BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTING / FORENSIC ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING
Building Envelope Consulting / Forensic Architecture & Engineering
We’re sometimes asked, “Why should I hire a building envelope consultant?”In today’s economic climate, risk management and protecting the value of real estate assets are top priorities for property owners and managers. Water intrusion can be the single most destructive factor to the structural integrity of a building. If left unchecked, it can cause untold damage – and literally bring a building down.
Building envelope consultants play a vital role in managing risk, and sustaining a structure’s health, longevity and value. By performing forensic building envelope assessments – a complete examination of a structure’s exterior from roof to below grade – we provide an accurate professional assessment of the structure’s current condition, weatherability and susceptibility to water intrusion. During our over 20-year-history, we have seen literally thousands of building envelope details, and worked on buildings of every type, from those on the drawing board to some over 100 years old.
Our core services include building envelope consulting for the design phase of new construction and existing projects, weatherproofing/waterproofing design and consulting, structural engineering, and indoor air quality assessments.
As a full-service firm, we work with architects, contractors and building owners on the design phase of new construction projects, as well as on the remodel or remediation of existing buildings. We provide waterproofing consultation and plan reviews, from Design Development through Construction Documents. We design building envelopes for new projects, design repairs for existing projects, develop repair scopes, including plans and specifications, obtain bids, oversee repairs and provide construction management services.
As independent observers of the construction phase for both new and existing projects, we ensure that all building envelope systems are properly constructed, and meet manufacturers’ specifications and standards for product warranties. Our services extend to third-party assessments of exterior finishes (brick, stucco, EIFS, metal panel, composite siding), window and door installations, roofing system design and repair, and the application of protective coatings, caulking and sealants.
Specialty projects include waterproofing consultations for parking lot decks and ecoroofs, and providing structural assessments for ecoroofs retrofits.
Litigation support services include serving as expert witnesses and providing independent third-party assessments for construction defects in new and existing projects.
As forensic architects and engineers who thoroughly understand proper design and construction, and who are focused on the latest advances in building envelope science, our services can save owners and property managers hundreds of millions of dollars over a structure’s lifetime.
“Over the past decade, Western Architectural has consistently provided superior services to Sean Gores Construction and our clients. It is because of their constant professionalism and attention to detail that our projects are often used as a hallmark of building rehabilitation.”
—Sean Gores, Sean Gores Construction
—Sean Gores, Sean Gores Construction