Anyone know where to buy a RILEM tube?

[William J. Decker]

I want to purchase a RILEM tube, for measuring masorny wall porousity, but can't find any place that sells them.

Anyone have any sources?

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Try here Will... http://www.prginc.com/Masonry/rilem.html

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by jjonas

Try here Will... http://www.prginc.com/Masonry/rilem.html

Thanks. Tried there, before, but the link didn't work. Yours did.

[relliott]

With all the split block around here, that might be a good tool to have.

[William J. Decker]

As well as generally, for masonry inspections.

Look at this picture. New brick veneer house.

Note the efflorescence pattern around the door and window.

Proper flashing above both, BUT, the lintel / stone interface was sealed with caulk.

The result? Interior water flowing over the end dams of the flashing and running down the wall on the door and window side. The water source was from the gap between the balcony stone and the stone wall. Water, just pouring down behind the wall, getting stopped by the flashing, but over running the flashing because it had no place to go.

BTW: There were weep wicks, but they were caulked shut as well.

When will they ever learn.

[relliott]

Coulkd swear I see wicks in the picture but must be the white caulk.
Also almost looks like a see a line of rust along the lintel edge.

Source was a gap under the concrete coping at the balcony Will?
I take it there was no moisture barrier under the coping.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by relliott

Coulkd swear I see wicks in the picture but must be the white caulk.
Also almost looks like a see a line of rust along the lintel edge.

Source was a gap under the concrete coping at the balcony Will?
I take it there was no moisture barrier under the coping.

1) There were weep wicks, but weep wicks alone are not sufficient to drain out standing water. Weep wicks should extend about 1' up in the wall and wick out moisture. The open lintel / brick (or in this case, stone) interface allows the water to drain from the flashing AND allows for ventilation.

2) No flashing under the coping, but also an open area (see attached picture) and also note the staining on the coping with the efflorescence below.

Hope this helps;

[Michael J. Merino]

Hey Will, Is there a tool you DON'T have?

[William J. Decker]

Just rge ones I need to do the job.

It's not what tools you have, it's how you use them

[relliott]

Looks like that guardrail is cracking the concrete.

[Kenneth E. Sitzes]

http://www.chimneysaver.com/mat_tube.html
1 800 860 6327

[William J. Decker]

Thanks, Ken.

With regards to the water problems we have been having with masonry buildings around here, here is a great picture that I took, in passing, on my way to an inspection, yesterday.

Typical problems:
1) No flashing of coping stone at parapet walls.
2) No flashing at joist ends
3) No flashing at lintels
4) No flashing at sills
5) No flashing at stone accent transitions.

Go figure. The picture says it all. A 2 1/2 year old condo building.

[Michael Larson]

H

Originally Posted by wdecker

Thanks, Ken.

With regards to the water problems we have been having with masonry buildings around here, here is a great picture that I took, in passing, on my way to an inspection, yesterday.

Typical problems:
1) No flashing of coping stone at parapet walls.
2) No flashing at joist ends
3) No flashing at lintels
4) No flashing at sills
5) No flashing at stone accent transitions.

Go figure. The picture says it all. A 2 1/2 year old condo building.

Sorry, I gotta ask. How can you tell all that from a picture taken from 50 feet away?

[William J. Decker]

1) I am very familiar with such consteuction, having inspected many of them.
2) You learn to read the efflorescence patterns.
3) And, most important, I stopped back, after the inspection, and looked at the building.

I cheat

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by wdecker

1) I am very familiar with such consteuction, having inspected many of them.
2) You learn to read the efflorescence patterns.
3) And, most important, I stopped back, after the inspection, and looked at the building.

I cheat

I knew I'd wriggle the truth out of you.