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Cleaning Concrete
It’s hard to find a building today without concrete surfaces stained by rust. Rust stains can adversely transform the aesthetics of a beautiful building. How can rust stains be removed? Let’s find out! Once rust staining has occurred, it is important to remove the stains without altering the color or finish texture of the concrete. […]
Glass Canopy Tips
A glass canopy is an attractive and practical way to enhance your building entrance while also providing added curb appeal. Known as overhead glazing, an entrance glass canopy can keep the weather away and bring natural light inside the building. Here are some suggestions, if you are thinking about dressing up your building entrance with […]
Don’t Be Confused
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. : )
Wanted for Breaking & Entering
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 […]
Don’t Forgo The Soil Sampling
Occasionally we run into a building owner that regards soil sampling and testing as an unneeded extra expense and asks if we can forgo this effort. Generally, soil is sampled by using a drill rig that bores into the ground up to 40-feet, or more deep. Small samples of the various soils that are found […]
Helpful Tips For Daylighting Design
1. Best type of light is natural daylight. Availability of daylight changes across the day. Successful daylight for a building depends on site location, building facade orientation and size of openings. 2. Allowing daylight into interior spaces saves on the electricity bill and daylight provides natural healthy environment for the residents. 3. The head height […]
Planning For A Handicap Ramp
If you are planning to build a wheelchair ramp (also known as handicap accessible ramp) in an existing building, it would be best to have a checklist of design considerations before starting the project. Familiarize yourself with the American Disability Act (ADA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A117.1 that define general design parameters. Most […]
Degrees of Study
Engineering studies fall into a number of categories, from general condition surveys (such as reserve studies and pre-purchase inspections) to problem-solving investigations and forensic examinations. Within those categories, there are generally three (3) levels of need. Preliminary Study Often a client simply needs a quick, visual review in order to confirm that certain issues exist […]
Carbon Monoxide Check
Did you know carbon monoxide (CO) detectors have shorter life span than most household equipment (such as air conditioning units, water heaters, washers and dryers etc.)? On average, carbon monoxide detectors have service lives of about five years. If you have not replaced your carbon monoxide detectors in the past five to six years, they’ve […]
Advice From An Architect
Five design tips for Window replacement. Try to find original drawings or photographs that best depict the original design Fads come and go. Consider timeless style for finishes and colors, pick options that are appropriate and blend with surrounding materials. Understand performance classifications for windows published by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and National […]
Lobby Design Essentials
The lobby is the first impression of the building, it’s perceived to reflect the personality of its owners and residents. Renovating a residential building lobby can entail a steep learning curve for first-timers or seasoned managers, depending upon the complexity of the project. We present the following checklist of items to consider before embarking on […]
Time To Caulk?
Applying caulk to stop leaks is not always a good thing. Sometimes it makes matters worse by trapping water in the building façade instead of letting it drain. Here are a few areas where NOT to caulk: *Along window or door head lintels on brick facades – leads to advanced corrosion of the steel support and […]