As a building envelope consultant, it pains me to visit a project only to see the water-resistive barrier (WRB) whipping in the breeze and self-adhesive flashings (SAFs) coming apart at the seams. I think, “That might become a leak issue, and there’s got to be a better way.” For some time, clever contractors, in an effort to prevent vulnerable wall construction from becoming water infiltration problems, resorted to using a variety of foundation or roof coatings that were not particularly sanctioned or purpose tested for exterior walls. Then, about 20 years ago, a few manufacturers began offering liquid-applied materials specifically designed as WRBs, air barriers, and flashings.
The Top 10 Waterproofing Mistakes We’ve Seen in the Construction Phase
A waterproofing “mistake” is the failure of a product or installation to perform given the specific environment. In layman’s terms, it is a leak.
