Virginia Beach Schools' Moisture Problems

Combat.Coatings — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:21:26 -0500

Many schools in Virginia Beach have experienced moisture problems from various sources. One of the primary sources of moisture is the breakdown of water-proofing tars that have allowed moisture to invade interior cinder-block walls. Once the moisture is ensconced in the cinder-block, mold is soon to follow. Once mold is established, occupants of the building, both teachers and students, begin to experience “Sick Building Syndrome”. No less than three schools have already been demolished due to “Sick Building Syndrome” and more may follow.

We have been able to spray a layer of foam directly onto the cinder block wall that will act as a moisture barrier in between the cinder block structure and the outside brick wall. This foam layer also deadens sound, acts as a thermal barrier, and of course, stops moisture intrusion.

(See School Construction video)

The Memory Center

Combat.Coatings — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:14:34 -0500

During the winter of 2008, Combat Coatings®, LLC was approached to provide spray foam insulation in the roof deck of a new medical research facility located at 1851 Old Donation Parkway in Virginia Beach. The foam insulation had to fill two important roles: First, it had to act as an excellent thermal barrier; secondly, it was imperative that it negate the noise of low-flying, Navy “Hornet” jets from nearby Oceana Air Base. The consulting architect on the project had originally called for standard two pound density wall foam. If you read my letter to the contractor dated 15 February 2008, you will note in paragraph # 3 that our recommendation was to use “open cell” or half pound density foam insulation due to the superior STC rating and Sound Absorption Rating. We have attached independent test results that validate our recommendation. Both architect and contractor evidentially agreed to use the “open cell” foam that we recommended and the project is now two thirds complete. With oil trading at $115.00 per barrel, we know that the R value of 39 in the roof deck will provide lower energy consumption for decades to come; and, the live-in patients at this new research facility will enjoy an environment free from the impact of noise from the local air base.

Monolithic Dome Home

Combat.Coatings — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:02:06 -0500

We were selected to act as the foam insulation applicator on a unique home located at 4737 Piney Swamp road in Hayes, VA. The home is a 2,200 square feet Monolithic Domed Home built completely of brick and masonry by a master mason for his wife.

The foam insulation was applied in stages: Stage One consisted of spraying a three inch thick layer of closed cell, two pound density foam against the exterior brick wall of the domed structure. You may be able to note from the photos that the plastic roof of the dome is being held up by a high pressure air pump that actually creates enough positive pressure inside the dome to hold the plastic roof in place during this phase. The air pump is the same type used to circulate air inside huge grain elevators to keep the grain from absorbing moisture. Our workers entered the dome by using an “air lock” at the front door. You opened the outside door, secured it, waited until the pressure had time to build within the air lock chamber and then entered the work area of the dome. Once we had sprayed the three inches of foam on the exterior brick walls, the mason could pick his time to lay the interior course of brick which would form the interior wall. The result was a very sturdy and energy efficient wall structure.

Phase Two was begun after another contractor specializing in “spray-on” concrete came out and sprayed a two inch thick layer of “spray-crete” on the outside of the plastic dome which was still being held in place by air pressure from within the dome. This “spray-crete” is essentially the same material used on expensive in-ground swimming pools. Once the “spray-crete” had cured, we were called back to the site to spray a three inch thick layer of closed cell foam against the inside of the plastic roof dome. Please note from the photos that we employed a carousel scaffolding system that allowed us to literally roll right around the dome with little or no effort. Once that foam was complete, we helped install re-bar hangers to the foam that employed a serrated prong to embed into the foam, leaving a six inch tail used to tie the steel re-bar into the overhead. The steel re-bar would give the dome a tremendous load capability. Once the installation of the re-bar was complete, the final step was the application of another two inches of “spray-crete” to the inside of the dome to complete the very energy efficient structure.