster House) lead by example. It’s not often you don’t see this team communicating!! Keep up the good work boys!
Staying Connected
Structural welding is a very technical craft that must be performed by welders that have been qualified by the American Welding Society. Welds must be properly sized and applied, to safely carry the loads that are to be supported. Just as with all construction trades, welds must be inspected to make sure that they are well performed and are of proper quality. We have run into cases on very old buildings that utilize structural elements with high sulfur content steel that require special welding procedures to ensure a strong connection.
A Window of Opportunity
Now is a good time to finally replace those old drafty and leaky windows, since the weather is 
warm. Our clients have reported as much as a 40% savings on their heating and cooling costs after new windows are installed. Another benefit that we often hear is that the new windows reduce the transmission of outside noise into the living space. Many options exist in the window industry that can improve thermal efficiency and structural capacity so that the windows can resist the Building Code required wind loads. The Building Code requires that coastal regions and high rise buildings utilize windows that are able to resist heavy winds. New windows can also satisfy local historic requirements while offering the improvements of the latest technologies, including low maintenance exterior surfaces.
All Decked Out!!
We are often asked if a building can have a rooftop deck added. These areas are a nice addition to a building and provide a place to view the fireworks, socialize and relax. Many things must be considered when planning the new outdoor space. Typically, roof structures are designed to support snow loads and the weight of the roof covering, which are much less than the “person” load required by Code for a deck. So, often the deck needs to span from structural support to support, such as between bearing walls or columns. Other design considerations to take into account besides deck material options are providing a means to make future roof repairs or replacement under the deck, stair access to the deck and railing systems. Also, some jurisdictions require that the deck be constructed of non-combustible materials.
Well Done Jared!!
Often 
our interns come to us for the chance to “learn-by-example“, but in Jared Freeman’s case… it works both ways!
Jared went to Holland Michigan as a volunteer with Builders for Christ to help construct Holland Baptist Church. Builders for Christ is a Christian ministry consisting of a group of volunteers that venture around the country building churches. The volunteers range in skills and age from retired foremen to young children who have never held a hammer. There is something to do for everyone and there are well practiced veterans (and young engineers) to teach the less knowledgeable.
Each church typically takes a few weeks to build depending on the size. Builders for Christ volunteers for one week of the build, and the rest of the work is accomplished by other similar groups. Each weekly group usually consists of about 75 volunteers.
Thanks Jared for setting such a good example and using your skills for such a worthy cause. We are pleased to have you on staff and look forward to hearing about your next volunteer project.
That Building Jumped In Front of Me!
Vehicles crash into buildings more often that you might think. We usually get called to inspect the resulting structural damage a couple of times a year. Usually, the local authorities condemn the building until a structural engineer makes an inspection and either provides repair details (and the repairs are made) or a letter stating that the building structure has not been compromised. It takes a trained eye to differentiate between structural and non-structural damage.
Limitations for Balconies
We are often asked about weight limitations for balconies, particularly with regard to the allowable sizes and weights of plants that may be put on the balconies. The simple answer is that it depends on exactly how the balcony was designed and built. In general, plants that are placed on balconies should not be so large or heavy
that they cannot be readily moved by the average adult. This would generally mean that an individual plant (with its pot, soil, etc.) should not weigh more than a normal adult (about 200 pounds). Plants with this type of weight limitation can often be placed throughout the balcony surface as long as a clear space of about 2 feet is provided between them.
Please remember that each case may vary. If you are concerned, think about having a structural engineer evaluate your specific planter layout
A Shady Situation!
When making EIFS repairs, you may need to paint the wall to blend the new and old top coat colors and hide the repairs. It is usually not too difficult to make the new patch texture match that on the existing wall. Lighter top coat colors can become darker over time due to dirt accumulation and age.
So the new patch may stand out even though the same color top coat produced by the same manufacturer is used to make the repair. Top coat material of the same color can also vary in shade from batch to batch. Both photos show EIFS repairs, but the darker color is nearly invisible, while the lighter is easily seen.
WHAT IS TOXIC OR BLACK MOLD, AND HOW DOES IT OCCUR?
Various types of mold are always present in the air we breathe, inside the home/office and outside. There are very few documented cases where toxic molds (that contain certain mycotoxins) have been linked to unique or rare health problems.
Strachybotrys is a greenish-black mold that has been identified as a potential health risk, especially for those people with allergies or other conditions such as a chronic respiratory disease. Some people may also be sensitive to more common molds such as Penicillium. Molds naturally grow in indoor environments and can enter buildings through doorways, air-conditioning/heating systems, animals, clothing, etc. Molds need only a little moisture and a nutrient source (such as the paper facing on drywall) to grow and survive. Mold can be found in areas where water intrudes into a building; however carpets, fabric, dust, plant, pots, and other things found in building commonly support mold growth.
Bald IS Beautiful!
Okay…so yesterday I drive to Solomon’s Island for an 8:30am meeting. With four minutes to spare before I’m late, the GPS announces my final destination is to drive straight into the Chesapeake Bay! You can imagine how happy that made me! So with a few choice words and a lot of button pushing, I pulled over onto a sandy area to try and find my map. With that….this amazing fellow, swoops in and lands right next to my car!! He just hangs out (silently bragging that his GPS works much better then mine) grabs a drink, poses for a few photos, then takes off.
Reading the Signs
Signs are everywhere. Often we just need to spend the time to look for them. Buildings sometimes have these signs that tell us problems (or at least potential problems) exist. The 
pictures in this particular blog posting show one example of a sign. The efflorescence or white staining, or as this picture shows – white stalactites, generally indicate that moisture has penetrated into the building component.
By now, I am sure most building owners and managers know that water is BAD when it comes to building components. Water can lead to premature deterioration in concrete, masonry, wood, etc. components. The need to protect or manage this water is critical to the long term performance of a building.
The second picture shows the underlying issues after the outer concrete had fallen – the concrete behind the stalactites was saturated and significantly deteriorated. The needed repair now involves the removal and replacement of the affected concrete.
Please pay attention to your signs or if you need assistance evaluating your signs, please give us a call!