Site planting is an important part of most construction projects. When done correctly, planting can add the final touch to a project. Plants may be valued for their aesthetics, but they are living things, and have specific requirements, including nutrition, water, and sun. Failure to meet these basic requirements...
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Two nearly identical domes constructed in different climate zones provide an opportunity to evaluate the ways in which environment and weather affect service life and performance of construction materials. One of the domes is located in the Southeast, in a hot, humid climate, and the other is located in...
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While determining the sequence of tasks is the responsibility of the general (or sub) contractor, the designer should consider where guidance is needed to highlight important sequencing issues.
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The multicolored exterior brick masonry on a 1920s commercial structure exhibited various patterns of distress.
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Aluminum accounts for the greatest share of the U.S. commercial market for windows, doors, and skylights. Its manufacturing versatility, structural longevity, performance dependability, and near-infinite recyclability contribute to its popularity.
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Exterior steel elements—both structural (e.g. columns) and architectural (e.g. handrails)—need to be protected from corrosion, usually with high-performance coatings. However, even high-performance coatings degrade when exposed to severe environments.
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Insulating glass units (IGUs) are often used in window and curtain wall assemblies due to their improved thermal performance as compared to assemblies with monolithic glass infill. However, monolithic glass can function for the life of the building (barring breakage), while IGUs can fail over time.
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Occupants of a recently completed building reported localized peeling of wallcoverings from partition walls (primarily coinciding with the brick cladding/exterior curtain wall interface), as well as condensation on many interior surfaces during the cooling season.
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'All aluminum can be anodized’ is a valid statement, but can be misunderstood and lead to failure in managing expectations for color variation. It would be clearer to state, ‘only aluminum can be anodized,’ while the other metal constituents.
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At a three-story office building built in the 1980s, interior water leakage routinely occurred on the second floor. Typically observed during wind-driven rain, it resulted in wetting of interior finishes and subsequent mold growth.
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