Why Do You Need an Expert Historic Restoration Contractor?

Restoring or remodeling older commercial properties presents special challenges - lead and other hazardous building materials used before 1978, non-standard building materials and methods, and building practices that no longer meet code.

Working on these types of projects requires special knowledge, expertise, skills, equipment and material sources that remodeling contractors working on newer homes don’t generally have.

How can you be sure you’re hiring a reputable historic restoration contractor?

First, if there’s a local preservation review board in your area, they might have suggestions of restoration engineers and contractors that will work respectfully with historic properties. Additionally, look at the scale and scope of work local contractors typically do and see if it’s consistent with what you need to have done.

If the renovation is extensive, the engineer will verify that the property will physically and operationally handle the changes ordered up by your restoration engineer. An engineer can also inspect the building envelope and advise you on reconfiguring spaces that aren’t ADA compliant, and help you adhere to local ordinances about changes in a historic district or historic properties.

Learn more about the do's and don'ts of restoring historic brick buildings on our website!

Learn about the IEI Advantage Today!

IEI’s expertise is trusted by owners and property managers of all sizes, including some of the nation’s largest property portfolios. In addition to answering the request for advice, consulting, and peer reviews, IEI is sought after for their expertise in the form of educational speaking events for national organizations as well as articles in major national publications.

Contact us today to get a quote and see how we can help you keep the historic value of your building alive.

What to Look for in a Historic Renovation Contractor

With age, the façade of your building may experience degradation due to normal wear and tear and chemical exposure. Moisture, either penetrating the exterior or escaping the interior of a building, can cause rust and deteriorate supports. 

Water vapor pressure trapped within the veneer along with freeze/thaw action can result in cracks and spalls. Building movement in the form of shortening, caused by creep and shrinkage, and foundation settlement can cause cracks, spalls and buckling of the façade.

Thirty or more years ago, not much was known about the effects of moisture changes and building movements on facades. Consequently, buildings constructed in this era lack modern detailing, including expansion and contraction joints and flexible connections, which address these effects.

If your historic property is beginning to show signs of aging, it’s time to hire a historic restoration contractor. How can you be sure you’re hiring someone reputable?

Commercial and residential contractors do great work, but most remodeling contractors are not trained or experienced in dealing with preserving historic properties. Make sure the company you hire is vetted by local organizations that work to preserve the value of historic buildings and their relevance to modern life.

Hiring the right historic restoration contractor is key, as the preservation of historic properties can be complex. Issues they may run into include:

• Lead and other hazardous building materials used before 1978
• Non-standard building materials and methods
• Building practices that no longer meet code
• Addressing current ADA accessibility requirements
• Aging and damaged structural elements

Learn more about historic restoration and the do’s and don’ts on our website!

IEI’s expertise is trusted by owners and property managers of all sizes, including some of the nation’s largest property portfolios. In addition to answering the request for advice, consulting, and peer reviews, IEI is sought after for their expertise in the form of educational speaking events for national organizations as well as articles in major national publications.

Contact us today to get a quote and see how we can help you keep the historic value of your building alive.

Best Practices for Snow and Ice Removal on Parking Structures

Do you maintain a parking structure or parking garage at your facility?

When winter hits, are you truly prepared to take care of the snow and ice buildup?

Before the snow hits, there are some items to add to your to-do list that will make snow clearing easier and will help ensure you avoid costly repairs when the snow finally melts.

1. Don’t use metal or steel snowplow blades in the garage! Use urethane or heavy rubber edges.
   
   
2. Only use de-icing agents that are parking garage-friendly! Sodium acetate, potassium acetate, and calcium magnesium acetate are good to use in advance of snowfall. Avoid sodium chloride (rock salt), calcium chloride, and ammonium nitrate in a garage as these accelerate corrosion of reinforcing!

Visit our website to read the entire list, and learn more about parking structure inspection!

Innovative Engineering Specializes in Parking Structure Inspection

Innovative Engineering has been helping owners with parking structure inspection since 1995. Unlike most other building systems that are protected by a conditioned building envelope, parking structures are directly exposed to the elements which results in exponential or accelerated deterioration. Therefore, early and inexpensive parking garage restoration practices produce a ROI much higher than that of other building systems

Our engineers are glad to walk your facility and let you know of any conditions that require immediate attention and what maintenance activities you can perform now to extend the life of your facility. Since the back of IEI business cards contain a crack gauge, you can easily evaluate any cracks within your structure to determine if it is of concern. Give us a call today!

Prep Your Parking Structure for Snow and Ice

Is your parking structure properly prepped for any inclement weather?

Have you noticed in between snow clearings that your parking structure is starting to show spalls or leaks?

Before the snow hits, there are some items to add to your to-do list that will help ensure you avoid costly repairs when the snow finally melts.

Visit our website to read the full article about winter parking structure inspection!

Innovative Engineering Specializes in Parking Structure Inspection

Innovative Engineering has been helping owners with parking structure inspection since 1995. Unlike most other building systems that are protected by a conditioned building envelope, parking structures are directly exposed to the elements which results in exponential or accelerated deterioration.

Therefore, early and inexpensive parking garage restoration practices produce a ROI much higher than that of other building systems

Our engineers are glad to walk your facility and let you know of any conditions that require immediate attention and what maintenance activities you can perform now to extend the life of your facility. Since the back of IEI business cards contain a crack gauge, you can easily evaluate any cracks within your structure to determine if it is of concern. Give us a call today!

What is Progessive Collapse and How Does it Relate to Blast Design?

IEI routinely conducts peer reviews of both structural and physical security designs on behalf of the federal government. A fundamental concept used in blast design is the Conservation of Energy Principal – energy cannot be created or destroyed. However, a blast can hit a building and transfer its energy, much like a bowling ball knocking down pins.

The UFC defines Progressive Collapse as “The spread of an initial local failure from building element to building element, eventually resulting in the collapse of an entire structure or a disproportionately large part of it.” Progressive Collapse can be prevented by adding redundancy and local hardening to the structural design of the building.

UFC 4-010-01 aim to reduce collateral damages and the scope and severity of mass casualties in buildings in the event of a terrorist attack. It encourages the use of cost effective, implementable, and enforceable means of protecting personnel if such an attack were to happen.

UFC 04-010-01 identifies 21 standards that must be considered for physical security design. These standards include but are not limited to:

• Building overhangs and breezeways
• Exterior masonry walls
• Windows and skylights
• Building entrance layouts
• Exterior doors

Read the full list and learn more about blast design engineering on our website.

Innovative Engineering Inc., Provides Blast Design Expertise

It is highly advantageous for the physical security consultant to assume Engineer of Record responsibilities. If this does not happen, you will often be left with a report of requirements by the consultant that have not been actually incorporated into the construction documents.

Innovative Engineering will be exhibiting at The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Small Business Conference this year at the Georgia World Congress Center! Come get your picture with Bigfoot!

How Does Blast Design Engineering Minimize Damage to Buildings?

The job of a blast design engineer is to understand the risk and consequences of an explosive event, and then to develop methods for reducing the potential harm caused to people and critical assets.

How can you be sure your building is protected and built with the latest standards in physical security?

A prevailing myth about the Physical Security design process is that a consultant can begin their involvement with the project after 35% design of the project is complete. This is too late though, as by this time, sites have been selected and laid out, and the building structural and envelope systems have already been selected.

Risk assessment forms the basis for physical security and bomb blast design. Assets should be categorized and prioritized, threats should be identified regarding aggressors and potential tactics, and you must be aware of any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by these aggressors.

How can blast design minimize damage? Find out more on our website. 

Innovative Engineering Inc., Provides Blast Design Expertise

It is highly advantageous for the physical security consultant to assume Engineer of Record responsibilities. If this does not happen, you will often be left with a report of requirements by the consultant that have not been actually incorporated into the construction documents.

Innovative Engineering will be exhibiting at The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Small Business Conference this year at the Georgia World Congress Center! Come get your picture with Bigfoot!

Structural Inspection of Your Roof

A roofing inspection starts below the roof itself. If you’re able to inspect your attic/plenum space, you can identify where water is entering the building. This assists in finding where leak locations are on the surface of the roof.

Roofing and flashing materials will age naturally due to age, UV exposure, and water. This can happen in just 6 to 8 years even if specified and installed properly. Staying on top of roof inspections will help prevent damage and save money in the long run.

“Ponding” is defined as water that has pooled on a surface for over 48 hours. It’s the most common factor in roofing and plaza slab failures, and is most commonly the result of improper drainage via sloping, gutters, and scuppers.

Learn more about structural building inspection on our website!

Need a structural building inspection you can rely on? We use the highest standards to determine the safety of your building. Contact us today!

Every deficiency noted is analyzed to determine the root cause and severity. Most often this analysis is conducted during the inspection, and later documented.  Severity levels for deficiencies are classified as follows:

•     Unsafe condition
•     Requires repair/stabilization
•     Ordinary maintenance