STONE AND TERRA COTTA WALL SYSTEMS
This property loss investigation focused on developing terra cotta faliures at the highest levels of the church and bell tower. Large sections of terra cotta were spalling off the building. Previous catastrophically damaging repiars and water intrusion into the steel reinforced interiors of the hollow tiles, coupled with ongoing, inappropriate repairs all factored into our diagnosis of the near collapse of the terra cotta systems on this 100 year old church in New Orleans.
Dimensional stone and terra cotta are installed as veneers applied over a drainable cavity, or airspace, employing varying types of backup support walls and waterproofing strategies. These systems are commonly designed to allow for water drainage from within the airspace. Historic stone and terra cotta systems are solid assemblies that are not installed as veneers but form the entire depth of the wall.
Investigations of stone and terra cotta wall systems include the evaluation of age related decay, water intrusion, effloresence issues, spalling and crazing, construction and installation defects, material defects, and maintenance or repair related damage to surfaces.
Representative Investigations
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church at Loyola Univesity, The Chamberlin – Chesapeake Bay, VA
Huntington Bank Tower – Clerveland OH
Milsaps College – Jackson, MS
Sincere Building – Cleveland, OH