Miscellaneous

There is a lot of talk these days about using drones to inspect exterior building walls. Aside from issues regarding safety, liability, federal regulations, etc. there is little doubt that up close video photography can be a helpful tool. Visual inspection using binoculars from ground-level or other vantage points is a basic part of exterior wall inspection and investigation procedures. This process can only benefit from the use of drones in terms of being able to quickly examine large areas with good quality imaging (documentation).

However, any visual inspection is limited. An up-close inspection by a qualified inspector or engineer (using a roof-mounted swing stage, scaffolding, or a man-lift) provides the most reliable information possible by allowing the person to touch, probe, and sound (tap) areas of concern to check for delamination, stability, soundness, etc.

In addition, having an individual “on the wall” allows for intrusive sampling needed to determine in-place, hidden conditions. Visual examination alone cannot fully evaluate these matters.

Yes, drones can be a valuable part of an exterior wall inspection and/or evaluation. We own a drone and use it for certain inspections. However, drones alone are not capable of providing all the information necessary to perform a complete and comprehensive investigation of exterior walls or building conditions.

1.  Most importantly is your safety. Be sure to wear appropriate protection such as a hard hat, construction boots, yellow safety vest and safety glasses.
2. Make an appointment with the contractor/management and be familiar with the overall layout, prior to your visit. Upon arrival check in with the construction site supervisor.
3. Take photographs of the construction site and make field notes of your observations. Don’t forget to document date, time, project name and whom you met.
4. Take along a 25-foot tape measure for field dimensions and a flash light for enclosed rooms that may not have electricity.
5. The general contractor has authority and responsibility for the job site, therefore don’t direct workers, get in a debate or offer advice. It is best to state the purpose of your visit, make observations and be courteous

Advances in imagining and sonic technology have long been embraced by engineers and are being used every day to help evaluate buildings and building systems.  These gadgets can allow for an in-depth, minimally invasive, and cost-effective inspection with rapid results.  Plus, it is fun to pull out a toy that you might see in an action movie to help figure out a problem.  The following are found in most local consultant’s arsenals.

• Thermal Camera – Police, military, and ghost hunters use them and so do engineers.   Infrared thermography allows us to “see” hot and cold areas and can allow for a rapid scan of a room, roof, electrical panel, radiator, or a building façade for thermal anomalies.  These normally are found to be air and water leaks and help pinpoint locations that should be inspected more thoroughly.  Blue areas are cold and red are hot.
• Drones – Unmanned flying aircraft now are easier to maneuver and can take high resolution digital video and photos, which allows for the inspection of a roof or building exterior when access is extremely difficult or limited.  Government regulations are still in a state of flux related to this equipment, but the rules are getting clearer as time goes on.
• Ground Penetrating Radar – The same technology that allows police to scan a field for objects buried underground is used by engineers to emulate Superman and see what is in concrete.  The 3-D version can generate an image of what is embedded in a concrete slab.
  Impact-Echo – This device uses a special hammer and sound waves to measure the thickness of concrete and find buried defects that are not visible to the human eye by simply tapping the surface.
  Moisture Meter – Used to measure the moisture content of wood, drywall, and other building materials to help narrow down if a water leak is active and where it may be coming from.
• Boroscope – Spy movies show the hero inserting a fiber optic cable under a door or through an air vent to look into a room.  Engineers use this same technology to look behind walls or under floors by drilling a small hole instead of making a large opening.
  Infrared Thermometer – Allows an inspector to determine the temperature of an object without touching it.  This is especially useful when checking to see if a wall is warm enough to be painted.
• Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge – Measures the wall thickness of pipes or other metal objects using sound waves to help determine if they are corroded/damaged, inside, without having to remove a piece of the material.
  While technology is great, we do not rely exclusively on the digital output.  The best diagnostic tools we use are still those we are born with – eyes, ears, fingers, and brain. When an engineer combines their innate detective skills with modern gadgets, we begin to resemble a human Swiss Army Knife and can arrive at a solution for your building problem

As engineers, we write allot…I mean….alot….no, I mean A LOT of reports! Check out some of the most commonly confused words. I know my editor will be glad I shared this with everyone. : )

What’s not to like about furry little critters?  Squirrels are impressive, if frantic little athletes and raccoons have a certain mischievous appeal.  If you take the time to observe them, birds are fascinating.  But…when these little charmers invade our homes, they turn into obnoxious, destructive, noisy, fertilizer factories.  They eat our soffits and clog our dryer vents.  They smell bad.  They become vermin that must be ousted or eliminated.  It’s not entirely fair to blame them.  That dryer vent or attic makes a perfect nesting site, sheltered from the elements, inaccessible to most predators with plenty of room for the youngsters to play.

Eviction is tough and extermination is distasteful; so here are some hints to help keep the critters from getting into your home.

• Inspect the building exterior for loose boards, unsealed openings and unprotected holes in the walls, soffits, etc.
• Trim any overhanging trees and remove vines and ivy from walls.  These are highways for small animals like squirrels, rats or even snakes.  (On the plus side, if you have snakes, you probably don’t have squirrels or rats!)
• Where appropriate, install insect and bird/animal screens at vents and openings.  This can be tricky.  Improperly screened dryer vents can result in reduced efficiency or even a fire hazard and screening may be disallowed in some jurisdictions.  It’s also possible to reduce ventilation below acceptable levels in areas like soffit inlet if you install screening that’s too fine.
• If any new mechanical devices are going to be installed, require that they are appropriately protected with screens, guards, etc.
• Survey the building exterior and note ledges and outcroppings that are attractive to birds (look for bird droppings) and install bird repellants or guards.
• Make sure that windowpanes and screens are in good condition.
• Make sure that all ground level doors have an auto-close feature (springs, pneumatic closures, etc.).  Nothing is more inviting to squirrels and raccoons than an open door.