Our architectural division hosts informative and educational seminars for architects, specifiers and designers.

Architecture

Seminars

Hardscapes

Interlock & Precast Paving Systems & Walls
Examine and evaluate criteria for material selection, installation methods, sub-base materials, drainage, reinforcement as well as aesthetics, safety and durability, with regard to interlock and pre-cast paving systems and walls

Brick Paving Systems & Site Walls
Examine and evaluate criteria for material selection, installation methods, sub-base materials, drainage, and reinforcement, as well as aesthetics, safety and durability with regard to brick paving systems and site walls. Special attention will be given to water infiltration, efflorescence and brick selection.

Natural Stone Paving & Site Walls
Examine and evaluate criteria for material selection, installation methods, sub-base materials, drainage, and surface bonding, as well as aesthetics, safety and durability, with regard to natural stone paving and site wall systems.

Concrete Treatment & Repair

Concrete Imprint & Overlay Systems
Examine and evaluate criteria for material selection, installation methods, sub-base materials, drainage, and surface bonding, as well as aesthetics, safety and durability, with regard to concrete imprinted paving and overlay systems.

Concrete Restoration & Corrosion Resistance
Focus on concrete restoration and protection with regard to anodic and active protection. Discuss and explore in creased corrosion potentiality caused by standard patching.

Parapets, Coping, Flashings
A look at the history, function and present day need, caring and assembly of parapet walls, copings and related flashings. Course will discuss assembly problems with separation due to flashings, expansion concerns, anchors, materials and codes.

Waterproofing & Sealing

Water & Air Barriers
Examine and evaluate the various steps and methods of planning and protection. To protect substrate materials from water infiltration and decay failure. Material selection, detailing, and potential problems with each method will be evaluated so that the appropriate system may be selected.

Below Grade Waterproofing
Examine and evaluate the various methods of providing sub-surface waterproofing. Evaluate criteria for selection of appropriate materials. Review appropriate detailing, installation, and warranties available with the various systems, and limits of each.

Water Migration in Masonry

Bentonite Waterproofing, The Natural Choice
Examine and evaluate the usage of Bentonite waterproofing. Evaluate criteria for material selection, proper installation, usage and durability. Examine possible trouble areas of installation and usage and advantages of inherent characteristics of Bentonite.

Sealants
Evaluate criteria for sealant selection, utilization, installation methods, backer materials, substrate suitability, preparation, primers, joint design, life expectancy, cost and ease of use.

Building Joints & Connections
Identify different types of building joints, when and why each might be required, and evaluate the various methods of closure and sealing.

Deck / Balcony Surfaces
Discuss and Explore the causes of water infiltration, carbonation, corrosion and damage to parking decks and balconies, along with methods to prevent and protect these surfaces.

Firestopping

Firestopping Penetrations in Rated Walls and Fire Protecting exposed Structural Elements
Re-examine and evaluate the various methods of firestopping penetrations in rated walls, how different materials that penetrate need to be handled, fire tests. Rating systems and nomenclature of UL and other testing labs, the use of intumescent coating to express structural and visual elements, while providing protection.

Exterior Masonry Building Maintenance

Brick Basics and Veneer Construction
Examine and evaluate the usage of brick in paving and veneer wall constructions. Evaluate criteria for material selection, proper installation, usage and durability. Examine possible trouble areas of installation and usage and advantages of inherent characteristics of brick.

Selection of Masonry Exterior Wall Materials
Examine and evaluate the criteria for usage of various exterior masonry veneer materials and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each.

Brick Veneer over Steel Studs
What must be considered when designing a brick veneer system with a steel stud
back-up? Water penetration, movement, minimum design, standards, details, materials, inspection and workmanship details. Insulation methods for this wall construction is also addressed.

Basics of Brick Detailing & Preventing Moisture Migration
Detailing brick structures to avoid stresses that cause damage or failure, estimating movement, determining joint width, and how to locate vertical and horizontal movement joints. Address issues to dramatically reduce the likelihood of water penetration, such as design materials, installation, tooling, workmanship, cleaning, inspection, and proper flashing to remove moisture.

The Thick & Thin of Natural Stone
Selection, detailing, installation and durability issues in the utilization of natural stone as a veneer material. Rough stone and cut shapes will be addressed.

Imitation Stone Made Real
Examine detailing and installation to enhance the believability of imitation stone, while providing sound building protection.

Bricks & Stones

Brick Construction, Veneer & Solid Wall
Examine and evaluate the usage of brick in veneer and solid wall constructions. Evaluate criteria for material selection, proper installation, usage and durability. Examine possible trouble areas of installation and usage and advantages of inherent characteristics of brick.

Natural Stone Construction
Examine and evaluate the usage of stone veneer wall constructions. Evaluate criteria for material selection, proper installation, usage and durability. Examine possible trouble areas of installation and usage and advantages of inherent characteristics of stone.

Imitation Stone Veneer Systems - Thick & Thin
Examine and evaluate the usage of imitation stone veneer in wall constructions. Evaluate criteria for material selection, proper installation, usage and durability. Examine possible trouble areas of installation and usage and advantages/disadvantages of both thick and thin systems vs. natural stone.

Wall Systems

Stucco Systems
Examine and evaluate the usage and history of stucco in wall construction. Evaluate criteria for material selection, proper installation, usage, and durability. Examine possible trouble areas of installation and usage. Current EIFS problems, how they were caused and the future of EIFS and stucco in construction.

Fasteners In Construction
Proper Selection and utilization of construction fasteners and anchors.

Exterior Wall Coatings
Identify and evaluate key concepts of Stucco design and installation. Identify key concepts of coating methods and substrate evaluation.

Stucco Wall Systems
Identify and evaluate key concepts and process of stucco and coating design, selection, properties, historic origins, development of material, uses, limitations, advantages, life expectancy, and lifecycle costs.

Restoration

Planning & Protection Against Future Masonry Deterioration
Examine and evaluate the various steps and methods of planning and protection to protect masonry and specialty stone against deterioration and failure. Material selection, detailing, differing opinions and potential problems with each method will be evaluated so that the appropriate system may be selected.

Exterior Wall Deterioration
Examine and evaluate the causes of masonry wall deterioration. Evaluate criteria for material selection, proper installation, usage, durability and detailing to avoid problems and to diagnose their cause and specify the appropriate repairs for existing buildings.

Methods of Repair & Rehabilitation of Deteriorated Masonry Walls
Examine and evaluate the various steps and methods of rehabilitation for deteriorated exterior masonry walls. Evaluate criteria for material selection and detailing to avoid future problems and specify the appropriate repairs for existing buildings.

Repair and Rehabilitation of Deteriorated Specialty & Architectural Stone
Examine and evaluate the various steps and methods of rehabilitation for deteriorated exterior specialty stone and architectural details. Evaluate criteria for material selection and detailing to avoid future problems and specify the appropriate repairs for existing buildings.

Specialized Coating & Repair
Gain an understanding of the selection criteria and performance characteristics that will be most likely to deliver a long lasting and appropriate repair, patch or coating to restore building facades.