Masonry Magazine February 2009 Page. 22
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
# A new approach
WHAT MAKES THE LATEST moisture management products different is the innovative designs and use of non-traditional materials. Last month, Hohmann & Barnard Inc. in Hauppauge, N.Y., started making all of its self-adhesive flashing membranes with a clear adhesive instead of asphalt. Chris Bupp, head of the architectural services division, says the clear adhesive offers an aesthetic advantage.
"Rubber asphalt has a low melting point. If you extend it to the end of the wall, that wall can get warm enough to melt the asphalt," Bupp says. "Asphalt will melt out between the brick joints and run down the face of the building."
Although a drip plate can solve the bleed-out problem, not everyone likes to use them, he says. "Some builders and architects don't want to use a drip plate because of the stainless-steel line running through the face of the building."
The company's clear adhesives can withstand higher temperatures than asphalt without melting. "The clear adhesives have a much, much higher melting point," Bupp says. "They have a melting point of 350 degrees. That pretty much eliminates that melting problem."
Hohmann & Barnard also took a new approach to drip edge. Flex-Flash is a three-inch wide membrane that's tough enough to resist tears, yet stays flexible, even in extreme hot or cold temperatures. Available in five colors to match mortar or brick colors, the drip edge is not susceptible to degradation from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
"The product can be brought tight to the edge, because it isn't affected by UV rays," Bupp says. "We can make it in different colors to match the building so it disappears."
Keene designed its Driwall mat to be used in a wide range of applications, including brick, stone and masonry, which means installers don't have to switch products for different areas of the building, O'Neill says.
Moisture Management
# The Total System Approach
by Christopher Bupp
Masonry has long been considered one of the most sustainable and durable building materials in the construction industry. Today's cavity walls require the proper use of numerous masonry accessories to reinforce and tie together multiple wythes of masonry, plus control and expansion joints to handle movement. Flashings, air/vapor barriers, mortar collection devices, weeps & vents are designed to effectively manage moisture within the wall assembly.
For 75 years, Hohmann & Barnard has been the leading manufacturer and fabricator of all types of innovative products for the masonry world. As 21st century masonry walls become more complex with stricter code requirements, increased energy efficiency and more creative designs, the need has developed for systems or groupings of products that will function together and that have been tested to assure their compatibility and effectiveness.
Once again, Hohmann & Barnard is leading the way with complete systems for various wall types that include all of the required accessories for the project. Our extensive field experience along with testing at our R&D lab allow us to offer complete systems of complementary and compatible products to give designers, contractors and building owners peace of mind. To find out more, or to determine a system specific to your project needs, please contact Patricia Hohmann at Hohmann and Barnard, 1-800-645-0616