Mass Masonry Buildings, Part 2: Investigating, Diagnosing, and Mitigating Leakage Problems

Monumental mass masonry buildings serve as important historic touchstones and cherished symbols of our communities and campuses, but leakage and related deterioration problems often plague them—making their care and stewardship challenging. However, investigating and mitigating leakage problems in these buildings is no easy task. First, there is no standardized procedure for identifying and diagnosing the underlying causes and paths of water leakage that pose significant threats to the historic interior finishes or the structure. Second, there are no solutions to mass masonry wall leakage as simple as finding and patching a hole in a membrane. Instead, experienced investigators and designers must bring their cumulative knowledge and experience to identify signs of leakage; conduct testing to replicate leakage; diagnose leakage causes and paths; and develop solutions tailored to the specific building, issues, and circumstances. In the second session of this two-part webinar series on mass masonry buildings, we will review the causes of leakage and related problems; discuss investigation and diagnosis strategies; and share detailed examples of solutions to mitigating leakage, while maintaining and respecting the historic character and appearance.