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Damn Ice!…oh, I mean Ice Dams
As I write this blog this morning, I am looking out at the parking lot and roofs with snow and ice accumulation. This yet again reminds me of last winter and the HUGE amounts of snow our area experienced and I am thankful that we have not seen those snow totals so far this year. […]
The Importance of Welder Certification
We have come across some really poor quality welds recently, which were performed by companies claiming to use qualified welders. We do not know if the welders just had a bad day or they were not certified for the welds being performed. This highlights the need to use American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welders with […]
Timber Retaining Walls
Preservative (pressure) treated wood is among the most common materials used in the construction of retaining walls. Ground-contact rated is standard for that use, but a GC label doesn’t tell the entire story. The important factor is preservative retention – the amount of chemical that remains in the wood after treatment, usually expressed as pounds […]
You Want Us To Inspect What?!
In another example of ETC boldly going where not many have gone (or would go) before, Luke Valentine from our office recently completed assessments of several underground storm water management structures. He visually inspected thousands of feet of buried corrugated steel pipe, and located defects such as fully corroded pipe walls, crushed pipe sections, and […]
Pavement Seal Coats
For many years the gold standard in pavement seal coats was coal-tar emulsion. It’s far more resistant to water than asphaltic products and virtually invulnerable to attack by petroleum-base automotive fluids. Superior performance notwithstanding, coal tar is now banned in many jurisdictions and will probably go the way of asbestos and lead paint. It’s been […]
The Importance of GPR Testing
We took this photo recently while on a project. It shows a reinforcement bar that was partially cut by a core drill when a plaza drain was being installed and highlights the reason that all slabs should be scanned with a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) before drilling. A GPR can locate embedded steel reinforcement and […]
Alphabet Soup
If you’ve ever read an engineering report you’ve probably encountered a lot of acronyms. Here are some we frequently mention, with short explanations of what they mean. For the sake of brevity, we’ve only described items as they relate to building construction. APA – The Engineered Wood Association, formerly known as the American Plywood Association. […]
Cracking The Building Codes
Building codes were established to help ensure safety and some level of reliable performance in the construction industry. In the United States, the most widely known “model codes” were developed by Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International, Inc. That organization has evolved into the International Code Council (ICC). Governing bodies (states, counties and cities) […]
3G (Gimmicks, Gadgets & Gizmos)
Hardly a day passes when the inbox doesn’t include an advertisement for some miraculous new product, guaranteed to stop leaks forever, eliminate maintenance and otherwise make our lives easier. Property managers and owners must be on the same mailing lists because we encounter a fair number of these products in the field (usually soon after […]
No Project is Complete Without Proper Paperwork
Obtaining the proper documentation is an important step in closing out a successful project. Many projects that run smoothly up until substantial completion can fall apart at the end because the Contractor drags his feet completing the punch list items and providing the necessary final paperwork. Ten (10) percent of the contract amount should be […]
Joint Sealants
Joint sealants (caulks) are often used as a quick fix to address a problem leak, but proper attention to material selection and the joint onto which it is applied can make the difference between a long-term repair and a recurring leak. See our BLOG entry on proper sealant joint preparation, design, and application http://blog.etc-web.com/?p=854. The […]
All About Clay
Clays are among the most useful and versatile materials on earth. Next to wood, it’s been the most common building material across the history of mankind. There are few households on earth that aren’t filled with products made of clay, from coffee mug to toilet bowl. It’s used in medicines and cosmetics. Industrial uses of […]