Building Envelope Consulting – Walker Consultants

Incomplete Building Envelope Designs Leave Building Owners with Costly Repairs

Walker Consultants — Fri, 29 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000

St. Louis, MO. – In cities like St. Louis, rainfall, temperature swings, and prolonged moisture exposure constantly test exterior materials, turning small enclosure vulnerabilities into costly restoration issues.

In humid coastal, urban, and inland environments, hidden envelope vulnerabilities can lead to widespread water intrusion years after construction.

So, what’s the problem?

Moisture-related issues are often discovered long after water has already penetrated the building.

That small stain you walk past every day has already traveled through your building’s envelope, hitting multiple areas that have yet to reveal themselves.

That brisk draft you feel might just be an early sign that your building envelope is no longer performing as intended.

Left unresolved, building envelope issues can affect indoor comfort, material performance, and air quality for those within the building.

Better Designs, Better Buildings, Better Solutions

Some of the most expensive building envelope failures begin after construction is complete and everyone assumes the envelope will perform as designed.

Many failures do not start with major storms or structural damage. They often start with one missed flashing detail. One failed sealant joint. One poorly designed transition between materials.

At Marina Place, a seven-story condominium building in Dunedin, Florida, just off the Gulf of Mexico, residents experienced significant water intrusion. Water was dripping from the middle of the ceilings and along the perimeter of the exterior wall onto the floor.

Walker’s investigation uncovered cracked stucco, failed sealant joints, and deteriorating façade conditions that allowed moisture to move deep into the building enclosure. What appeared to be isolated leaks had already spread through multiple exterior assemblies. When these transitions are overlooked, moisture rarely stays where it first enters.

Managing the flow of air, heat, and moisture begins long before occupancy. It begins with design.

When roofs, foundations, and vapor control layers are not designed to work as one system, moisture often finds the weakest connection first.

By the time signs appear inside, the damage may already be far beyond the point of a simple repair.

What can you do?

It is important owners take proactive measures to prevent water intrusion.

This includes diligent maintenance and strategic structural planning, regular inspections of roofs, basements and plumbing systems, and making sure the building envelope is properly sealed and waterproofed.

Long-term envelope performance depends on how water is managed from the beginning.

Roofs must drain quickly.
Standing water that stays on a roof for more than 48 hours can break down roofing membranes, find hidden imperfections, and accelerate failure.

Exterior walls need drainage, not just sealant.
Wall cladding sheds most rainwater, but some moisture always moves behind the surface.

Routine inspections of drains, flashings, seams, and roof penetrations help prevent moisture from entering the building in the first place.

When flashing, sealants, or drainage planes fail, water can become trapped inside the wall assembly, leading to mold, corrosion, and interior leaks.

Foundations should move water away from the structure.
Poor site grading, clogged drains, or damaged waterproofing membranes can allow water pressure to build against foundation walls.

Material transitions matter most.
Many envelope failures happen where systems meet.

Roof to wall
Wall to window
Wall to foundation
Slab to exterior wall

That pressure often pushes water through cracks, joints, or below-grade transitions and can also lead to failures in the foundation.

These intersections are often where moisture finds its first opening.

In a city like St. Louis, built on historic masonry and exposed to constant seasonal swings, long-term building performance often depends on how well the enclosure manages moisture over time.

For more information, visit www.walkerconsultants.com.

Introducing: Walker’s Kansas City Office

Walker Consultants — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:40:00 +0000

We’re excited to announce the opening of Walker’s new office in Kansas City. While our local experts have supported projects in the city and across the region, our new brick-and-mortar location deepens our commitment to the area and provides a base for exceptional client service. From building envelope consulting to property condition assessments, parking design and consulting, restoration, and beyond — we’re proud to offer our full range of services right here in KC.

Meet Our Local Experts

Joelle Lattimer, PE, CxA+BE, BECxP, and Brian Hulsey, PE are our local leaders and experts in Kansas City.

Contact our Team

FISP Made Easy: Our QEWI-Led Team for NYC DOB FISP is Here to Guide You

Walker Consultants — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:29:24 +0000

When it comes to compliance and safety, we are prepared to deliver prompt and effective solutions to building owners’ needs. Our experienced and responsive QEWI-led team will guide you through the Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) from New York City Department of Buildings.

FISP Cycle 10 Has Started.

What is a QEWI? What do they help with?

A Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) is a registered design professional (ex. Registered Architect or Professional Engineer) that meets a certain level of experience and qualifications, set by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), to inspect a building and assess the condition. Obtained through the New York City Department of Buildings Facades Unit, each QEWI is approved by the DOB to perform the façade inspection and complete the façade report filing for the NYC FISP.

While many design professionals may be experienced with both designing and assessing various façade assemblies across the country, the QEWI certification from the City of New York requires local professionals to submit documentation of at least 7 years of professional experience in performing New York City façade inspections. Also, it requires a working knowledge of numerous types of existing historic and modern masonry and other exterior enclosures to ensure that unsafe and deteriorated façade conditions are correctly identified, prioritized, and repaired.

Walker’s QEWI is Your Guide

Sara Holcomb, PE, a QEWI, in our New York City office, has worked on numerous façade inspection and restoration projects across the five boroughs of New York City. Catering to commercial, residential, hospitality, and historic properties, she is well-equipped to offer strategic advice, detailed project management, and expert oversight. Our QEWI’s expertise can help your building’s exterior comply with DOB standards.

The History of the Façade Inspection Safety Program

The Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) façade ordinance originated out of NYC legislation intended to protect the public health and safety from the risks of falling and deteriorated façade materials, due to aging building stock in New York City.

The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) first instituted a façade-related inspection ordinance, referred to as Local Law 10 in 1980, when a piece of masonry debris fell and killed a pedestrian on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Later amended and known as “Local Law 11”, the ordinance mandated maintenance and necessitated buildings to be classified as either “Safe”, “Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Plan (SWARMP)” or Unsafe. Over the last 44 years, well-publicized façade failures and resulting tragedies involving fatalities or injuries have expanded the complexity and strictness of these inspections and report filing requirements surrounding the NYC façade ordinance.

Exceptional Client Responsiveness on Critical Life Safety Issues

Our QEWI, together with our team of building enclosure experts, offers technical expertise to assist with projects that may arise from a New York City FISP filing:

Immediate repair design and protection recommendations related to addressing unsafe conditions per NYC DOB requirements.
Repair prioritization and façade project feasibility and phasing studies
Compliance with historic preservation
Bidding and construction administration services

For a comprehensive understanding of FISP requirements and their impact on your properties, visit our detailed FISP page.

For property owners and managers, safeguarding the structural integrity and compliance of your buildings is paramount. By partnering with Walker’s QEWI led team, you gain more than just compliance assurance—you receive a strategic ally dedicated to the longevity and safety of your property portfolio. Let our expertise in building envelope consultation enhance your property management strategy, supporting every aspect of your building exterior so that it is not only compliant but also optimized for future resilience and efficiency.