Masonry Magazine December 2016 Page. 37
Jeremy Douglas
Mason contractors across the country face similar challenges when out in the field. With the help of Hohmann and Barnard's director of technical services, Jeremy Douglas, Masonry delivers answers to some of your most technical, complicated questions.
Q. I see a lot of masonry con�spray equipment from yourlocal supply 4. Check penetrations for air tractors installing fluid-applied yard or rental house. But whatever you leakage. Somebarriers seal better than air barrier systems. I have a do, use the spray equipment Rolling the others, depending on their elasticity couple of projects coming up fluid-applied systems will usually lead and dry-thickness. Any penetrations where we were going to subcon�to applications ofless than the required that are made to the barrier will need tract the barrier installation, but dry-thickness, and ultimately a loss of to be airtight, whether the air barrier I think I'd like to see us move to�continuity -not to mention the fact acts as the sealing agent or you use a ward keeping that in-house. Do that you will be on site three or four secondary tape, washer orother sealant you have any advice to help us times longer thanifyou were spraying. to accomplish the same thing or to act be successful? Most manufacturers have certifi�as a redundancy.
A. Do I ever. You're right, more con�cation classes for application of their 5. There will often be a third-party tractors are performing the air barrier fluid-applied systems. Be sure to take consultant who will advise on the air work themselves, and I think this is a atleast one. Insome cases, it will be re�barrier installation throughout the really good thing. The air barrier sys�quired on certain projects; but more process. It may sometimes seem as if tems will usually interface with the importantly, the information youwill they are being difficult or picky, but flashing materials and veneer anchors, gain will reinforce your ability to deliver in the end they are trying to help you so I firmly believe the mason contrac�a solid product deliver the best installation possible. tor should have as much control over Ifyou have the option, use fluid�Try to work with them without taking that interface as he/she is comfortable applied transitional materials. Some air their comments personally. with. Also, on CMU backup projects, barrier systems have both traditional 6. Partner with your manufacturer. you have the ultimate control over sur�self-adhering tapes and fluid-applied They are your best resource for face preparation for the barrier system, transitions that you will apply with a technical information, troubleshooting, which is so critical to the successful ap�caulking gun and a trowel. Provided and problem solving and will be a plication ofa fluid-applied system. it is self-supporting, a fluid-applied necessarypart ofyour process on every
My advice is as follows: transition will be much faster to apply, project adhere better to the substrate, and
1. Understand what you are try�achieve continuity better than the self�While not every issue you may come ing to achieve. A fluid-applied system adhered tapes. across is addressed here, this is a short list is meant to be completely continuous 3. Be sure ofwhat will be required ofthe issues some air barrier installers across the entirety of the building at ofyou at the terminations/transitions struggle through when learning what a specified thickness. This means the of the fluid-applied system. Ifthe sys�these systems are all about. I absolutely integrity of the backup wall must be tem is to terminate inside ofa window support you and other contractors who solid, any holes or gaps must be filled opening, establish ahead oftime how want to better control the quality of or covered prior to application, and far into that opening you are required the installed components ofyour wall there must be no gaps or voids in your to go so you connect to the window systems. Best of luck to you. lMAS coverage ofthe substrate or where you unit as intended. It is 11nlikelyyou will Jeremy Douglas, CS/, CCPR, has wind up connecting to the roofing or connect the fluid-applied material nearly 20 years ofexperience in below-grade waterproofing system. directly to the roofing system or the the masonry industry working with
veneer systems. He is director of
2. Rent the sprayer. Buy the sprayer below-grade waterproofmg system,
architectural services for Hohmann
ifyou like, but until you find one that so plan out those transitions ahead of
& Barnard and can be reached at
works best for your company relative to time and ensure that the transitions are
JeremyD@h-b.com.
size, output and cost, you can test drive without compatibility issues.
34 I MASON RY � December 2016 � www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry