Hi,
I have a 5 year old 5,000 SF commericial building with split face block exterior. We have had some problem since new with seepage at the floor (it’s all drywalled inside) and exterior drainage has been ruled out. I hired a commercial builder to build this building and he doesn’t think it is the roof, flashing or parapets(the roof is steel). Before the building was painted, we had alot of water wicking thru the block and I think this may be whats is happening now. Most of the problem occurs at the back wall and I expect the gutter is overflowing and sheeting down the wall after a heavy rain. The side walls are 20′ high and it is a pain to check the gutters for leaves and pop bottles, etc. The builder cut the ends of the gutter lower in an effort to make them “self cleaning”
I called an architect friend and he recommended elastomeric paint. I talked to the builder and he said they used a block filler and many coats of latex, but he did mention “pin holes”.
Any ideas before we repaint?
Thanks,
Bob
Replies
Is the block filled with anything? Grout, vermiculite insulation, foam? How about weep holes and flashing at the wall base? Is water running down the inside of the block wall or seeping through?
Post any information you can on this regard.
Eric
Eric,
There is no insulation in the block. Walls are furred out metal studs w/ fiberglass batts. I don't think there are weep holes. I'm doing this from memory as the building is 300 miles away.
Bob
bob, in your post you mention, parapets, and back wall. My question is, what type roof design so you have?, If I threw a dart at your problem, I hit water entering at the roof deck/ masonry junction and running down on the inside of the block cores. Did I mention that I'am no good at darts. Jim J,, How high is your finished floor above exterior grade??
We've had a roofer there and he seems to think things are all right. Metal wall cap is in place. Floor level is above grade except at front and rear door. We had a painter look at it yesterday, but haven't heard back yet.
Bob
What is the weather there?
Hot and humid outside, AC inside?
Cold outside, warm and moist inside?
Condensation?
SamT
It's in central Kansas, hotter than XXXX in the summer. Interior is Office use with HVAC. Problem occurs after heavy rain.
Bob
Here in Chicago Lots of new 3 flat condo buildings have been built using single 8" split face block for the sides and back. The fronts are usually a nice face brick.
Almost all of these buildings have weepage/ leakage problems through the split face block. Most often the owners are told to do a periodic coating of a masonry sealer (every year or two) to reduce/ eliminate the leakage.
Find a good mason. It seems that the split face block looks nice but is to porous to be the sole barrier to the weather.
Jim
I had the same problem. Three coats of a waterproofing paint.