Building Envelope & Waterproofing Consulting

Building envelope failures are one of the most common causes of major repairs in multifamily communities.

Mason CMI assists with projects involving:

In the world of construction, waterproofing is rarely about a single product; it’s about the continuity of the building envelope. When managing a project, the goal is to ensure that water is shed effectively from the roof to the ground without finding a single weak link in between.

Here is a breakdown of key waterproofing systems designed for high-performance construction management.

Exterior Wall Systems

The exterior wall is the building’s first line of defense against wind-driven rain and humidity. Modern construction relies on a Rain Screen approach rather than just a barrier.

  • Air and Vapor Barriers: Essential for preventing moisture from migrating through wall assemblies. Depending on the climate, we utilize permeable or non-permeable membranes.

  • Flashings and Weeps: Critical at the base of walls and above openings to direct any moisture that penetrates the cladding back to the exterior.

  • Sealant Joints: High-movement joints require specific backing rods and high-grade silicone or urethane sealants to maintain a watertight seal over time.

Balcony and Deck Structures

Balconies are notorious for being high-risk leakage points because they are horizontal surfaces exposed to the elements.

  • Traffic Coatings: Multi-layer polyurethane or PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) systems provide a durable, waterproof wear surface for pedestrian traffic.

  • Positive Drainage: We ensure all structural slabs are sloped (typically 1/4″ per foot) toward drains or scuppers to prevent ponding.

  • Threshold Integration: The most common failure point is the transition between the deck and the interior floor. We prioritize seamless membrane integration at the door sill.

Window and Door Systems

Windows and doors are “interruptions” in the building envelope. If the transition between the wall membrane and the window frame isn’t perfect, the system fails.

  • Self-Adhered Flashing (Pan Flashings): Every rough opening should have a “pan” to catch and redirect water.

  • End Dams: We ensure that flashings have turned-up ends to prevent water from running off the sides of the sill into the wall cavity.

  • Testing Protocols: For high-rise or high-exposure projects, we manage on-site AAMA 501.2 water hose testing to verify the integrity of the installation before the interior finishes begin.

Roofing Coordination

A roof is only as good as its tie-ins. The most complex part of roofing isn’t the field of the roof; it’s where the roof meets the walls (parapets) and penetrations.

  • Counter-Flashing: We coordinate the “shingling” effect where wall membranes overlap roofing membranes to ensure gravity works in our favor.

  • Penetration Management: Standardizing how pipes, HVAC curbs, and anchors are flashed—ideally using liquid-applied membranes for complex shapes.

  • Termination Bars: Mechanical fasteners used at the top of membranes to ensure they don’t peel away from the substrate over time.

Construction Management

Once the hammers start swinging, our role shifts to oversight. We act as the bridge between the client and the contractor to ensure the project stays on track.

  • Quality Assurance: Regular site visits to ensure the work matches the specifications in the contract.

  • Schedule Oversight: Monitoring milestones to prevent “project creep” and ensure timely completion.

  • Change Order Management: We scrutinize any requests for extra costs, ensuring they are legitimate and fairly priced.

  • Close-out: Handling the final punch list and ensuring all warranties and lien waivers are signed and delivered.

We work with engineers, architects, and specialty consultants to ensure repairs are planned correctly.