2011-05-06 Walls & Ceiling

Feast your ears
on this
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May 2011
Volume 74, Issue 5
The Voice of the Industry Since 1938

WC03114CERTCEIL-CC.indd 1
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING ENVELOPE ISSUE
2/17/11
FOUR? SCORE.
National Gypsum introduces e2XP Tile Backer, the nal piece of the puzzle for extended exposure
berglass-faced gypsum panels.
T le
Ti
e Bac
acke
kerr
ke
Designed for use as a substrate for interior tile applications in high moisture areas, e2XP Tile Backer
is the perfect t for interior residential and commercial applications.
To learn more about our complete family of e2XP products, including Sheathing, Shaftliner, Interior
Extreme and Tile Backer, visit purplechoice.info.
Technical Info: 1-800-NATIONAL

or visit nationalgypsum.com
//
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Please Circle #328 On Reader Action Card
18
28
may
columns
06
Up Front
by Mark Fowler
44
Finish Line
by Robert Thomas
46
Straight Green
by Chris Dixon
49
Trowel Talk
by William E. Rogers
departments
10
Trade News
16
Product Focus
55
Toolbox
56
Classied Marketplace
57
Advertiser Directory
Volume 74, Issue 5
T University of Pennsylvanias
The
English House was one of three
recent projects by Runyan &
AAssociates Architects where
w
window replacement supports
campus sustainability efforts.
Photo by Matt Wargo
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING ENVELOPE ISSUE
18 Looking Toward the Future

Architects put new windows into old buildings at the University
of Pennsylvania.
24 Air Cavities as Continuous Insulation

Open spaces are used as a form of continuous insulation to meet
new energy codes.
28 Waterproofing/Rainscreen Special
Section: Building Envelope Transitions
Owners, designers and contractors can work together to
weatherproof buildings.
32 Breathe Deep
Structural insulated panels give builders alternatives and owners
good savings on utilities costs.
36 For the Birds

A new product works to keep Woody and the other
woodpeckers out of your cladding system.
40 A Concrete Solution
on the cover
May 2011
features
VO L U M E 7 4 N U M B E R 5
| Walls & Ceilings | May 2011
A good plasterer or faux nisher is 90 percent ready to do

wonders with vertical concrete.
52 New Product Buzz Guide
ON THE WEB

www.wconline.com
Breaking News
W&C Blogs
Web-only Features
Special Sections
W&C Architect
W&C Digital Edition

Media Kit
Facebook
White Papers/
Case Studies
Readers can download the mobile

app to snap the mobile tag at
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INSTALLATION
SY ST EMS
Between us, ideas become reality
armstrong.com/axiom5wc
1 877 ARMSTRONG
up
FRONT
BY MARK FOWLER
Sometimes, Just
Walk Away
I was a plastering contractor during the last horrible
recession of the late-70s. Work was so scarce that we
even bid for one of the more notorious developers in our
area. Even knowing this particular developer was infamous
for burning subcontractors,
r u n n i ng a projec t site w it h no
regard for proper sequence and
avoiding retention payment, we felt
we had to bid his work. We bid the
work high, believing if we got the
job for that price it would be worth
it. To our surprise, the purchasing
agent called and said that they
would like to give us four projects
that we bid. After reviewing the
bids with a fine-tooth comb, I knew
we could keep our guys going and
hopefully turn a decent profit
even without the retention paidif
the job would be run reasonably
right. That turned out to be the
missing if.
THE BIG IF
The contracts came in, and to no
surprise, they were 100 percent
one-sided in the developers favor.
It was what I referred to as a hammer and nail contract, and you
can guess who the nail was. I must
have had a dozen meetings over the
contract language. I heard all the
phrases we know too well, such
as, No one ever complains about
that clause or Our lawyer says
that has to be in there. We have all
heard it before. I eventually got the
contracts to a place I believed was
fair, so we signed and got started on
two of the projects.
The first project was run by a
rookie, g reen superintendent
who was short on knowledge and
long on a r roga nc e. We foug ht
daily on just about ever y thing.
I remember thinking, What we
do to keep our guys working is

not really worth it. The second
larger project was about ready for
the scratch coat of cement. When
I arrived the day before we were
scheduled to start pumping, I had
to inform Grizzly Adams (not his
name, just how he looked) that the
project was not ready.
CANT START
No windows were in. There was no
water in the buildings. There were
trenches everywhere and those were
just the start of the problems. Grizzly felt confident as he pulled his
standard hammer and nail contract
from his desk and read it to me.
I went to my truck and brought
back the real contract that said
windows had to in place; we were
to have water at every building and
there would be no working around
trenches. His face went red and he
threw my briefcase out of his trailer
into the parking lot. As I was walking away he screamed at me, You
will never finish this job!
He was right; I did not finish the
job. The lawyers argued for weeks
and we got paid for most of what
we did minus legal fees. As news
of the incident spread through
their company, the other green
superintendent was feeling good
when he told me, You are the worst
plastering contractor I have ever
worked with.
REALLY?
I a s ke d , H ow m a ny pl a s t e r ing contractors have you worked
w it h? He ad m it ted t here h ad
b
been
only three. I replied Well,
I have worked with hundreds of
g
general
contractors and you are
w
without
a doubt the worst I have
e
ever
worked with.
A few months later, I read in the
n
newspaper
this same developer had
t
trouble
selling some premium homes
in the local beach community. He
came up with creative financing
to potential buyers. Basically, he
played middle man to the bank. The
problem was this slime ball never
sent any of the homebuyers money
to the bank. He filed bankruptcy
and the home purchasers were all
evicted, lost their down payments
and any monthly payments made
to him. The story made the evening
news as he was charged with a host
of crimes.
LEARN AND GROW

A few years later I was asked to
bid a stucco job on a very large
apartment complex that was being
converted to condominiums. As I
walked the massive project, I saw
notices were attached to several
of the front doors. They were all
being evicted. W hen I got back
to my office I wanted to research
this developer. I was not terribly shocked to find out it was my
old friend Grizzly Adams. When
I called the main office, he was
there. To my surprise, he was actually thinking I would provide a bid
on this project.
I know I am not the only one
who experiences this stuff; I just
get to write about it. The point of
this story is to underscore that a
contract is important but if the
character of the person you are
contracting with is rotten to the
core, the work is simply not worth
it even if you think you have a
good, ironclad contrac t. I f the
person is scum, just do yourself a
favor and walk away.
2011 SPEC MIX, INC.
PA1000
2009 SPEC MIX INC.
2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084

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Contributing Editors:
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Bob Drury Executive Director, NWCB
Michael Kwart Executive Director, ICAA
Michael Gardner Executive Director, Gypsum Association
Steve Pedracine Executive Director, Minnesota Lath & Plaster Bureau
Jon Mooney President, Acoustics by J.W. Mooney
Elizabeth Steiner Executive Director, ICFA
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
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WALLS & CEILINGS (ISSN 0043-0161) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP
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Walls & Ceilings is the official publication to CLAPCA, FWCCA and NWCB.

Metal Trim
Roll And Brake Formed Metal Plaster Stops,

Expansion Joints And Control Joints
Galvanized Copper Zinc Stainless Steel Aluminum
Decorative accessories for
plaster, drywall, moisture
protection, ventilation and
other applications.
Radius curves, corners and
custom fabrication.
Call 1-87-Stockton
For More Information!
2011 Stockton Products. All rights reserved worldwide.
Galva
nized
Zinc
Copp
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Complete line of extruded

aluminum trims for stucco
and drywall. Custom shapes,
curving and special
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teel
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Standard & Custom Reveal Moldings For Stucco & Drywall

Clear Anodized Alodine/Chem-Film Kynar Paint Color Anodized
Alum
inum
"Trims And Moldings For Every

Application, Inside And Out"
Extruded Aluminum
Plaster And Drywall
Moldings
Metal Vent And
Reveal Moldings
Casing Beads And
Plaster Stops
Moisture Protection
Trims
Custom Fabrication
Curving And Custom
Trim Designs
Available Through Factory
Authorized Dealers Only.
Call For The Dealer
Nearest You.
TRADENEWS
CALENDAR
MAY
12-14 AIA
New Orleans
www.aia.org
JUNE
22-24 PCBC
Moscone Center
San Francisco
www.pcbc.com
22-25 TLPCA/SCWCPA
Hyatt Regency Hill Country
Resort & Spa
San Antonio
www.tlpca.org
JULY
15-16 FWCCA SOUTHEASTERN
CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW
OMNI Hotel at Champtions Gate
Orlando, Fla.
www.fwcca.org
SEPTEMBER
13-16 CONSTRUCT/TFM 2011
McCormick Place
Chicago
www.constructshow.com
22-24 ICAA ANNUAL CONVENTION
& TRADE SHOW
Contemporary Resort
Orlando, Fla.
www.insulate.org
OCTOBER
4-7 USGBCS GREENBUILD 2011
Toronto, Ontario
www.greenbuildexpo.org
For additions or corrections to our
Calendar, please call (248) 244-6404.
10
QSI CONTRIBUTES TO
RE-BUILDING IN HAITI
Quality Systems Inc. has announced
that the PermaCrete product line
is being used in Haiti by its Ayiti
distributor to resurface the exteriors
of thousands of small new houses
being built in this country by various relief agencies to provide shelter
and living quarters for the homeless
people of Haiti who have endured
squalid conditions since the devastating earthquake a year ago destroyed
more than 300,000 residences and
commercial buildings.
The new PermaCrete surfaces
in custom Haitian colors created by
QSI, over the plywood and block
structures originally intended as
temporary housing, have now created permanent residences for the
Haitian people and allowed them
to truly begin the difficult task of
stabilizing their devastated and
economically-deprived Caribbean
country, said George Henderson,
president and CEO of QSI. The
bare surfaces of the structures were
initially coated with [a] waterproof
membrane before being completely
resurfaced with two applications of
PermaCretes roadway matrix products, which included an embedded
berglass mesh to greatly strengthen
and protect the buildings from future
earthquake and hurricane disasters
giving them an expected usable life of
over 10 years.
This will be a continuing project
for years to come in one of the most
difficult humanitarian assistance
projects undertaken, and were grateful for the opportunity to contribute
a viable solution towards the critical
housing needs of the Haitian people, Henderson said.
GBCI ENDORSES NCCERS SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR

The National Center for Construction Education and Research
announced the endorsement of its
Sustainable Construction Supervisor Training and Certication Pro-
gram by the Green Building Certication Institute.

The GBCI is pleased to endorse
NCCERs Sustainable Construction
Supervisor Training and Certification Program, said Beth Holst, vice
president of credentialing for GBCI.
The demand for sustainable buildings is quickly transforming our
built landscape. There are currently
over 29,000 projects registered with
GBCI that are seeking LEED certication. These projects need construction professionals on the job who
are armed with an in-depth understanding of green construction practices. The Sustainable Construction
Supervisor program recognizes the
vital role of construction professionals in the implementation of green
building practices and design, and
it delivers relevant training to the
individuals who work on LEED and
other green projects.
This program includes a training
module that was developed for sustainable construction management
for supervisors and a related certication exam. To further the importance of this program, the module
has also been approved by the U.S.
Green Building Council for 20 general and LEED specic (BD+C, ID+C,
and O+M) continuing education
hours for credential maintenance.
GBCI is proud to stand behind
NCCERs leadership in the realm of
green construction education as they
raise the bar for the construction
industry, Holst said.
RADIUS TRACK INTRODUCES FREE

ONLINE CALCULATOR
Radius Track Corp. has introduced
a free new online tool to quickly calculate radius and arc lengths at the
click of a button.
When you need an exact radius, arch length or even cord length
measurement, you need accurate
results. Complicated math equations
are tiresome when youre in the eld
and need a fast answer, said Chuck
Mears, AIA, CEO of Radius Track.
WHAT AMERICAS MADE OF

.
We helped a timeless classic stay timeless.

When the historic Miami Womans Club needed renovation, QUIKRETE products helped
restore the building to its original textured stucco facade. Over 50 bags of QUIKRETE Fast
Set Repair Mortar were used for structural repair. And over 1,700 bags of QUIKRETE Base
Coat Stucco were used to match the original Mediterranean exterior. Its further proof
that no matter what youre building, QUIKRETE has everything you need to keep pouring.
And with over 90 manufacturing plants, we can speed hundreds of high-performance
products right to your jobsite. QUIKRETE even offers technical support. For a free
construction product guide, visit QUIKRETE.COM or call 1-800-282-5828.
TRADENEWS
To use, simply enter any two of the
following measurements: arc radius, cord height or cord length, and
the tool calculates the rest. The output measurements can also be easily
printed and taken to the job site.
ON CENTER SOFTWARE
ACADEMIC PROGRAM OFFERS
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
On Center Software announced its
2011 Academic Program Scholarship
is now open to applicants. The scholarship will be awarded to a univer-
sity student currently enrolled in a

construction-engineering program at
an accredited U.S. school.
A $1,000 scholarship will be
awarded to one student during
both the fall and spring semesters
of each academic year. To apply for
the upcoming fall semester, students
must complete a case study using
the companys Quick Bid and/or
On-Screen Takeoff programs, and
submit it before May 31, 2011. Free
trial software licenses are available
for students who wish to partici-
The leader in high-performance drywall corner solutions.
NO-COAT
Structural Laminate
Drywall Corner System
NO-COAT wins
the corner bead
smackdown!
BNP MEDIA CONTRACTOR

SERIES SLIDE SHOW
Walls & Ceilings publisher BNP
Media has created a site specically for contractors success stories,
called Moving On, which was
launched last fall. A new slide show
has been created to showcase what
submissions have been received to
date. Please visit www.bnpmedia.
com/movingon.
The magazine is still asking companies to submit their stories by uploading them online. Visit the site and
click enter story. Answer six short
questions. Then upload a photo of
you or your management team. Once
its entered, well conrm receipt.
DOW DEVELOPS POLYMERIC FLAME

RETARDANT TECHNOLOGY
Metal Bead
NO-COAT
Metal corner bead fails when it really counts.

Why? Because the issue is not how strong it is, its
how well it stands up to impacts. Metal bead dents
and twists. Plastic bead cracks. NO-COAT is resilient.
Its paper-plastic-paper composite holds up to severe
impacts and wont dent, crack or rust. But dont take
our word for it, go to www.no-coat.com to see for
Distributed by
yourself and get a free sample.
www.grabberman.com
12
pate, because it is On Center Softwares goal to provide the next

generation of construction professionals with the tools they need to
succeed in the industry.
The winner of the On Center Software Academic Program Scholarship
will have his/her case study published
on www.oncenter.com and it will be
showcased within universities across
the U.S.
For a complete list of rules and
requirements, please contact the
companys Academic Program representatives at educator@oncenter.com.

Dow Global Technologies LLC,

a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Co., announced the invention
and development of a new, high
molecular weight brominated polymeric flame retardant. The Polymeric FR is a flame retardant for
use in both extruded polystyrene
and expanded polystyrene foam
insulation applications globally.
The development of the technology
is the result of the companys continuing search for more sustainable products and in this case for
a flame retardant that can replace
hexabromocyclododecane.
DGTL also announced the first
license agreement with Chemtura
Corp. This first license agreement
makes it possible for Great Lakes
Solutions, a Chemtura business, to
produce and sell the newly developed
Polymeric FR for use in XPS and EPS
foam. DGTL is currently engaged in
Product: Ecophon Master

Solo S Free Hanging Units
Project: Sly Fox Brewhouse
& Eatery, Phoenixville, PA
Contractor: Benner &
White Construction, Inc.,
Harleysville, PA
Feast your ears

on this
M E E T EC O PH O N M A S T E R S O LO S
- A free-hanging, high density berglass panel with superior
sound absorption on all sides for enhanced acoustical control.
- Ideal for schools, ofces, restaurants, or any other space
where the look of an open ceiling is desired but acoustics
are a concern.
- Great for use in pre-existing or new spaces where traditional
grid and tile systems are not feasible or desired.
- Simple components make for an easy installation
in any environment.
- Simple integration of lighting components.
The Ecophon Master Solo S system

was easy to assemble and install, which
simplied this process. Its a good system
and it worked out really well for us.
Tyrone Deschler, ceilings superintendent
for Benner & White Construction, Inc.
With Ecophon Master Solo S, we were

able to solve our acoustical problem while
not interfering with the big, open look that
we wanted in our ceilings. The new ceiling
looks dynamite.
Pete Giannopoulos, owner of Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery
ooVWj?jjaWV]M~Wj?jjaW
-##!V.!V0- V8!#8.V
!V-!V !

!.20#!V:+.2 VCEILINGSV#2!0#!.V++
TRADENEWS
advanced licensing discussions with
several other interested companies
and expects to nalize these agreements by the end of the year. DGTL
expects this will enable global supply
security, foster market competition
and help facilitate a smooth industry
conversion to the new technology as
EPS and XPS manufacturers adopt
Polymeric FR, thereby becoming the
new global standard.
To enable formulation optimizations and market qualications, it is
expected that Polymeric FR licensees

will have interim quantities available throughout 2011. This will be
followed, likely in 2012, by large
plant construction by the licensees,
making significantly larger commercial volumes available by 20132015 that are in line with the current HBCD market demand. This
should allow the global polystyrene
foam insulation industry to make a
smooth transition, as national regulations are implemented.
Further updates and statements

will be shared by DGTL and DGTL
licensees in the future.
SMDI ROLLS OUT NEW SITE

The Steel Market Development
Institute has launched a new Web
site, www.smdisteel.org. The site
provides information about the
North American steel industrys
market applications, research and
reports on new product advancements and the industrys commitment to sustainability. Highlights of
the site include:
Updates on advanced high-strength
steel research in the automotive
market, including new technologies
being utilized in automotive applications, such as body structures,
wheels, bumpers and fuel tanks.
Easy access to research, design aids
and training opportunities in the
construction market.
Fast facts on the benefits of steel
packaging and access to research on
the nutritional benefits of canned
food in the container market.
Expanded focus on the environmental and sustainable advantages of steel, which go beyond steel
being the most recycled material
on the planet.
A feature on the site is the global
navigation bar at the top of the page
that enables visitors to move across
the steel network of Web sites. The
site also features a media center,
events area, online store and a place
to access protected content reserved
for SMDI investors. W&C
SPACKLE BY DAVE COVERLY
14

product
FOCUS
on
Trims and Moldings

Moldings for indirect
lighting applications
ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS
BY OUTWATER LLC
The companys architectural molding and
millwork offers economically priced, 100
percent recycled green cornice and crown
moldings that have been specically designed
for use with indirect lighting. Manufactured to
accept a variety of cove molding light xtures
without causing scalloped or uneven light dispersion and illumination, the moldings
can also be used as a traditional cornice or crown molding without lighting if desired.
If you read this article, please circle number 350.
Ornamental trim moldings

JAMES HARDIE
The HardieTrim Crown Molding is a highly
durable and dimensionally stable trim
accessory that can be used as window
ornamentals and to enhance the design of the
roof line. The moldings are available in two
profile sizes: 3 and 5 inch. The products
are manufactured as part of the HardieZone
System that provides exterior products with
specic performance attributes relative to the climate where the product is being
used. The moldings perform well in all climates, which allow the product to
maintain long-term aesthetics compared to wood. Also, unlike PVC trims, the
moldings are dimensionally stable while PVC expands and contracts with change
in temperatures. The products come with a 15-year limited, transferable product
warranty. These can be used in various applications such as a decorative trim
transition from frieze board to soft, window headers or as a gable trim accent.
Bullnose cornerbead
TRIM-TEX
The companys Mud Lock Technology
is revealed with the new Mud Set Bead
Product Line. These cornerbeads feature
patented Mud Lock Technology with
350 percent more bonding surface at a
lower cost. The beads will not dent or
blister and absorb extreme impact. The
engineered hole pattern allows excess
mud to flow through and quickly selflevel the bead, saving time and money.
All beads are rust proof and do not
promote mold growth. The Mud Set
Bullnose Cornerbead matches all 3/4inch R. Bullnose Archways, accessories
and tools. Mud Lock Technology assures
no cracks or call backs and is compatible
with most hoppers and roller tools.
Flexible trims and moldings

ZAGO
The company is expanding its product offering and
introducing a new line of decorative flexible trims and
mouldings to meet the needs of todays residential, design
and building marketplace. These products provide the look
of carved wood without cracking, rotting or chipping and can
be used indoors or outdoors in place of, or as an accessory to,
wood. The Trim EZ Pro Series trims and moldings are custom
made and easily bent or shaped for any curved or rounded
decorative need, such as base molding on rounded walls,
curves on crown moldings or casing on arched doorways
and openings and custom window treatments. They are low
maintenance and can be painted or stained to create any
desired nish and compliment any room. Made from a high
quality polymer composite, the nished products are free of VOC emissions and no
trees are lost in the process.
16
Paper-faced exible
corner trim
PHILLIPS MFG.
RollPRO paper-faced exible corner trim
is an easy to use product for drywall
nishing. This product features a paperfaced corrosion-resistant flexible vinyl
that exes to any corner angle for quick,
professionally nished inside and outside
corners. The product is perfect for irregular
drywall intersections and provides a
smooth consistent finish with superior
mud and paint adhesion. This product
features proprietary high strength paper
with durable fibers promoting high wet
and tear strength. RollPRO is available in
3 inch width and comes in 100-foot rolls.
Add some speed at the tile backer position.

When your team hits the showersor the kitchen
Diamondback Tile Backer will add speed to your game.
Diamondbacks unique textured pattern and coating help grip tiles to prevent
slippage during installation
X Lighter weight than traditional cement or glass-mat gypsum backer boards
X No need to install additional vapor barrier
X Scores and snaps like regular gypsum board
X
800-233-8990 www.certainteed.com
ROOFING SIDING TRIM DECKING RAILING FENCE FOUNDATIONS
GYPSUM CEILINGS INSULATION PIPE
future
look ing toward the
he University of Pennsylvanias
advocacy of sustainable design
extends from LEED ratings targets
for all new building projects to collaborative efforts between the Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services, the campus community and
the City of Philadelphia. Campuswide environmental planning for the
built environment has included the
reuse of materials and installation
of green roofs. The strategic examination of university buildings and
implementation of improvements for
long-term energy and operational
efficiency have also been performed.
Three window replacement projects reflect energy savings measures
and green building principles that
the University of Pennsylvania has
been actively pursuing. As part of
18
Runyan & Associates Architects design long-term energy

efficiency into three University of Pennsylvania windowreplacement projects. By Amanda Gibney Weko
the Kings Court-English College

House complex, English House was
built in 1960 as a nursing student
dormitory. Its mid-century International Style design was by architects Schmidt, Garden, and Erikson.
The 1941 Cret Chemistry Building is
the oldest surviving wing of the original chemistry complex. The Sigma
Chi Fraternity House, built in 1884
as a residence for James W. Paul, Jr.
and Frances Katherine Drexel, exemplifies late 19th century residential
architecture. The three projects represent different architectural eras,
window details and challenges; how-
ever, all three share an architectural

approach to window replacement in
an historic campus context.
THE INS AND OUTS

Runyan & Associates Architects of
Philadelphia led design for all three.
We looked at each project from the
inside-out, as well as the outside-in,
says principal, C. Stanley Runyan,
AIA. The Runyan team included Jean
McCoubrey, AIA, LEED AP and Matthew Yoder, who managed the projects
internally along with the universitys
project managers and under the guidance of its Design Review Committee.
May 2011 | Walls & Ceilings |
19
look ing towa r d the
future
The best example of Runyans

approach was in the renovation of
English House, where half-century
old aluminum windows with single-pane glass contributed to excessive heat loss in winter and heat
gain in summer. The slider system
was hard to operate and large, clear
openings presented both a security threat and fall hazard. To complicate the replacement, original
fin-tube radiators were attached to
the window wall system. In order
to replace the windows, the heating system also required an update,
which presented an opportunity to
offer individual thermostats in each
room and improved energy efficiency. Exterior concrete restoration
was a related project component.
Runyan called in Bruce E. Brooks
& Associates for MEP engineering on
20
English House, who consulted on both

the new heating system and window
glazing selection. Mechanical engineer
Joe Matje, PE, LEED AP, developed a
computer model using Carriers Hourly Analysis Program to analyze three
different types of glazing, rating them
good, better, and best based on lifecycle and first-time costs. PPGs Solarban 60, a low-E solar control glass
with 22 kBTU/square-foot per year,
was chosen for combined performance
and price benefit.
We did a mock-up of the glass and
the new fin tube, Matje says. It was
useful both to see how the new systems would look in the dorm rooms
and to elicit comments from the university and the design team. In addition to the new fin-tube system, individual energy metering was installed
on the campus steam loop.
Upon selection of the glazing and

awning-style, top-hinged aluminum
Wausau Windows (3250-H Heritage
Series), the Runyan team proposed
a slightly modified mullion spacing.
The original mullion pattern could
not be replicated, but the university wanted the new configuration
to maintain the horizontality of the
original scheme and the translucency
of the lower fixed window panels.
Twelve iterations of mullion configurations were presented and reviewed.
McCoubrey explained that functionality and interior sightlines were
studied carefully. The final design
maintains the three-part bay configuration of the original, but adds
vertical mullions for a more complex
visual aesthetic. Since the building
does not include central air-conditioning, the university extended its
typical window-opening limit from
4 to 8 inches to ensure adequate ventilation in compliance with building
code requirements.
Superintendent and construction project manager for INTECH
Construction Paul DeFeo managed the English House project. He
cited accurate field measurements
and proper cleaning and preparation prior to window installation
as keys to success. The team surveyed dorm rooms during spring
break before the summer construction schedule. The window system,
which sits directly on the concrete
floor slab and extends to the slab
above, arrived in sections that slid
into a track.
I was impressed how the system
went together, says DeFeo, adding that the installers, GMI, performed well.
CRACKS CORRECTED
Exterior envelope repairs to spalling and cracking concrete were corrected with input from exterior consultant, Edwards & Company, and
using Conproco repair mortars and
coatings from Capricorn Industrial
Sales. The goal of concrete restoration was to maintain color and
texture of the natural concrete while
protecting it from further deterioration, says McCoubrey.
Window replacement at English
House was completed in the summer of 2009. The new, energy-effi-
STEEL FRAMING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
look ing towa r d the
future
cient window and heating systems

reduce solar gain, increase thermal
comfort, and provide a refreshed
look to the building. When combined with a green roof added a few
years earlier, the dormitory demonstrates how environmentally-friendly
design can be economic as well.
Runyan took a similar approach to

the Paul P. Cret Wing of the Chemistry Building, where new energyefficient aluminum windows were
specified to replace original steel
casements. Completed in 2005, the
project addressed both energy consumption and interior environmen-
tal control issues through window

replacement. Within the laboratories, it is even more important
to have weather-tight windows to
provide for controlled environmental conditions, says Stan Runyan.
EFCO Corp. Model 590 aluminum
windows with a fluoropolymer finish were specified because their profiles closely match steel sash profiles.
Unkefer Brothers Builders of Philadelphia was the projects contractor.
In 2010, the Penn chapter of the
Sigma Chi Fraternity approved a
complete window restoration and
replacement project for its 1884
chapter house. Runyan & Associates
Architects designed a multi-phased
restoration for the entire exterior
envelope. Sigma Chis former DrexelPaul Mansion is listed on Philadelphias Register of Historic Places and
required submissions and reviews
with the University of Pennsylvanias
Design Review Committee, its Cultural Resources Subcommittee and
the City of Philadelphias Historic
Preservation Commission staff.
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22
Oversized original single-pane

wood windows were restored by
Chestnut Hill Windows of Philadelphia, Pa. Employing a unique process
of sash removal, routing and insertion of insulated glazing, the firm was
able to maintain 75 percent of the
original wood, refurbish all hardware
and replicate the historically-correct
exterior muntin patterns and paint
colorsall in accord with historic
commission guidelines. Contractors
Murphy-Quigley Company of Bala
Cynwyd, Pa. handled those windows
that required complete replacement.
Prefinished Kolbe & Kolbe Magnum
and Heritage Series wood windows
were selected and approved by the
Historic Commission. The windows
included K-Kron factory finish with
custom wood casings.
A n ac c elerated su m mer construction schedule for restoring
or replacing 70-plus windows was
complicated by the fact that nearly
every window has a different shape
and size. In addition, ornate leadedglass windows were restored and
amended with custom storm sashes.
The project exemplifies a successful use of contemporary standards
for energy and functionality while
maintaining respectful deference
to the houses historic exterior and
interior common areas. The university will monitor energy savings as
a result of the updates to inform
future reinvestment.
These three projects support the

goals and objectives outlined in our
Climate Action Plan, which strives to
reduce the universitys carbon footprint and enhance its overall sustainability, says Penns University Architect David Hollenberg, AIA. The
Runyan team was diligent in honoring the design of our buildings while
bringing them up to date operationally. Regardless of building age
whether 19th century, early 20th
century or mid-centurywindow
replacements and associated improvements can impact both energy efficiency and building longevity. W&C
Amanda Gibney Weko is a writer
and communication consultant
to Philadelphias design community. She regularly contributes to AIA Philadelphias
journal Contex t, and
has written for several construction and
trade magazines.
If you read this article,

please circle number 358.
Air Cavities
AS CONTINUOUS INSULATION
W
it h cha ng i ng energ y code

requirements, as represented
in ASHR AE 90.1 or Californias
Title 24, designers, engineers and
contractors are facing practical challenges trying to meet these higher
standards. One approach that is
prescribed is the use of continuous
insulation on the outside of building
framing. While this approach does
increase the insulating value of walls
and reduces losses through thermal
bridging, especially with steel framing, there is another option.
The incorporation of an air cavity or the concept of a double skin
is not unique as air is known to be
a good thermal insulation material and the concept has been utilized since the earliest of times. The
24
The use of air gaps or cavities as a form of continuous

insulation and an alternative to rigid foam exterior insulation strive to meet new energy code demands.
By William Spilchen P.E.
Persian civilization utilized passive

cooling systems as early as 3000
BC and became more sophisticated with the development of windcatchers. I n more recent times,
double skin faade buildings were
built in the U.S. and Europe in the
1970s during the first energy crisis
to improve building energy performance. The double skin faade is a
system consisting of two glass skins
placed apart in such a way that air
flows in the intermediate cavity.
The ventilation of the cavity can

be natural or fan supported. The
origin and the destination of the
air can differ depending on climatic conditions, building orientation
and HVAC strategy.
FREE AIR
One of the key advantages of the air
gap concept is that air is free. Further
benefits are that the air cavity can be
controlledclosed for heating cycles
and open for cooling cycles. Air gaps
3/8"
3/8"
Air gap
R = 2.5 for heating
R = 6 for cooling
3 "
Air gap
R = 2.5 for heating
R = 6 for cooling
5 "
Stucco "
Stucco "
Kraft paper
Kraft paper
Aluminum foil
Aluminum foil
Self forming cavity lath
Self forming cavity lath

24"
Outside air film
16"
Outside air film
Weather resistant barrier

(WRB) and air barrier
Weather resistant barrier

(WRB) and air barrier
DensGlass sheathing
DensGlass sheathing
F/G batt
F/G batt
Steel studs
Steel studs
" Drywall
" Drywall
Inside air film
Inside air film
are generally created by applying

the cladding over spacers or furring
strips. Various designs and concepts
have evolved or been developed over
the last few years. One example, a
vented roof and wall system was
developed and patented in 2009 by
Cool Building Systems in San Antonio. Its system basically focused on
roofs and walls of metal buildings
but utilizes and controls the air cavity concept.
Other companies are also developing new solutions utilizing air
cavities to meet the changing energy targets. Structa Wire Corp. has
recently developed a new stucco lath
that is a one step, self-forming cavity lath for creating air gaps with
stucco plaster. The lath is a 1-inchby-1-inch welded-wire lath with
integrated furring spacers that automatically create a 3/8-inch cavity. A
barrier kraft paper is placed within
the lath at the 3/8 inch point to prevent stucco plaster from entering the
cavity. A reflective foil is adhered on
the cavity side of the barrier. Prototypes of this new lath have been created and photographs of front and
back of this new lath are shown in
the photos on the next page.
The new lath is proposed to be
fabricated in sheets 28 inches wide
by 98 inches long. The backing kraft
and reflective foil will project past

the wire portion at the top and along
one end so that wire to wire and
paper to paper overlaps can be properly achieved. The holes and slits
in the backing paper are optimized
to achieve dense packing and efficient warehousing and shipping, but
prevent the entry of plaster into the
cavity space. Further, the aluminum
reflective foil is coated on both sides
to ensure that there is no reaction
between the aluminum and the stucco plaster.
The wire crimps or spacers dramatically reduce the thermal bridging losses, which are especially critical with steel framing. Furthermore,
with the combination of the air gap
and the reflective insulation, it is
expected that R will be improved
by approximately 2 to 3 for heating
or up to 6 to 8 for cooling. Depending on geographical location, the
weighted average could be an R of 6,
which would be typical for an example of Zone 3 in California. A cross
section of such a proposed wall system with steel framing is shown in
the figures above and on page 27.
The one inch of EPS would not
be required for 2012 standards
but would be an option for 2015
expected increased standards. Of
course another option to achieve
the higher standards would be to

utilize 2x6 framing with R 19 batts
in the wall cavity. Economic analysis would be required to determine
which option would be most cost
effective at that time.
CONTROL THE AIR FLOW

One of the key advantages of the
air cavit y is the abilit y to control the movement of air within.
One version of the system would
have the bottom of the air space
open with a continuous opening,
but with an insect screen to keep
insects out. However, at the top, the
cavity could also have a continuous opening, or preferably would
have a series of motorized dampers
that could open and close. These
dampers then could be tied into the
HVAC system in such a way that
they would be closed during the
heating cycles and open during the
cooling cycle. In many locations in
the U.S., the energy utilized for air
conditioning greatly exceeds that
for heating. Therefore, it is anticipated that the air cavity system
would be even more advantageous
in high air conditioning regions. A
vast number of control options exist
in how to control the dampers and
could be programmed to anticipate
rising temperatures and could dif-
25
Air Cavities
AS CONTINUOUS INSULATION
Backface of Self-Forming Cavity Lath with

Reective Foil Insulation and Wire crimps for
forming the thermal cavity.
26
Front side of Self-forming Cavity Lath with kraft

backing and furred lathing.

ferentiate between various elevations of the structure.

T he ref lective foil insulation
would have an emissivity rating
of 0.05 and a reflectivity rating
of 0.95. During the heating cycle,
heat would be radiated from the
sheathing to the foil but would
be reflected back to the sheathing
without warming up the foil and
stucco from radiant heat transfer.
With a stagnant air space, heat
transfer then could only occur by
conduction transfer through the
air (which is a good insulator) and
would result in very low heat transfer. Conversely, during the air conditioning cycle, the stucco would
be heated, but with the low emissivity of the foil the heat would not be
radiated to the sheathing. Further,
the vents would be open and the air
within the cavity would no longer
be stagnant, but rather would be
escaping the cavity as the air was
heating up. Therefore, the cavity
would act as a heat exchanger and
exhaust the heat of the hot stucco
without transferring to the sheathing which in turn would be transmitted to the living space. It is estimated that the air exchanges can
approach 300 to 400 times per hour
depending on air flow resistance
at the top and bottom of the cavity and thermal differential. This
would be significant in reducing
heat transfer from the stucco to the
interior of the building.
A further advantage of such a system is that the cavity will perform a
significant secondary function and
allow moisture drainage and drying. This will become more critical
as greater levels of insulation are
being installed. As buildings are
constructed to be more airtight, a
reverse vapor drive becomes more of
an issue, especially with air conditioned buildings.
This concept and design has been
submitted to various engineering
groups, trade associations and contractors for peer review and feedback. The response has been unanimous in commending the concept as
a brilliant approach to resolving a
number of challenges.
KHS&S is mainly involved in
steel framing construction and
thermal bridging losses are a sig-
nificant loss estimated at

ing equipment in place by the
Steel Framing 2"x 4"x16"
Steel Framing 2"x6"x24"
40 percent, says Jim Stafend of 2011 for availability
Thermal Performance
R Value
Thermal Performance
R Value
ford of KHS&S West. We
in 2012, in time to meet the
Interior air film
0.68
Interior air film
0.68
understand that experiments
changing code requirements.
Drywall
0.45
Drywall
0.45
have been conducted utilizIn summary, air cavities
3 " batt insulation
13
5 " batt insulation
19
ing various thermal spacers
are a time proven approach
" DensGlass sheathing 0.56
" DensGlass sheathing 0.56
attached or fabricated on
to improving the energy effi3/8" Air Cavity
3/8" Air Cavity
the face of steel studs before
ciency of buildings and can
R = 2-3 for heating
R = 2-3 for heating
R = 6-8 air conditioning
R = 6-8 air conditioning
the DensGlass is installed.
be further utilized to effec6
6
Weighted average
Weighted average
tively and efficiently meet the
This process is difficult and
for Zone 3 California
for Zone 3 California
requirements of new energy
b enef it s a re l i m ited. We
20% of time: R 2.5
20% of time: R 2.5
80% of time: R 7.0
80% of time: R 7.0
codes and construction going
have examined the Structa
Stucco "
0.4
Stucco "
0.4
into the 21st century. A n
Wire concept and are very
Exterior air film
0.17
Exterior air film
0.17
update on the research will be
excited about the simplicTOTAL
21.26
TOTAL
27.26
issued in due course. W&C
ity and effectiveness of the
Less bridging loss
<5>
Less bridging loss
<5>
system and feel that it will
Net R Value
16.26
Net R Value
22.26
address the changing energy
William Spilchen is a Mechanical
Net U Value
0.061
Net U Value
0.045
requirements in an efficient
P.E. with more than 40 year expeand practical method. This
rience in the construction and
becoming a reality, and with some
air gap system will at the same time
construction materials industry. During
research, you might have something
provide an effective drainage and
this period, he has been involved with the
even bigger than you know.
drying cavity and this is huge.
design, construction and inspection of
Structa Wire is presently performCan you imagine? Every day as
various building systems throughout North
ing hot box testing on assemblies
the sun shines on your walls that
America. Presently, he is a consultant to
with 2x4 and 2x6 wall assemblies
energy is used to heat or cool the
Structa Wire Corp. He can be reached at
with wood and steel framing to veriinterior? says Bruce Bell, executive
spilch@telus.net.
fy thermal performance. The compadirector of the Sacramento Bureau
ny expects to have the manufacturfor Plaster Lath. The Smart Grid is
The
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ASTM C645 and C754. So if youre ready to take the
gloves off, let Super Stud give you The EDGE.
www.edgesteelframing.com
1-800-477-7883
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27
WATERPROOFING/RAINSCREEN SPECIAL SECTION
BUILDING ENVELOPE
TRANSITIO
W
hen a bu ild i ng leaks, t he

desig n , work ma nsh ip a nd
material of the building envelope are
all suspect. The exterior walls, roofing, windows, doors, balcony decks
and below-grade waterproofing are
all potential culprits. Oftentimes,
however, a leak cannot be attributed
to just one building envelope component. The way in which the building
envelope systems come together is
critical to the overall waterproofing performance. As such, the building envelope integrations, from
straightforward to complex, must be
addressed efficiently and effectively.
28
Design and construction come together with the building

envelopes transition. By Craig W. Allender, P.E. and Jonathan Hill, P.E.
Recent building trends, most

notably integrated project delivery, blur the lines between design
and construction responsibilities.
As a result, they introduce new
opportunities for owners, designers,
and contractors to eliminate gaps
between the conceptual design and
actual construction of the building
envelope. The benefit of coordinated
effort is seen through the ultimate
performance of the building, but
getting there is not always a streamlined process. There are several contributing factors, many of which are
project specific, that play a key role
in determining how to approach
these problem transitions. Identifying lead parties and the appropriate timing for addressing wall
system integrations can have a significant impact on the potential risk
of failure and cost of installation
or remediation. While the methods
Above: Carefully consider where wall systems transition to horizontal waterproong systems,
especially at parapets.
Left: Building envelope transitions may occur regularly on projects but each transition needs
to be addressed individually.
ONS
for detailing transitions are evolving, the necessity for effective field
implementation remains. Successful
design and coordination of even the
simplest transition detail is overshadowed if the components are not
installed correctly.
DESIGN FACTORS IMPACTING

BUILDING ENVELOPE TRANSITIONS
Building envelopes must be watertight and still meet the architectural
design intent, as well as the owners performance and operational
expectations. Achieving all of these
requirements can be incredibly dif-
ficult where cladding components

meet or integrate with adjacent roofing and waterproofing systems. The
phrase reinventing the wheel is
used often in the construction industry, especially when looking at ways
to prevent water and air intrusion.
This is never more evident than at
cladding transitions.
The parameters impacting transitions, however, vary from building
to building, requiring full assessment of each new condition and
development of new project specific details for the individual transition. This includes understanding
the specific materials or components
involved as well as understanding
other factors that impact the transition such as system anchorage,
structural movement and installation sequencing. Common conditions like below-grade waterproofing
transitioning to wall cladding systems at grade; balcony decks extending out from the exterior wall; barrier wall systems, such as precast
panels, transitioning to rain screen
cladding systems; and general wall
claddings intersecting plaza deck
waterproofing or roofing systems,
particularly at parapets, all present
challenges at transition detailing.
These are just a few of the system
transitions that need to be consid-
ered, and while they may occur on

nearly every project, they can vary
greatly from one building to another.
Within each system, details must
address transitions in framing elements, substrates, membranes, claddings, sealants and flashings. In addition to considering the individual
materials, it is important to consider
the factors that impact how the systems come together. Building movements from loading, specifically the
influence of gravity loads (live and
dead load deflection), lateral loads
(seismic and wind loads) and thermal
movement must be taken into consideration. Each system will respond
to the various movements differently.
The method by which a cladding system is anchored to a floor slab will
also dictate its response to movement.
Some wall cladding systems, including glass and aluminum curtain walls
or precast concrete wall panels, can
rack or slide in response to movement. The design and construction
teams must coordinate these issues
early in the design process.
PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS ROLES

IN ADDRESSING BUILDING
ENVELOPE TRANSITIONS
A rchitects, consultants, general
contractors, installers and manufacturers can all play a crucial role
29
WATERPROOFING/RAINSCREEN SPECIAL SECTION
Transition of building envelope systems

depicted in axonometric detail.
in addressing waterproofing system

integrations. Modern project delivery
methods allow project team members
to work together earlier in the process to locate and address typical and
atypical problem areas. The project design team, which includes the
architect and various consultants,
establishes the initial understanding of the intricacies of the building geometry and the required performance criteria. Oftentimes while
working in two dimensions, system
transitions are located on plans and
elevations and detailed with a simple
note drawing attention to the issue or
with a full axonometric detail showing how the systems integrate.
The construction team, including the general contractor, material
installer and material manufacturer, will tend to have a more specific
understanding of the construction
approach. The general contractor,
who is typically responsible for
coordinating trades and delineating
scopes of work, has the opportunity
to review subcontractor shop drawings and bring attention to system
transitions and integrations. The
installers, who often prepare material shop drawings, can annotate
on their drawings where transitions
occur and clarify any requirements
related to sequencing or tolerances
for the adjacent systems. Manufacturers and waterproofing consultants have the most intimate understanding of the materials being used
and can review construction documents and shop drawings to locate
potential issues where specific materials will come in contact with adjacent systems. Evaluating constructability, material compatibility and
performance limitations is important
to preparing a long-term and watertight transition detail.
STAGE OF DESIGN AND/OR

CONSTRUCTION AT WHICH
BUILDING ENVELOPE
TRANSITIONS ARE ADDRESSED
Addressing building envelope systems early is typically a risk-reducing and cost-saving approach,
but close attention should be paid to changes that occur during construction.
30
W h i le t here a re of ten va r iou s

options for addressing material and
system transitions, the common
model of early is better may not
necessarily ring true in all situations. In the design phase of a conventional design-bid-build project,
where the earlier a material transi-
tion is addressed the less cost will likely be associated

with its implementation, opportunities for addressing
system integrations initially lie with the design team.
The design team has the opportunity to locate system
integrations on plans and elevations. However, some
of the more complex wall systems, such as curtain
walls, rain screens, and precast concrete, and the
more complex roofing/waterproofing systems, such
as vegetative roofs and plaza decks, may not be sufficiently defined in the design phase to accurately
address the transition.
In a case of transitioning between a schematic curtain wall system and a schematic metal wall panel
system, efforts may be wasted attempting to fully detail
the transition prior to selection of specific systems and
materials. In a conventional delivery process, many
specific building envelope systems are selected after bidding and pricing and the cost associated with addressing a transition begins to increase. The shop drawing
phase is generally the most effective opportunity early
in the construction process to address transitions. Since
specific materials and systems are known, the installers are able to provide constructability input and the
manufacturers are able to provide compatibility input.
Adjacent trade shop drawings can be reviewed and
coordinated to determine where and how integrations
will occur. This allows the project team to develop
accurate integration details that best reflect expected
as-built conditions. As construction begins and materials are installed on the building, the cost to redesign
or modify details continues to increase. The opportunities to address integrations will continue to diminish
as more materials are installed and the schedule is
pushed forward.
IMPLEMENTATION OF BUILDING ENVELOPE TRANSITIONS

A thorough design with active coordination and foresight by the design and construction teams can still
lead to issues at even the simplest transition if the components, particularly waterproofing and flashing elements, are not properly installed. Since these transitions
include various materials and installers, the performance of the integrations comes down to field execution and communication between trades. While design
and construction technologies will continue to simplify
coordination, if the materials are not installed effectively the building envelope may not meet the design and
performance requirements of the project. The industry
will continue to strive to have better performing buildings with more complex designs. In order to build these
projects successfully, the design and construction teams
must address cladding transitions through an effective
and collaborative effort. W&C
Craig W. Allender, P.E., is a senior staff II in the Building Technology group of national engineering firm Simpson Gumpertz
& Heger Inc. He can be contacted at cwallender@sgh.com.
Jonathan Hill, P.E., is a senior staff I in the Building Technology group of SGH. He can be reached at jdhill@sgh.com.
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eescape from the inside to the outside,
sstaving off mold and mildew while
maintaining excellent indoor air qualm
ity. For more information, please visit www.typar.com.
31
Breathe Deep
A
s building materials and methods become better at sealing

air leaks, the question arises, How
tight is too tight?
In terms of energy efficiency, one
cannot build too tightly. Reducing air leakage is critical to lowering heating and cooling energy consumption. Every cubic foot of conditioned air that escapes the building
envelope represents lost therms or
wattsand dollarsthat the HVAC
system consumes.
But of course, fresh air is needed
for occupant health and comfort.
Managing airflow becomes a carefully controlled balance. Think of
a hot air balloon sailing thousands
of feet above the ground: keeping
the heated air inside is vital to avoid
crashing, yet well-placed, operable
vents allow the balloonist to safely
descend when desired.
32
Managing fresh air and moisture in structural

insulated panel buildings.
buildings By Joe Pasma
Pasma, P.E.
PE
In buildings constructed with

structural insulated panels or other
high-performance wall and roof systems, mechanical ventilation is typically necessary since the number of
unaided air changes per hour is so
low. And similar to other construction methods, moisture management
is needed for long-term durability.
THE INS AND OUTS OF AIR

Air leakage rates in todays buildings are often dramatically lower
than in older buildings. For example,
SIP structures are approximately 15
times more airtight than stick framing, according to U.S. Department
of Energy blower door tests. They
found that for spaces built with SIPs,
the leakage rate was 8 cubic feet per

minute at 50 pascals compared to 121
cubic feet per minute at 50 pascals
for wood framing with fiberglass batt
insulation. The low leakage rates,
along with more continuous insulation and less thermal bridging, mean
that SIPs can help reduce energy consumption costs up to 60 percent.
With such airtight structures,
mechanical ventilation can help provide adequate fresh air, as well as
remove indoor air pollutants such
as formaldehyde, radon and tobacco smoke. Ventilation systems can
also get rid of excess humidity from
cooking, bathing and other sources,
including the breathing and sweating
of the occupants.
Buildings using structural insulated panels

typically require mechanical ventilation due to
the tight building envelope SIPs create. Photo
courtesy of Premier SIPs by Insulfoam
In essence, the goal in building

for energy efficiency is to tighten
the building envelope as much as
possible and then use mechanical
systems to control air inflow and
outflow. Accomplishing this requires
a systems approach to the overall
building design and construction.
Unfortunately, there are no easy
rules of thumb and consultation
with a qualified heating and ventilation engineer is necessary.
T he specific t ype and size
of me cha n ic a l vent i lat ion sys tem required for a given building
depends on the climate zone, type of
occupancy and a range of other factors. Potential systems include:
Heat recovery ventilators: Also
known as air-to-air heat exchangers, these units pull air from highhumidity spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens. The warm,
moist air passes through a core
where it pre-heats incoming cool,
fresh air from outdoors. HRVs are
most commonly used in northern
climates where cold, relatively dry
outside air prevails.
Energy recovery ventilators: ERVs
perform the same heat exchange
function as HRVs as well as dehumidifying the air. They are typically used in southern climates
where removal of high humidity
from outdoor air is required. The
specific target for indoor relative
humidity varies by region, but generally the range is 30 to 50 percent.
E x haust- on ly systems: T he
relatively simple units used in
these systems move air from the
inside out and come in a variety of configurations from single
rooms to whole buildings. They
typically rely on air infiltration
through the building envelope
to replace the vented air, so may
cause negative indoor air pressure in a tightly sealed structure.
Because of this they are not used
with SIP construction.
Application of an approved mastic between SIP panels and other parts of the structure helps block
air and vapor penetration. Photo courtesy of Premier SIPs by Insulfoam
ter can typically remove particle

pollutants such as smoke, but not
gaseous pollutants such as radon.
Neither type of system conditions
the air for heat or humidity.
Beyond mechanical ventilation
systems, it is also common in tight
structures to use sealed combustion furnaces and water heaters.
These heating appliances draw air
directly from the outdoors for use
in the combustion chamber, which
helps manage the overall internal
pressure balance of the structure
and the total amount of fresh air
required in the building (i.e., the
appliance does not contribute to
the need to bring more outdoor air
into living spaces).
WATER GO AWAY
Other potential air management
systems include ventilating windows
and air cleaners among others. The
former can help exhaust stale air
and bring in fresh air, while the lat-
As with other construction methods, the exterior building envelope

in SIPs structures must be protected from water accumulation. Both
the International Building Code
and International Residential Code

require buildings to have flashing, a
water-resistant barrier and a means
of draining to the exterior any water
that enters the wall assembly.
Consistent with codes, SIPs used
as exterior walls typically include
a water-resistive barrier. Potential
options include No. 15 asphalt felt,
synthetic weather barriers/building
wraps or liquid-applied membranes.
It is important to check with the SIP
manufacturer and to consult local
codes for specific requirements.
For roofs, synthetic, breathable
underlayments provide an alternative to traditional No. 15 and No.
30 felts. Such underlayments typically have perm ratings much greater
than one, which allows water vapor
to pass up and out through the membrane yet keep bulk water away from
the roof assembly. This can be especially beneficial when the OSB skins
of SIP roof panels have been exposed
to precipitation during construction.
33
Breathe Deep
Installation of a breathable roof underlayment may be necessary on SIP roof panels exposed to precipitation during construction. Photo courtesy of BNIM Architects
While methods to protect SIPs

from water are similar to those used
with other building envelope assemblies, a specific consideration with
SIP installation is proper sealing
between panels. All panel joints must
be sealed against air and vapor transmission by using a mastic specified
by the SIP manufacturer. A vapor
retarder may also be required with
the specific details varying for commercial and residential buildings.
In many commercial projects,
the mechanical ventilation system usually obviates the need for
SIP tape or other vapor retarders.
However, for buildings with pools,
spas or other high-humidity conditions, SIP tape may be required.
SIP tape has perm ratings less than
one, and works in conjunction with
the OSB skin of the SIP panels to
provide a vapor retarder. Typically, 6-inch-wide SIP tape is used at
all wall and roof panel joints and
wall panel corners, and 12 inches
wide SIP tape is used where roof
and wall panels join. In cases where
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Albeit a long and arduous journey, the road to sustainable building is becoming easier to trek. With an overwhelming number of
products to choose from, how can you be sure you have the right one? Choose Eco-cient insulated metal panels from MBCI.
Eco-cient panels improve the thermal performance of a building envelope, provide continuous insulation and qualify as continuous air
barriers. Eco-cient panels can also lead to potential energy savings due to their high R-values. And, because of their superior thermal
performance, less energy is needed for climate control allowing for lower greenhouse gas emissions. Learn about all of the benets of
Eco-cient panels at www.mbci.com/WCEco.
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34
roof panels meet over supporting

beamssuch as at a ridge beam
18-inch-wide SIP tape is required.
For residential SIP installations,
SIP tape is usually required in all
instances. In certain climates and
based on local building codes, an
additional vapor retarder may be
necessary. Such barriers include
polyethylene sheeting or similar performance materials.
ALL TOGETHER NOW

Optimum building performance
requires that architects, engineers
and contractors take a systematic approach to the whole building. Increasingly, the walls, roof,
H VAC , windows and other elements must work together to maximize energy efficiency and comfort.
In projects using structural insulated panels, attention to mechanical ventilation, and moisture and
vapor management can help ensure
a quality building that performs for
many decades. W&C
Joe Pasma, P.E., is the technical manager for Premier SIPs by Insulfoam. The
company manufactures high - per formance, energy-efficient structural insulated panels. A licensed structural engineer, Pasma has worked with SIPs for
almost two decades. He can be reached
at (800) 275-7086.
SIP tape at all panel joints works in conjunction with the SIPs OSB skins to provide a vapor retarder.
Photo courtesy of Premier SIPs by Insulfoam

35
For the Birds
ell its about that time of year

when those pesky little ironbeaked commanders of the air start
wreaking havoc around the neighborhoodin many cases, using your
building as their own personal rendezvous point for potential mates.
Woodpeckers may be a fascinating
visitor to some backyards and birdfeeders but unfortunately we all
know how destructive they can be.
In fact, for many building owners,
a woodpecker is the most damaging
wildlife problem they can face, causing thousands of dollars in property
damage every year.
PROBLEM
Woodpeckers cant tell the difference between your exterior cladding
and dead trees in the forest so its
not uncommon for them to cause
significant damage to siding, fascia
boards, EIFS and especially those
beautiful architectural elements created with foam.
Most people attribute this damage
to woodpeckers looking for food but
36
A safe deterrent coating keeps those pesky critters

from drilling into your building and your wallet.
By Dan Johnson
that is rarely the case. Actually, there

are three reasons these birds peck on
your walls:
1. Theyre looking for food.
2. Theyre making a nest.
3. Theyre establishing and defining
their territory.
Its usually the third reason that creates the most damage. Woodpeckers
are very territorial. In order to let
other woodpeckers know this is their
territory, they fly around the perimeter of their domain, usually in the
morning and initiate a series of raps
on hollow trees or any other cladding that creates the right sound. For
those of us in the industry, we know
that EPS apparently has just the right
tone. This behavior is called drumming and consists of two or three
long brrrrrrrrrrrps.
The woodpecker will typically

drum in one spot for a minute or so,
every day. It does not take long before
a large, irregular hole appears at the
drumming site. If the site is EIFS
or EPS, it not only becomes a real
eyesore but it can also create problems with system integrity and water
penetration. When a woodpecker is
looking for grubs, it acts differently
and makes a small cone shape or a
long gallery of holes. If you ever see
a woodpecker searching for insects,
it will constantly turn its head as if
looking for something on the surface.
It is actually listening for grubs feeding in the wall. Then it only makes
a hole large enough for its long, thin
tongue to catch the bugs.
The holes woodpeckers create
searching for food are usually less than
1 inch in diameter. A woodpecker will
For the Birds
A Seattle Retrot project. Image on the left is a typical hole created in an EIFS cornice from a woodpecker. The image on the right is an effort to ll a hole
with expanding foam.
occasionally attempt to excavate a

round nesting hole in the wall but its
rare and if the wood or surface is solid,
they usually give up after a day or two.
However, woodpeckers seem to love
foam insulation for a nesting site. And
whats worse, even if they peck a small
hole and leave, other birds will take
advantage of the destroyed lamina and
the next thing you know, babies are
living in the walls.
GOVERNMENT AND REMEDIES

Attempts to discourage the onslaught
of woodpeckers are almost humorous: plastic owls, rubber snakes,
metal window screen, Mylar strips,
unsightly bird netting and even trapping and releasing woodpeckers
doesnt do much good. Unless you
release the birds several miles away,
theyll just fly back to their own territory within a day or two.
As far as the government is concerned, woodpeckers are classified
as migratory, nongame birds and are
protected by the Federal Migratory
Bird Treaty Act. You can only exercise lethal control or nest destruction with a special permit issued by
the Law Enforcement Division of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, upon
recommendation of USDA-APHISWildlife Services personnel.
So, a new product was invented
to keep woodpeckers away without harming the birds. The product BeakGuard is a patent-pending
concept incorporating a blend of
ingredients that offer safe and effective protection from woodpeckers. These compounds immediately
communicate a warning signal to
38
the birds, prompting them to find

a more desirable location. In fact,
humans and animals are very sensitive to these compounds. For example, taste-testing has determined that
people can detect the ingredients in
water at 50 parts per billion.
The product is a breathable elastomeric acrylic finish formulated
to apply like standard latex paint.
Performance on the other hand far
exceeds your typical latex product.
The deterrent offers outstanding coating durability, extended service life,
provides maximum dirt pick-up resistance and weatherability in a vapor
permeable, flexible membrane with
exceptional color retention. Although
specifically formulated for EIFS and
existing acrylic finishes, the product is
easily applied to virtually any exterior
surface including wood, fiber-cement,
stucco, aluminum or vinyl.
ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE
BeakGuard will not harm woodpeckers or any other bird species.
The ingredients are found in many
consumer products on the market
todayeven nail biting and thumb
sucking deterrents for children
incorporate this technology. The
National Safety Council and American Medical Association recommend
similar agents be used, along with
other safety measures, in products
defined as mild to moderately toxic.
After two years of field testing in
the most prolific woodpecker areas of
the country including Montana, Colorado, South Dakota and Washington,
the success rate exceeds 90 percent in
deterring further building damage.
All tests were conducted on building structures experiencing ongoing

woodpecker damage:
A remodeled office building outside
of Seattle with large EIFS cornices
was assaulted by woodpeckers every
season. In some years, the drumming resulted in more than ten holes
around the building. To make matters
worse, many of those holes became
nesting sites for smaller birds that
hatched young inside the walls adding
to the damage. Every year the owner
paid to have these holes filled with
spray foam, sanded, basecoated with
mesh and refinished in an attempt to
blend the damaged areas with adjacent walls. Year after year.
Two years ago, out of frustration,
the owner coated every linear foot
of cornice and all other architecture elements on the faade with
BeakGuard. Since that day, not a
single woodpecker has damaged the
building. Not only did BeakGuard
enhance the property by creating a
bright new look, it appears the problem has been resolved and the birds
are off to other locations.
A not her cl ient compla i ned a
woodpecker was drumming directly
outside his bedroom window at 6:00
a.m. sharp every day. Not only a
problem because it woke his wife
and children every morningthis
bird was attacking a fascia board
at the apex of the roofline about 27
feet off the ground. Not an area you
want to frequent too often.
After renting the extension ladder,
BeakGuard was applied directly over
the small holes caused by this bird.
Not having the highest level of con-
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Woodpeckers going to town on cedar shakes at a residence in Wisconsin.
Dan Johnson is technical sales manager

with Stuc-O-Flex International. He can
be reached at dan@stucoflex.com. For
more information on BeakGuard, contact the company.
Look great with a rustproof job

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or until I ran outside and scared it

away) on my bird blocks, he says.
It didnt make large holesit just
destroyed the paint and pitted them
almost all the way down to the
blocks. I painted this stuff on and
the woodpecker still comes back to
hang out often but I havent heard
it pecking since the day I put it on.
It sure made some strange noises
the first day it came backit tried
to peck that day but not more than
once or twice, and it hasnt since.
After repairing the woodpecker
damage to their home, another customer was willing to apply the product on two sides of the house only, (of
course we promised to coat the other
two the following year). As spring
arrived, the birds returned as usual
and needless to say, the drumming
started again. But as the homeowner
says, Its the most bizarre thing Ive
seen: those darn birds are destroying two sides of my house and wont
touch the others, unbelievable.
Is BeakGuard the absolute answer
to all woodpecker damage in America? Probably not. But if you want to
enhance the appearance and extend
the service life of your building
while drastically reducing the risk of
woodpecker damage in an environmentally friendly way, this may be a
viable solution. W&C
Foundation
Sill
Screeds
GRAY or TAN
Termination Beads
MOISTURE LABOR
fidence in this miracle product, the

client set his alarm for 5:45 a.m. In
the dim morning light, he just shook
his head as that darn bird landed
in the same exact spot as yesterday.
The bird cocked his head back and
forth a few times, pecked once and
flew away. The woodpeckers still
frequent his backyard but not a single bird has pecked in the area coated with the deterrent.
Montana-based stucco and EIFS
contractor Montana Flexteriors has
dealt with the woodpecker issue for
years. The 17-year-old business, based
out of Great Falls, Mont., began
applying the deterrent to an EIFS finish recently and reports good luck.
If woodpeckers have been hitting a house, theyll stick around
and go at it for a long time, says
Rod Stevens, president and owner.
This product acts as a very good
deterrent bond. Weve done houses
that were only finished a day and
the woodpeckers would come. They
would usually stick around only a 5
foot radius but they can make a mess
in a short time frame.
Stevens says the product has
worked very well for his company.
The only problem, he says, is if you
happen to taste the product.
The only way to get the taste out
of your mouth is Hersheys chocolate, Stevens says.
Jim Krock, office manager of
Stuc-O-Flex has experience with
woodpeckers chipping away at his
own house in Washington.
Every morning about sunrise
this woodpecker would peck for a
while (at least five minutes or so,
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39
Concrete
Solution
ertical decorative concrete is well

on its way to becoming a major
design trend in the marketplace. All
one needs to do is look at its potential for creativity and innovation to
see the viability of this craft.
In recent years, the styles that seem
to have risen to the top have been the
classic dry stack look of plaster
with exposed stone. Dry stack stone
is almost a lost art form. Trained
masons would gather stone together
and place each piece in such a way
that there would be no need for mortar. It took a tremendous amount
of time and knowledge to create a
sound and stable wall. Hand carving
details like this in vertical decorative
concrete can be done in a day where
a mason might take a week. Walls,
wine cellars, pillars and fire places
are some of the most popular places
to apply vertical decorative concrete.
Coming in a close second is the
plaster with exposed stone look. For
decades, faux finishers/plasterers
have used joint compounds and similar materials to achieve this look.
Vertical decorative concrete answers
this call with stunning realism.
There are several manufacturers in
the industry that offer a light weight,
carvable, stampable, vertical concrete mix that can be easily placed
on walls or other vertical surfaces.
There are new concrete stains and
paints that replace the traditional
method of acid staining. The tools of
the trade are common enough, such
as a 3-inch rounded pool trowel,
You can do a lot with concrete if youre already good

with a trowel. By Nathan Giffin
point trowel, tuck-pointing trowels,
margin trowel, hawk and various
brushes and pads.
The texturizing tools are more
rare. There arent many companies
that make them but there are good
items to be found online at www.
Specco.com (mixes and colors),
www.WaltTools.com (mixes, colors
and tools) and www.SmithPaints.
com (colors).
GET WORKING
The procedure for creating vertical
decorative concrete structures is relatively simple. Once a substrate is prepared with a bonding agent, a brown
or scratch coat is applied. The next
step is the carving coatthis phase

is where the fun begins.
Application, design, texture, carving and sculpting all take place in a
few hours. This material is the finished top coat. It stays malleable all
day long and various techniques can
be executed throughout the day at
different drying times.
From sof t as but ter to strong
enough to support a couple hundred psi, the variety of projects
that can be sculpted is very wide.
When a designer can have complete
freedom in a medium its always a
good thing.
Size, color and shape are all variables when youre working in handcarved, vertical decorative concrete.
It used to be that someone working
in decorative concrete had to have
an intimate knowledge of concrete
itself. Today, we find that you dont
need prior knowledge of concrete to
get started.
A short list of individuals working
in concrete now may include painters, tile installers, marble and other floor tradesmen, faux finishers,
plumbers, carpenters and plasterers.
BETTER THAN REAL

Vertical decorative concrete is a viable alternative to many vertical products in the marketplace and, in the
hands of the skilled installer, there
41
its been a personal goal of mine

to spread those tips and tricks of
this mysterious craft. Of course,
practice is the key to becoming a
skilled sculptor.
ALREADY AN EXPERT?
is much that can be accomplished.

If you were to dream up an environment that had pillars, archways
and corridors of stone throughout
an area, you might think it would
be hard to realize. It doesnt take
very long to create that dream space
using concrete.
Just recently, there was a public
wine room created (note pictures)
where real stone was placed in the
same area as vertical decorative concrete. The real stone took second
place to the VDCnot because it
didnt look good, but because it was
not as exciting.
Is this really hard to learn?
42
I tell people all the time, any

stone work is just three things:
lines, texture and color. These are
the three things that comprise all
the projects I have ever worked on.
Once you have acquired the knowledge to execute the principles of
stone facing, then lines, texture and
color are all that remain. Training is critical if you are to acquire
the necessary skills to sculpt realistic stone work or other vertical
decorative finishes. Not u nlike
other trades, craftsmen do not like
to share their secrets with anyone
for fear of training their competition. Thats an unfortunate fact but
In a nutshell, if you are a plasterer

or faux finisher, you already have
90 percent of the skills mastered. A
hawk and trowel is foreign to most
and it takes years to master those
tools. Faux finishers and plasterers
make excellent stone sculptors as
they have a solid grasp of color, as
well as the experience of troweling
vertical surfaces. If you have examined the photos in this article and
realized that all that youve seen has
come right out of a bag, mixed in a
bucket, applied with a trowel, textured, carved, faux finished and are
interested in learning more, feel free
to touch base. W&C
Nathan Giffin continues to educate contractors, builders, manufacturers and
architects on stone facing. He is owner of
VerticalArtisans.com, an information and
training Web site featuring more than 140
videos on the topic of hand carved vertical concrete.
the
FINISH LINE
BY ROBERT THOMAS
Keep it Dry
In EIFS, water resistive barriers are a layer between the
EIFS substrate and the EIFS insulation. They are most
commonly used in EIFS with drainage wall assemblies. They are an additional layer within the wall cladding system and present some unique
issues that are worth knowing about.
Here are some of the issues.
ORIGINS OF WRBS
The use of a back up material to
protect substrates (the wall structure) from water damage has been
used since at least the 1980s. Usually, the WRBs materials were variations of the EIFS attachment adhesive or basecoat adhesive, applied as
a separate layer on top of the substrate. Sometimes EIFS reinforcing
mesh was added as well. This type
of early WRB-like back up system
was not the full EIFS with drainage
system we know today.
The use of WRBs became widespread in the 1990s when problems surfaced on EIFS-clad buildings, particularly residences in the
southeast. Substrates and framing
were damaged by water intrusion
and the lack of a drainage capability in traditional barrier type
E I FS was blamed. T he building
code people and EIFS producers
got together and developed requirement s for W R B s for use when
EIFS is applied over moisture sensitive walls such as walls using
wood or gypsum sheathing, and
wood studs. Moisture insensitive
substrates, such as masonry, concrete and brick, did not require
new regulations. Thus, for practical purposes, this new construction requirement applied mostly
to wood frame homes and some
l ig ht c om m e rc i a l wo o d f r a m e
structures. The code now requires
W R Bs and a drainage media of
some type on these buildings.
44
WHEN ARE WRBS REQUIRED

OR SPECIFIED?
Although they are generally only
required by code on supporting
walls using water sensitive materials, some EIFS contractors chose
to use them anyway on commercial structures too. This EIFS with
drainage takes additional materials and steps to install. Thus, such
types of EIFS cost more. EIFS contractors Ive chatted with indicate
there is a 15 to 20 percent increase
in the total cost.
TYPES OF WRBS
WRBs come in two basic forms. The
first is a paper, sheet or film material,
such as building paper or house wrap.
This type of WRB is attached to the
substrate with mechanical anchors
such as staples. The sheet, film or
paper is overlapped shingle style.
The second is a trowel-applied
or spray-applied coating. This is
applied to the substrate as a liquid
and bonds to the substrate. The
coating is applied continuously and
goes over the sheathing board joints.
WRBS AS PART OF AN EIFS OR

AS SEPARATE MATERIALS?
Most EIFS producers make liquid
W R B materials. None make the
sheet, paper or film type. A number
of other building product manufacturers make liquid-applied WBRs.
This type of WRB can be used with
EIFS, as well as with other wall
claddings such as stucco, panels
and siding.
E I F S producers wou ld prefer
that their insulation attachment
adhesive and their WRB materials
be used in conjunction with their

EIFS. This results in making an
EIFS cladding system that is assembled with compatible materials for
proven performance. Given that the
EIFS contractor can obtain these
non-EIFS W RBs separately from
the EIFS components, its hard to
know how much of the EIFS market uses WRBs.
DRAINAGE MEDIA
The term drainage media means
the way by which the drainage cavity is created between the outside
of the WRB and the backside of the
EPS foam insulation. This media
usually takes the form of vertical
slots in the back of the foam, thick
vertical stripes of attachment adhesive or some type of spacer such as
plastic mesh or lath.
Its also possible to have a WRB
that is itself the drainage media.
For example, paper-like materials
that are corrugated can be placed
over the substrate with the corrugations running vertically. The
paper provides the channels for the
water to drain out. These types of
WRBs require the use of mechanical anchors to at tach the E I FS
foam insulation.
HOLES THROUGH WRBS

One might ask, What good is the
WRB if it has holes in it?when
the EIFS is mechanically attached
using screws and washers. Full-scale
tests of such assemblies show that
the many small fastener screw holes
have little tendency to leak. Thus, in
reality, the holes dont matter.
BONDING TO WRBS
The nonstructural nature of WRBs
made of paper, films or sheets,
makes bonding the EIFS foam insulation to them impossible. With liquid-applied WRBs, the EIFS foam
insulation can be adhesively bonded
to the WRB.
CRACKING IN WRBS
Paper, sheet and film WRBs dont
tend to crack per se but can be split
if provisions are not made to allow
for movement. For instance, this can
occur at expansion joints and floor

lines in wood frame buildings.
This issue is more pronounced
for liquid-applied WRBs. This is
because the WRB is continuously
adhered to the substrate and must be
able to bridge the sheathing joints.
Wood based sheathing can shrink
and expand due to changes in moisture content as well as open and
close if the wall racks out of square
due to wind or earthquakes. To
ensure this does not happen, a fullscale mockup of a stud-and-sheathing wall is made and is bolted down
to solid materials such as a floor
slab. Force is then applied to the
frame in the plane of the wall, forcing the assembly to go out of square.
The WRB is then examined to see
if it is strong and flexible enough to
resist such forces.
TESTING OF WRBS
In order to qualify a WRB as being
suitable, a number of tests are run.
Foremost is the WRBs ability to
shed, not absorb, water. Also important is the ability of liquid-applied
EIFS foam attachment adhesives to
stick to the WRB. In addition, the
ability of the WRB to pass water
vapor is important, so that moisture coming from indoors does not
back up in the wall and cause condensation. With paper, sheet and
film WRBs, this latter characteristic is not so critical as the WRBs
have overlaps where the pieces come
together, thereby allowing water
vapor to move past the WRB, somewhat like what occurs with clapboard siding.
WHO INSTALLS WRBS?

T his is an interesting question.
With liquid-applied W R Bs, the
obvious installer is the EIFS contractor, as it is often trowel-applied.
With paper, sheet and film WRBs,
sometimes framers want to install
the WRB. My thinking is that the
WRB is part of the EIFS and not
part of the framing. Thus, the EIFS
contractor should install it. But this
opinion of mine will not stop an
occasional disagreement about who
does what work.
Its also possible to have a WRB

that is itself the drainage media.
PREFABRICATED EIFS PANELS
WHATS NEXT?
Once in a while a designer or owner

wants a WRB (EIFS with drainage)
when using prefabricated EIFS panels. This is usually on taller commercial buildings. Installing the WRB
over the sheathing is easy enough
but what do you do where the panels
meet? In other words, how do you
maintain the continuity of the WRB
so it can remain effectiveat the
EIFS panel caulking joints? This is
especially critical becauseif leaks
do occurIll bet theyll be at the
edge of the WRB at the panel joints.
Its hard to envision how you can
work these adjacent wall elements
(the panels) together. Think about
how to build thisits a fussy mess.
A follow-up article to this one is in

the works for a forthcoming issue.
In it, I will show drawings of how
com mon a nd someti mes complexedge conditions of WRBs are
detailed. This includes areas such as
openings, the bottom of walls, and
expansion joints. W&C
Robert Thomas is a nationally recognized
EIFS consultant, based in Jacksonville,
Fla. He was the manager of technical
services for a major EIFS producer, is the
author of several books about EIFS and
chairs the ASTM committee on EIFS.
Profitable Upgrades
- Why It pays to Stay
Many contractors and remodelers believe the

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Read the full story and

more at trim-tex.com
Now Available
The Trim-Tex 2011 Catalog, with new products,
updated photo gallery and additional features.
www.trim-tex.com
| 1-800-874-2333
45
straight
GREEN
BY CHRIS DIXON
Thermal Performance of
Steel Stud
Framing: Better Than Wood
Thermal performance of exterior steel stud framed walls

has always lagged behind that of wood. This critical difference often overshadows steels many benets such as
its dimensional consistency, high recycled content, high
recyclability, strength, and mold, rot
and termite resistance. Much thinking, technical papers, and tests have
been devoted to solving the energy
efficiency problem associated with
steel stud framing. Steady work on
the problem has resulted in some
exciting and innovative product
offerings that make steel studs equal
to and in some cases superior to
wood in terms of thermal efciency.
There are many ways to improve
the thermal performance of steel
studs. The simplest and least expensive is to reduce the surface area of
the ange in contact with the exterior wall sheathing by adding a spacerplywood, fiberglass and foam
are common. Less steel at this location results in less thermal transfer
across the wall assembly. Another
way to reduce the contact area is to
use a proprietary steel stud product
like Thermachannel which is made
with an indentation at the ange face
resulting in a very small contact area.
Accel-E Insulated Steel

Stud Panel System
46
A third method involves removing

steel from the web of the stud. One
such product on the market is TriChord which promises that thermal
problems associated with metal framing have been eliminated with TriChords patented steel stud. These
three options, however, may not offer
enough thermal improvement to satisfy ever more stringent energy code
requirements. Careful building envelope calculations and energy modeling may be required to prove compliance with energy codes.
PROVING THERMAL EFFICIENCY

Oakridge National Laboratory has
been investigating, evaluating and testing the thermal performance of steel
stud wall assemblies for many years.
In one of its most comprehensive studies, Improving Energy Performance
of Steel Stud Walls, 40 different
steel stud wall assemblies were built
and tested in an apparatus called a
Guarded Hot Box (in accordance with
ORNL Stud Snuggler
ASTM C 1363) to determine which

combinations of framing, sheathing
and insulation was the best for thermal
performance. At the end of this undertaking, the authors determined:
It is possible to construct steel stud
walls which perform as well or even
better than wood framed walls.
Traditional insulating sheathing
is a simple and effective way of
reducing heat losses caused by steel
components in steel stud walls.
Reduction of the contact area
between steel studs and wall nish layers (wood or steel furring)
is only effective if accompanied by
the additional insulating sheathing.
Usage of expanded channel steel
studs (stud depth area reduced 40
to 65 percent) is one of the most
effective ways of improving thermal
performance of steel stud walls.
Walls containing combined steel
studs (two rows of small steel studs
using foam or wood as a connector)
can be more effective than similar wood stud walls. However such
designs may be very expensive.
Walls with foam-covered steel
studs perform as well as wood stud
walls. The usage of the foam-covered studs can be the simplest (also
cheaper than foam sheathing) way
of dramatically improving the thermal performance of steel stud walls.
The last bullet point is a reference to
an ORNL-invented product called the
Stud Snuggler; a 1-inch thick expanded
polystyrene foam jacket that tightly
encapsulates the stud on three sides.
K-tect System
Tests using this novel product show

a dramatic improvement in whole
wall, steel stud R values. ORNL is
convinced that this product could be
a very cost effective solution to the
thermal performance problem. Until
such a product is commercially available, however, the jury is still out on
that prediction. For a recent test of
this idea check out the 2009 ORNL
paper Steady-State Thermal Performance Evaluation of Steel-Framed
Wall Assembly with Local Foam Insulation. The paper proves through
Guarded Hot Box tests that using this
product results in a steady state, whole
wall R value for a 2-inch-by-4-inch
steel stud wall of R-19.
Although the Stud Snuggler isnt
something one can buy and use, a
company called LiteDeck makes products that are very similar. The concept
behind LiteDeck is the same as ORNLs
invention; steel studs are enveloped
completely with expanded polystyrene
and formed into panels that are used
in oors, roong and tilt-up concrete
construction. Litedeck products are
designed to be used integrally with castin-place concrete and not an equivalent replacement for standard steel stud
framed wall assemblies.
to add a continuous layer of rigid

foam insulation within the assemblyexterior, interior or somewhere
in the middle. This method is fast
becoming de rigueur in the construction industry due largely to prescriptive energy code requirements.
As simple as it seems, adding a
layer of rigid foam can present signicant challenges to designers. One
and a half to 2 inches of continuous foam outboard of the exterior
sheathing requires thought and
expertise in solving detailing
issues at openings, support
of the exterior cladding
and ashing and weather proof i ng. Not a l l
solutions are ideal.
I n addition to
these complexities, labor
and mate-
CONTINUOUS RIGID INSULATION

THE SIMPLE ANSWER
Perhaps the least sophisticated and most straightforward way to therm a l ly i mprove a
ste el st ud wa l l
assembly is
straight
GREEN
rial costs can also be signicant and
sometimes prohibitively so.
STEEL STUD ASSEMBLIES OF THE

FUTURE: THE FUTURE IS NOW
What if there were products that combined several of the above methods to
improve the thermal efciency of steel
stud assemblies? What if those products were factory fabricated, fully engineered and less costly to produce and
install? New products that do just that
are available now. K-Tect, Thermasteel,
Rigidwall and Accel-e are four manufacturers that produce foam encapsulated metal stud framing assemblies
with R values that are equal to, and
in many cases exceed, that of wood
framed construction. Rigidwall and
Accel-e produce panels that expose a
portion of the metal stud to the interior to create a small cavity used to
run wiring and plumbing. K-Tect and
Thermasteel make panels in which the
foam is ush with the steel, requiring
raceways for conduit and plumbing to
be cut into the foam (and then replaced
or lled with spray foam insulation).
48

According to K-Tect President Ken

Miller, using his companys panels
results in a 50 percent reduction in
labor over eld stick built stud framing assemblies. In one example, his system cost $130,000 less than a wood,
stick-framed equivalent in a $2.3
million office building. Thermasteel
reports similar savings and gives one
example in which a first-time installation crew of ve men installed 234
linear feet of 9-foot insulated wall panels in seven hours. The prefabricated
panels require no special detailing for
cladding, openings, ashing or weatherproong. The panels are engineered
to withstand all required live and dead
loads and can be load-bearing.
K-tect provides on-site factory personnel to assist and train contractors during erection of the system and
K-tect provides hot knives used in
cutting raceways in the foam, as well
as spray foam insulation to ll holes
and joints between the panels and
adjacent construction.
R values for the panels range from
a minimum of R-11 (5-inch panel by
Accel-e) to as much as R-22 (5-inch

panel by Thermasteel) when tested in
accordance with ASTM C 1363.
CONCLUSION
It has taken a long time to get
there, but steel framed assemblies
can now take their place alongside
wood framing as a thermally efficient equivalent and do so without
breaking the budget. Many options
are available to designers and contractors, depending on energy code
requirements, as viable, cost effective
alternatives to traditionally framed
steel stud assemblies. Look for these
products and systems to become
more commonplace as the economy
continues to improve and energy
codes continue to get tighter. W&C
Chris Dixon is a registered architect, Certied Construction Specier, and LEED AP. He
serves on GBIs Green Globes Technical Committee and is a former USGBC Materials and
Resources Technical Advisory Group member.
TROWEL talk
BY WILLIAM E. ROGERS, ACP
The Black
(Green) Olive
Photos by William E. Rogers
Dimitris Spiliadis great-grandfather once owned a hotel

in Constantinople, which was lost when the Turks invaded
the magnificent and historic city (now known as Istanbul). When his father, Stelios, immigrated to the United
States, he brought with him his
great-grandfathers entrepreneurial
spirit, his grandmothers Greek recipes and a desire to build a life of
service and hospitality. In 1996, he
opened the Black Olive Restaurant
in Baltimores famous Fells Point.
The family-owned business made a

name for itself by serving authentic
Greek cuisine made from the freshest
organic products available.
As their clientele and restaurant
business grew, expanding from a
small 35-seat establishment to bust-
L-R: Miguel Sanches, OPCMIA; Stelios Spiliadis,

Owner; Stephen Stovall, Business Agent Local 891;
Dimitris Spiliadis, Owner; Carlos Jimenez, Business
Agent Local 891; and Terry Van Allen, OPCMIA.
Entrance to the Inn at The Black Olive.
ing at the seams at 90 seats, the family, which included Dimitiris mother, Pauline, dreamed of recapturing the family heritage and one day
building and operating a hotel. Not
just any hotelthey wanted to create a boutique hotel, infusing their
dream with the concepts that had
been so successful in their restaurant, organic food and healthy living, and bring these principles into
the total lodging experience. This
meant building a structure and operating a hotel business based upon
health-conscious and environmentally friendly concepts.
Desiring to build in an environmentally friendly way, Dimitris set
about educating himself on various
green building concepts and ultimately turned to Green Tech Contracting located in White Marsh, Md., to
guide their project from inception to
completion. Green Tech had extensive experience in LEED certified
construction and brought a wealth
of expertise to the design and construction of the 22,000-square-foot
establishment in Fells Point. Some of
the green technologies included in the
construction included:
Geo-thermal HVAC
Green roof
Counterweight elevators
A ir- entrained concrete and
masonry
Lime plaster
Green technology can be more
expensive but as Demitris points out,
It is a short term cost versus a long
term savings. The amount extra we
Interior of the new Black Olive restaurant located

on the top floor of the hotel.
49
TROWEL talk
Lime plaster sealed with Tadelakt is used

throughout the wet areas.
Local artists were commissioned to create artwork which complemented the natural colors of the
lime plaster.
spend on a geo-thermal HVAC system will be recouped in about five

years. We will reap savings of four
to five times the extra cost over a 25
year period.
T he green roofing system,
designed by industry expert Ed
Snodgrass, incorporates an organic garden that the kitchen staff will
tend and bring a little joy to the
food they serve in their new roof top
restaurant. Snodgrass is the author
of the book, Green Roofs, and is
working with both Hewlett Packard
and Apple on the design of green
roofs for their corporate facilities.
The counter weighted elevator eliminates the need for hazardous hydraulic fluid and mechanical building on
the roof. The air entrained concrete
and masonry walls provide superior structural characteristics while
improving the R value and reducing
sound transmission between the luxury spa suites. Last, but certainly not
least, the use of colorful lime plaster from Eco-Stucco can be found
throughout the entire building.
man. It lost prominence in the United States in the late 1960s to Portland cement (stucco) on the exterior
and gypsum plaster on the interior.
As the 1980s rolled through, EIFS
became a popular exterior plaster
application and drywall garnered
more and more of the interior market. However, as my own grandmother use to say, what was once
considered old is new again. Lime
plaster certainly seems to be making
a comeback, which begs the question, why?
First, lime plaster is made from
calcium carbonate, which is abundant throughout most of the world.
It can be mined as a rock from the
ground or it can even be harvested
from oyster shells. Secondly, lime
when properly prepared (slaked
and aged) is a very pliable and userfriendly plaster material, often used
as a component in interior gypsum and exterior stucco finishes to
improve workability. Once slaked,
the product converts from calcium
carbonate to calcium hydroxide or
hydraulic lime.
As we become more and more
concerned with creating a tight
building envelope for the purpose
THE OLD NEW

The use of lime is one of the oldest
forms of plaster creation known to
50
of energ y efficient heating and

cooling, we sometimes forget the
health benefits of fresh air. Air that
is trapped inside a modern building tends to accumulate stuff
from the occupants, furnishings
and even the materials used in the
construction of the building. The
glue found in the rugs and cabinets,
the acrylics used in some light fixtures, the toxic cleaning products
we used to scrub the tile and toilets
and of course the volatile organic
compounds found in paint and varnishes. Lime plaster can be colored
using natural minerals.
The finished product can appear
as natural stone or marble and is
quite colorful and beautiful without
any of those nasty VOCs. Lime plaster even absorbs CO from the atmosphere and has natural analgesic
properties, thereby resisting mold.
The owners of the Inn at the Black
Olive made use of all these wonderful properties of lime plaster. The
colors they selected, while stunning
and varied, are all colors found naturally so no synthetic pigments were
required. Even the bathrooms and
showers were plastered using lime,
then sealed with a thousand-year-
old natural sealant from Morocco

known as Tadelakt: A soap like substance made from an olive oil base
that seals the lime plaster while still
permitting it to breathe. The use of
plaster in these wet areas eliminated the problem of cleaning tile
grouts to prevent mold building up.
This speaks to the heart of the project, creating a natural, healthy environment where food is organic and
your environment contributes to the
guests overall well being.
When faced with the challenge of
installing lime plaster, not many contractors in the Baltimore area had
much experience using the product.
The owners and general contractor
turned to Plasterers Local 891 in
nearby Washington and entered into
a partnership where skilled plasterers would be employed to perform
the work. It was no surprise that the
owners turned to a labor union to
meet the demands of their project.
As Dimetris says, We believe
i n fa i r t rade , not on ly for t he
food we use in our restaurant or
the materials we use to build our
building, but also for the labor we
use from our community. By partnering with the Plasterers Union,
we were able to use highly skilled
labor and we knew these workers
would be paid fairly and receive
benefits. Its all about doing what
is right; whats right for our bodies, for our environment and for
our community.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
The Inn at the Black Olive
www.theblackolive.com/Inn/index.html
Green Tech Construction
www.greentechcont.com
Eco-Stucco
www.ecostucco.com/
Plasterers Local 891
www.opcmia.org/
Green Roofs by, Ed Snodgrass
http://www.greenroofs.com/
Natural pigments used in the coloring of the lime plaster created a beautiful array of colors.
METAL-LITE presents
The Answer to Your Fire-Blocking, Draft-Stopping,
& Bridging Needs All Rolled Into One.
Phone (800) 236-0302 | Fax (931) 277-5805 | Website www.metal-lite.net
The Problem
The Answer
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Serves as:
William E. Rogers is the executive director of the Plasterers and Cement Masons
Job Corps Training Program, a national
training opportunity for Americas disadvantaged youth. OPCMIAs Facebook page
can be found at www.facebook.com/OPCMIAJobCorps.
BRIDGING COLD-ROLLED CHANNEL

WITH CLIP ANGLE
Disadvantages:
1. Requires stud punch-out.
2. Centerline bridging is not effective for
torsional resistance utilizing studs greater
than 6 in depth.
BRIDGING!
Only 4 screws, apply in straight line
FIRE-BLOCKING!
Fire-Blocking & Bridging in one
DRAFT-STOP!
99% Coverage area between studs
FIRE PROOF!
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Meets All IBC Code Requirements for Bridging & Fire Block
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51
1/19/11 3:05 PM
NEW PRODUCT BUZZ GUIDE

e2XP TILE BACKER
N
NATIONAL
GYPSUM
National Gypsum has introduced
N
Gold Bond brand e 2XP Tile Backer,
G
a berglass-faced gypsum panel for
iinterior tile applications in both wet
aand non-wet areas. e2XP Tile Backer
is
i comprised of an acrylic-coated
berglass front facer, which provides a water barrier for superior
moisture resistance capabilities. This makes it ideal for use in
interior residential and commercial applications such as shower
and tub enclosures, walls and ceilings, countertops, backsplashes, locker rooms and more. For more information, visit
http://purplechoice.info.
T
TRASH
AND MATERIAL
DISPOSAL UNIT
D
A
ADAPA
TThese easy dumping carts are
ddesigned for quick, efcient handling
oof trash. They maneuver with ease
tthrough narrow aisles and doorways,
aand cut trash handling time to a
minimum. Available in three sizes to
m
t your jobs needs. Visit www.adapausa.com for more information
and see our complete line of products.
F
FRAMING
FOR DEEP CURVED
SOFFITS AND ARCHES
S
F
FLEX-ABILITY
CONCEPTS
TThe company has introduced 16
ggauge Flex-C Angle. The Flex-C Angle
pprovides a quick and easy way for
ccontractors to frame high quality, deep
ccurved softs and arches using metal
oor wood studs. The new 16 gauge FlexC Angle is also ideal for use in heavy
ggauge exterior softs and fascias. For
more information, visit www.exc.com.
m
If you read this article,
please circle number 285.
A ECONOMICAL AND ULTRA

AN
DURABLE COATING FOR
D
BEAUTIFYING PAINTED CMU!
B
T
TOTAL
WALL
TTuff II is a ready-to-use, all acrylic
ssynthetic plaster that will transform
aany painted masonry into a fresh
nnatural stucco look. Tuff II is durable,
ccrack resistant and mold and mildew
resistant with proven performance on thousands of projects in all
climates over a 12-year history. The product is being used by the
United States Military to transform their painted masonry structures into durable attractive stucco clad structures. Join the growing
list of success stories today! Please contact Total Wall for a free
sample! For more information, visit www.totalwall.com.
R
RUSTFREE
ULTRA-LATH NOW
COMES PAPER-BACKED!
C
P
PLASTIC
COMPONENTS, INC.
PPlastic Components Ultra-Lath plastic
llath is better and easier to use than
metal and its rustproof. The product is
m
eeasy to handle and now comes backed
with asphalt-impregnated paper for
w
ssuperior moisture control. The Selfffurred, Ultra-Lath PB improves the keyiing of stucco/plaster. Combining paper
aand lath applications into one process
saves time and eliminates upside down lath installations.
It has no effect on cellphones or wireless transmissions
27-inch-by-96-inch sheets
For more information, visit www.plasticomponents.com.
52
M
MORE
COVERAGE. ALL DAY.
EEVERY DAY.
S
SPEC
MIX
SPEC MIX Fiber Base Coat produces more
S
wet stucco when compared to traditional
w
eld-mixed product every time. SPEC
MIX Fiber Base Coat Stucco is specially
M
fformulated with 100-percent dry sand
and cementitious materials that yields as much as 30 percent
more stucco than the same amount of bagged products and damp,
loose sand shoveled into a mixer. Believe itwe prove it every time.
SPEC MIX FBC is available in 80-pound bags and 3,000-pound
bulk bags that when used in conjunction with our advanced silo
delivery systems gives you the advantage on every job. For more
information, visit www.specmix.com.

T
TAPING
TOOLS
AND SPRAY EQUIPMENT
A
A
ALS
TAPING TOOLS
& SPRAY EQUIPMENT
Automatic Taping Tools
Spray Equipment
Stilts
Sanding Equipment
FFamily-owned and operated since
1985. Please visit the Web site
1
www.drywalltools.com for specials on full-sets of taping tools and
other drywall products!
VVINYL CASING BEAD

A
AMICO
TThe company is pleased to be the
eexclusive producer of the new E-Z
Bead Vinyl Casing Bead. The patB
eented E-Z bead helps avoid leak
iissues with its built-in exible strip
ffor uniform spacing around window
aand door frames or any other point
where stucco meets a dissimilar material (softs, fascia board,
etc.). The product saves time and money. For more information,
visit www.amico-vinyl.com.
BUILDING PERIMETER SYSTEM

B
A
ARMSTRONG
CEILINGS
TThe Axiom Building Perimeter System
ffrom Armstrong is a pre-engineered
ssolution to the transition between
tthe ceiling plane and the interior of a
bbuildings perimeter. The system provvides an integrated approach to the
iinclusion of drapery pockets, window
sshades, air diffusers and changes in
cceiling elevation at the perimeter. Comppatible with both Armstrong acoustical
aand drywall grid systems, all elements
iinterlock to form the nished perimeter.
For more information, visit www.armstrong.com/axiom.
R
RESIDENTIAL
CODE-MANDATED FIREBLOCKING IN A
D
CAN
C
D
DEMAND
PRODUCTS INC.
EExpanding one-component polyuretthane spray foam passes ICC-ES
eevaluation as Type V residential rebblocking:
One can equals 30 tubes of caulk
R value of 4-5 per inch, cured
Orange color-coded foam
UL classied R-13919
Meets ASTM E-84 Class 1
Free gun per case
For more information, ask your distributor or manufacturer rep.
Visit the company at www.demandproducts.com.

T
TONGUE
AND GROOVE WALL
AND CEILING PANELS
A
E
EXTRUTECH
PLASTICS INC.
TThe company is an ISO 9001-2008
Certied manufacturer of bright white
C
ttongue and groove wall and ceiling
ppanels that are perfect for incidenttal food contact applications. Panels
install quickly with no exposed fasteners, providing a smooth, easy
to clean surface. With suspended ceiling panels and corrosionproof doors also available, Extrutech Plastics can cover all your
wall and ceiling needs.
For more information, visit www.epiplastics04.com.
F
FLEXIBLE
CEMENT FINISHING
SYSTEM FOR EIFS
S
T
TESS
BY FORMULATED SOLUTIONS LLC
TTESS Thinset Exterior Surfacing System
iis a thinset cement alternative to synthetic
sstucco nishes. With zero VOCs and a nonttoxic 10-year antimicrobial, TESS is greener,
more durable, colorfast, breathable and
m
water-repellent. It applies and oats easier
w
tthan acrylic, with less waste, in four standard
ttextures and 48 great colors. When cured,
TTESS can be bent 180 degrees without
ccracking, peeling or aking. Packaged as dry
powder in 44-pound paper bags; 52 pounds when mixed with
water (5-gallon pail).
For detailed information, visit www.tessnishes.com.

53

4,000 CAPACITY SELF-DUMPING HOPPER
4
J
JESCRAFT
TThe self-dumping Hopper model# DH-20BR ts on
fforklifts and telescopic handlers, which makes materrial removal from the job site easy and efcient. It is
secured to the forklift blades, raised from its loading position on
the ground and dumps into a larger debris box. Once unlatched,
the Hopper automatically rolls forward to dump, returning to its
upright locked position when empty. A key feature is the front
release bumper, which by coming into contact against the receiving
debris container, automatically releases the spring loaded latch
and dumps the debris. Additional features include a safety chain:
a 50-inch long release pull cable allowing the operator to manually
dump loads from the seated position. Optional caster sets can also
be ordered making it perfect for indoor use as well. Its capacity is
4,000 pounds or 2 cubic yards with other sizes also available. Visit
www.jescraft.com for information.
WEATHER DEFENSE PLATINUM

W
L
LAFARGE
NORTH AMERICA INC.
LLafarge Weather Defense Platinum is
a moisture- and mold-resistant exterioor wall sheathing designed to be coveered by an exterior-nish cladding. It
iis lightweight, scores, cuts and fastens
eeasily, and provides irritation-resistant
handling. It also provides protection in most applications, under
normal weather conditions, from exposure to the elements for
up to 12 months. For more information, please contact your area
sales manager or the Lafarge Customer Value Department. Visit
www.lafarge-na.com for further information.
M
MORE
THAN CONSTRUCTION
SOFTWARE
S
O CENTER SOFTWARE
ON
TThe company offers more than biddding, estimating and project-trackiing software. We are a fully in-house
ooperation, putting everything from
development to technical support and
hi-tech training facilities under one roof. We offer training and software support packages that are all aimed at a singular goalto
win our clients bids and grow their prots. For more information,
visit www.oncenter.com.
B FRAMING SOFTWARE
BIM
FFOR REVIT
S
STRUCSOFT
SOLUTIONS
TThe companys MWF Professional is
a light gauge metal framing solution
tthat automates stud design, shop
oor drawing production and manuffacturing in the Revit BIM environment. This template-driven applicam
ttion recognizes Revit walls, doors,
windows and openings. The software
w
automatically generates stud arrangements, shop drawings, Cut
List and CNC output. An integrated engineering option is available.
For more information, visit www.strucsoftsolutions.com.

MAXIMIZE YOUR OUTSIDE 90S

M
S
STRUCTUS
BUILDING
TTECHNOLOGIES
N
NO-COAT outperforms metal, plastic,
aand paper faced metal bead in labor
aand material savings, durability and
llong term performance. Use ULTRATTRIM on your outside 90s for easy
iinstallations and straight, crisp corners
tthat will not dent or crack. Visit our
Web videos to hear how NO-COAT is
W
giving contractors the competitive edge at www.no-coat.com.
F
FIBERGLASS
REINFORCED
STUCCO
S
Q
QUIKRETE
TThe companys One Coat Fiberglass
Reinforced Stucco is a dry, blended
R
ccement plaster engineered to the
hhighest standards for professional
pplasterers, contractors and architects.
TThe one-hour re rated formula can
bbe pumped and spray applied or
ttrowel applied over OSB and EPS
foam, plywood and EPS foam wall systems. For more details, visit
www.QUIKRETE.com.

54
the
TOOLBOX
Hand-held diagnostic and inspection tool
RIDGID
The micro CA-100 view-only inspection camera is part of
the Hand-Held Diagnostic and Inspection product line. The
camera allows for more detailed visual digital inspections
in hard-to-reach areas. The new larger 3-inch display atop
its comfortable, pistol-grip ergonomic design with one-hand
controls makes it easy to detect and diagnose problems.
An image rotation function eliminates any awkward hand
positions and allows for the image to be positioned for the best readability in any
tight situation. The product comes standard with four adjustable LEDs in a rugged,
waterproof 3/4-inch, 17-millimeter anodized aluminum camera head on a exible,
waterproof 3-foot cable. The cable can be expanded to a maximum of 30 feet with
available extensions. The cameras viewing picture quality is focused and clear.
Wall drainage and ventilation mat

KEENE BUILDING PRODUCTS
The Cav-Air-Ator protects against moisture
issues in masonry applications by providing an
unobstructed air space for drainage and ventilation. The product is a full-wall drainage and
ventilation mat for full brick or stone masonry
walls. It prevents mortar from entering the cavity, clinging to wall ties or blocking weep holes.
The design allows it to be light and exible so
that the wall ties that it rests on top of can support it. The Cav-Air-Ator is made up
of an extruded polymer matrix of entangled monolaments that form block-shaped
channels. In masonry walls, it leaves 96.5 percent of the cavity unobstructed and
free to breathe. A lightweight, ltered fabric is laminated on one side of the product
to prevent mortar from entering the cavity while still allowing enough nger room
to lay the brick. The high airow and lack of mortar intrusion allows efcient liquid
moisture drainage and uniform airow in all directions.
Window and door

foam sealant
POWERS FASTENERS
TriggerFoam Pro Window and
Door Foam is a professional
grade, low-pressure, gun
applied polyurethane foam
sealant. This foam does not
distort window and door frames
when expanded. The product adheres to wood, metal,
masonry and concrete. It seals gaps
and joints, insulates, stops air inltration and saves time and money and
is ideal for use around pipes, wires
and ductwork. The foam is dispensed
though a standard foam gun that allows
the user to control the ow rate and
the diameter of the bead. The easily adjustable applicator can dispense
foam beads as small as 1/8 inch,
allowing for precise placement of the
foam. The precision value helps prevent
pressure loss and prolongs shelf life.
Voids should be filled approximately
30 to 40 percent to allow for the nal
expansion of the foam. The product
is safe to use, containing no CFCs no
PCBs and no urea formaldehyde as
they are being dispensed, and has a
neutral odor. The stop-and-go application product remains liquid in the applicator until dispensed.
Liquid-applied heat barrier

HENRY CO.
LiquidFoil Attic Barrier is a liquid-applied, lowemissivity radiant heat barrier that can reduce
energy demand and improve home comfort yearround. The product is an efcient radiant heat
reector that keeps approximately 80 percent of
radiant heat out of the attic. The barrier installs
in one day and is two to three times faster to
install than insulation and sheet-applied barriers and less expensive. Unlike many competing liquid radiant heat barriers, it does
not require mixing Part A with Part B at specied rates and does not use aluminum
powder (Part B) that can become airborne, creating a breathing hazard and coating
surfaces with unwanted shiny dust. The barrier also allows vapor to escape, which
prevents condensation and moisture accumulation. In addition to blocking radiant
heat, it also keeps warm air from escaping in cold weather. It can be applied to drywall, masonry, concrete, ceiling tile, plaster and previously painted surfaces.
55
Below-grade waterproong
product
PAREX USA INC.
The WeatherSeal BG is a below-grade
waterproong product for use on horizontal and vertical surfaces. The product
lls a void in the WeatherTech product
line which was exclusively focused on
above grade applications. With the addition of this product, the company is able
to offer a complete waterproong and
moisture protection solution for nearly
any exterior construction application.
classied
To place a classied ad in Walls & Ceilings,
Contact Paula at 727-550-3903 888-887-2852 Fax: 336-998-6741 Email: salesqest@aol.com
MARKETPLACE
EMPLOYMENT
SOFTWARE
SPRAY EQUIPMENT
20 x 50
WINDSCREEN
UNDER $200
Northwest Wall & Ceiling Bureau,

Executive Director
Salary: DOQ plus excellent benets
The Executive Director will act as the
face of the organization and be known
as a credible, knowledgeable leader
to his or her peers. The ED will understand industry challenges and work toward solving industry issues. He/She
will uphold and expand on the already
established, excellent reputation of
the organization.
Tarps And Windscreens

New and Used Scaffold
New Equipment
Used Equipment
Hoses and Nozzles
Please send a cover letter and resume

electronically to Waldron & Company:
info@waldronhr.com.
888-383-7274
PDQUIPMENT.COM
For more information about NWCB visit

their website at http://www.nwcb.org/
14 years experience
TOOLS
ESTIMATING
OUTSOURCE
ESTIMATING INC
Former Chief Estimator, Princeton BA
Als Taping Tools and Spray Equipment
(800) 458-7895 | www.drywalltools.com
Known For Thorough Estimates

Since 1982
Quickbid & On-Screen Takeoff
Estimating & Software Training
Gary Mazzilli
www.outsourceestimator.com
PH: 804-684-5613
SUBSCRIBE
online at
WC12102OUTS.indd 1
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wall and ceiling contractors, interior contractors,
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distributors since 1938.
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today!
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ADVERTISERS
index
ADVERTISER
This index is provided as an additional service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.
RAC#
Allied Building Products
PG#
WEB ADDRESS
PHONE
58
www.alliedbuilding.com
(800) 4-ALLIED
www.drywalltools.com
(800) 458-7895
Als Taping Tools & Spray Equipment
366
56
Armstrong World Industries
103
www.armstrong.com/contractorsonly
(877) ARMSTRONG
CertainTeed Ceilings
308
13
www.certainteed.com
(800) 233-8990
CertainTeed Gypsum
153
17
www.certainteed.com
(800) 233-8990
ClarkDietrich Building Systems
154
21
www.clarkdietrich.com
(800) 543-7140
Fiberweb
328
www.typar.com/metrowrap
(800) 281-2780
Flex-Ability Concepts
129
14
www.exabilityconcepts.com
(866) 443-3539
Florida Wall & Ceiling Contractors Assoc.
144
37
www.fwcca.org
(407) 260-1313
Hy-Flex Corp.
323
35
www.hyexcorp.com
(866) 849-6246
Lafarge North America/Gypsum
106
BC
www.lafarge-na.com
(800) 237-5505
Larsen Products Corp.
182
22
www.larsenproducts.com
(301) 776-4595
MBCI
183
34
www.mbci.com
(877) 713-6224
Metal-Lite
240
51
www.metal-lite.net
(866) 313-3584
IFC
www.nationalgypsum.com
(800) NATIONAL
www.oncenter.com/WallsAndCeilings
(866) 627-6246
56
www.outsourcesestimator.com
(804) 684-5613
National Gypsum
On Center Software
244, 245
Outsource Estimating
23, 47
PDquipment
355
56
www.pdquipment.com
(888) 383-7274
Perfect Wall Inc.
240
56
www.perfectwall.net
(866) 313-3584
Peters & Sons
181
48
www.ldpeters.com
(800) 221-9933
Phillips Manufacturing
184
26
www.phillipsmfg.com
(800) 822-5055
Plastic Components, Inc.
159
39
www.plasticomponents.com
(800) 327-7077
SPEC MIX, Inc.
342
www.specmix.com
(888) SPECMIX
Stockton Products
251
www.stocktonproducts.com
(877) 862-5866
Strait-Flex International
261
www.straitex.com
(888) 747-0220
Structus Building Technologies
112
12
www.hydrotrimcorner.com
(888) 662-6281
Stuc-O-Flex International
160
43
www.stucoex.com
(800) 305-1045
Stud Chopper Tools, LLC
186
48
www.studchopper.com
(985) 641-2753
Super Stud Building Products, Inc.
120
27
www.edgesteelframing.com
(800) 477-7883
Syntheon, Inc.
321
15
www.accel-e.com
(888) 922-2353
The Quikrete Companies
349
11
www.quikrete.com
(800) 282-5828
Total Wall, Inc.
198
IBC
www.totalwall.com
(888) 702-9915
Trim-Tex, Inc.
118
45
www.trim-tex.com
(800) 874-2333
Wind-Lock Interiors
185
www.wind-lock.com
(800) 872-5625
57
Sponsored by Allied Building Products Corporation
CONTRACTOR PROFILE
WALL SYSTEMS INC. OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
he year was 1986 and Ronald Reagan was half-way

-through his second term of president of the United
States. The Cold War was folding and the country was in
a state of economic stability. This year marks the founding of Wall Systems Inc. of Southwest Florida.
This Sunshine State contracting firm, based in Naples,
has grown in the last 25 years to become one of Floridas
most prominent wall and ceiling contractors.
As a leading drywall contractor, the company pledges
that it only uses domestic manufacturers (primarily USG
and National Gypsum stock). Wall Systems also does
metal framing, EIFS/stucco and commercial plastering
(interior and exterior). Wall Systems is bondable with
an A rated carrier. In addition, the company is the only
UL Qualified Firestop Contractor in the state and one of
the first fourteen contractors to be certified by Factory
Mutual under the FM 4991 standard.
Really I think our niche service would be in firestopping and the reason I say that is because we are certified
installers by Factory Mutual and UL. And that is relatively rare, says Russell Budd, owner and president of
Wall Systems. It is a tedious and expensive process to go
through the accreditation to become a certified contractor. In our market area, we are the only contractor that
has both the FM and UL accreditation.
Another of the companys top priorities is safety.
Accidents on the job site affect the workplace in multiple
ways, so we take safety seriously, the companys Web site
reads. In addition to maintaining a Drug Free work zone,
all employees are thoroughly trained in the latest OSHA
standards. Wall Systems employs an independent Loss Control Specialist to regularly inspect job site conditions. The
companys Gary Jarrell has been in Risk Management since
1990 and is a Registered Safety Officer through the International Board of Environmental Health and Safety.
Another facet to Wall Systems is that it can offer Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business services
through a partnership with its sister company WS Contracting LLC.
SLIPPED IN THE TRADES, NEVER LEFT

Budds career began in the trades after he graduated from the
University of Florida with a degree in building construction.
58
I went to work for a drywall contractor fresh out of

school as an estimator, Budd says. Frankly, I thought it
was a job Id do until something came else along.
Im still waiting, he jokes.
That decision has lead him to a very successful career
within the wall and ceiling trade that takes him all over
southern Florida. Currently, Wall Systems has a staff of
70, which Budd says was three-times more before the
recession hit.
Budd reports that this year, business will see an
upward climb from 2010, with contracts taking the
company well through the year. Presently, Wall Systems
has two high-profile projects with VA hospitalsone in
Miami and one in Cape Coral. He anticipates next year
being even better.
The companys distributor is Allied Building Products
Corp. The construction materials supplier has been working with Wall Systems for almost a decade now, when
Allied Building acquired Osprey Building Materials.
Budd says Allieds service has been excellent. Allied
supplies products to both Wall Systems interior and exterior business line.
Budd is actively involved in trade and civic associations, currently serving as a Vice-Chair of the Leadership
Collier Foundation Board of Directors. He is a past chair
of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Board of
Directors, a past president of the Florida Wall & Ceiling
Contractors Association, and a former board member of
the Florida Home Builders Association. He is a past president of the Collier Building Industry Association, where
he was selected as the 1994 Builder of the Year, and
in 2010 he was one of the inaugural inductees into the
CBIAs Collier Housing Hall of Fame for his contributions in advancing the construction industry.
As a man from Gator country who beats the bushes,
you would be excused to think Budd would have the
nickname Crocodile Hunter. Well, thats not the
case. Budd doesnt claim the legacy of Steve Erwin nor
does he wrestle crocs in the Outback. As a hobbyin
addition to his devotion to Florida footballhe hunts
turkey. And thats all over North America. Wall Systems Inc. of Southwest Florida should then have very
special Thanksgivings. W&C
PLATINUM EXTERIOR SHEATHING
Platinum Protection
for serious professionals
Jeanne McGrath, President

Holmes Drywall Supply, Inc.
One of the Midwests largest drywall distributors
We are very serious about meeting the needs of todays construction professional,
and for our customers nothing but the best will do. Jeanne McGrath
Introducing Weather Defense Platinum, Lafarges newest exterior gypsum sheathing
offering superior mold and mildew resistance backed by a 12-month exposure warranty.
Weather Defense Platinum is easier to handle and cut than traditional berglass-faced
boards and has the industrys highest percentage of recycled content (over 90%) for
higher LEED credit contributions.* Get covered with Platinum Performance.
*For specic LEED credit information visit certguide.lafarge-na.com
www.lafargenorthamerica.com s 1-800-237-5505

2011-05-06 Walls &amp; Ceiling

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Complete line of extruded

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