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Small Project Practitioners

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The last message(s) which were posted to this Discussion Forum

1 to 10 of 1436 messages
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Date Subject Author
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May 17, 2013
1. RE:Painting Brick Lynn Anderson, AIA
2. Consumer Reports media inquiry Scott Frank
3. RE:Painting Brick Dennis McNeal, AIA
May 15, 2013
4. RE:Painting Brick Christiaan Semmelink, AIA
5. Painted brick houses Edward Acker, AIA
May 14, 2013
6. RE:Painting Brick Roger Retzlaff, AIA
7. RE:Painting Brick Mr. Nelson B. Nave, AIA
8. RE:LinkedIn's definition of Architecture Paul Gladysz, AIA
9. RE:Painting Brick Robert Larsen, AIA
10. painting brick Ms. Sabina Weitzman, AIA


1.
 RE:Painting Brick
From: Lynn Anderson, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 17, 2013 12:09 PM
Subject: RE:Painting Brick
Message:
How about using a gray colored brick and a gray colored mortar to get that monolithic look without painting the brick?

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Lynn Anderson AIA
Anderson Architecture, PLLC
Southern Pines NC
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2.
 Consumer Reports media inquiry
From: Scott Frank
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 17, 2013 10:45 AM
Subject: Consumer Reports media inquiry
Message:
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Custom Residential Architects Network .
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Hello -

I need a source that can speak to the latest developments in residential windows and glass technologies.  Deadline is COB Monday (Tuesday at the leatest).

Please let me know if you can serve as a source and I will connect you w/ the reporter.

sfrank@aia.org

thanks!

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Scott Frank
Director, Media Relations
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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3.
 RE:Painting Brick
From: Dennis McNeal, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 17, 2013 7:58 AM
Subject: RE:Painting Brick
Message:
Can you use white brick? Painting brick seems like it's asking for trouble since the brick face will no longer be able to dry from the exterior & moisture from the cavity will be trying to come out on that face.

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Dennis McNeal AIA
Autodesk, Inc.
Manchester NH
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4.
 RE:Painting Brick
From: Christiaan Semmelink, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 15, 2013 10:40 PM
Subject: RE:Painting Brick
Message:
Carol

Unfortunately the Brick Institute and masons are right.  Particularly as we seal things up and mechanically heat and air condition buildings, the vapor drive will push the paint off the brick and/or trap moisture in the face of the brick thereby destroying the surface quickly through freeze/thaw cycles.  Let it breath!

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Christiaan Semmelink AIA
Christiaan Semmelink AIA LEED AP
Salem MA
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5.
 Painted brick houses
From: Edward Acker, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 15, 2013 9:57 PM
Subject: Painted brick houses
Message:
I was the architectural review chair for a 45-year old community of 118 brick townhouses in northern Virginia, about 10% of which were painted. Most of the painted houses had problems with paint flaking off and mildew forming on often shaded wall surfaces that rarely dried out. Painted brick was often discolored from water spatter at the ground and leaf stains in the fall. Those with fireplace chimneys were in the worse shape due to extreme temperatures and more moisture penetration. Chimney bricks often spalled. Unpainted brick houses were rarely in trouble. Trying to get 118 owners to maintain their houses up to standard was like herding cats. The paint on brick issues only exascerbated those problems.

From the historic district perspective I would try to research the original brick condition of the neighboring historic houses. If they were orginally brick and later painted you could make a good case for using the natural brick and not designing in a long term maintenance problem for your client. My daughter built a house in Harpswell. Coastal Maine has three elements that will cause problems - moisture, cold, and trees.

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Edward Acker AIA
Senior Architect
Winchester VA
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6.
 RE:Painting Brick
From: Roger Retzlaff, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 14, 2013 9:56 PM
Subject: RE:Painting Brick
Message:
Painting brick will trap moisture in the material.  This is probably not as much of a problem for solid masonry walls as it is for cavity walls.  I see lots of older buildings with painted brick, but seldom for new.  Having the back side exposed in a cavity allows moisture to enter part of the brick.  There is always a moisture differential through the material.  When both faces are exposed to air, the absorption can moderate.  It affects expansion/contraction mostly: the painted side always lagging behind the unpainted.  Along with freezing-thaw cycling, there is greater stress on the membrane strength of the rainscreen that could produce cracking and mortar separation sooner.  If you have to paint, maybe use concrete brick or be very careful with paint selection.  I think there are some paints for concrete structures allowing moisture to move through the coating.  Can you get by with white brick?  You will save the owner a maintenance headache.  If you decide to paint, consider adequate time for mortar curing and adequately dry weather conditions.  Work with the brick and paint manufacturers to see what they recommend for the condition.

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Roger Retzlaff AIA
Green Bay WI
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7.
 RE:Painting Brick
From: Mr. Nelson B. Nave, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 14, 2013 6:41 PM
Subject: RE:Painting Brick
Message:


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Nelson B. Nave AIA
Owner
Nelson Breech Nave, AIA Architect
Kalamazoo MI
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Many times we have had warehouse type brick buildings that had their brick painted before...we stripped it or removed the loose paint, and painted the brick again.  We washed the wall with TSP and warm water and a natural bristle brush. Next, totally rinse the surface, and let it dry completely.  The brick should be dry by several hot sunny days.  Then, paint two good coats of Latex (which is breathable).  We used a color to look like brick from a distance.   It will come off eventually, but if you prep well it will stay many years.  The color will fade in the sun.





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8.
 RE:LinkedIn's definition of Architecture
From: Paul Gladysz, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 14, 2013 6:21 PM
Subject: RE:LinkedIn's definition of Architecture
Message:

Today I received a LinkedIn email with the subject line:
Paul: Microsoft, CA Technologies and Eclipse Combustion are looking for candidates like you.

It was for "Jobs you May Be Interested In" (even though I am not looking for a job, having only used LinkedIn to search for possible candidates) listing possibilities some algorithm decided would appeal to me. They were:

 

Principal Architect-BING

Microsoft
Greater Seattle Area

 

Principal Software Architect

CA Technologies
San Francisco Bay Area

 

Principal Engineer

Eclipse Combustion
Rockford, Illinois Area

 

eCommerce Architect

Open Systems Technologies
Greater New York City Area

 

Senior Memory System Architect - Samsung System Architecture Lab

Samsung Semiconductor
San Francisco Bay Area

 

In response I summited a request though their customer support contact page:

 

"Today I received an email from LinkedIn suggesting job positions in which I may be interested. As an architect licensed in 14 states my profession is clearly defined. The job postings suggested in your email were for computer programmers.

The use of the title "Architect" is governed by Title Acts or Practice Acts, laws enacted by the individual states. In California please see CA Business and Professions Code Chapter 3, Division 3. Also, under the CA Health and Safety Code Section 16002: "No person may use the title "Architect" who is not certified under the Business and Professions Code."

For a common definition of the term please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architect

I am asking you to be more diligent in the proper use of protected titles. I do understand that the word "architect" is not protected in a conversational sense. Clearly, however, your email lists job postings using the title "Architect" in plain violation of California law."

 

 

A short time ago I received this response:

 

"Hi Paul,
 
Thanks for taking a moment to reach out to me. I'm sorry to hear about the trouble caused by the Job results you've seen in the Jobs You May Be Interested In

 
I appreciate your understanding for the relation and explanation between the construction based Architect career vs computer based engineer title or commonly called a software architect. I'll definitely send your suggestion to separate these Jobs on to our product team. When lots of people ask for the same improvement, they try their best to get it done (but sorry to say, they usually can't provide a timeline).

As you look for a new position, here is a link to help: http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/global/a_id/389" href="http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/global/a_id/389" target="new">Job Searching Tips

 

Paul, if there are any other questions I can help you with, please let me know.

Regards,

Jon
Customer Experience Advocate"  

 

Evidently there have been several complaints along these lines. I expect it may be a while before we see any obvious improvement.

  

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Paul Gladysz AIA
BDA Architecture, P.C.
Albuquerque NM
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9.
 RE:Painting Brick
From: Robert Larsen, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 14, 2013 6:16 PM
Subject: RE:Painting Brick
Message:
Suggest you discuss this with a manufacturer's rep. from one of the major paint companies such as Benjamin Moore.

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Robert Larsen AIA
Principal
Robert R. Larsen, A.I.A.
Denver CO
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10.
 painting brick
From: Ms. Sabina Weitzman, AIA
To: Small Project Practitioners
Posted: May 14, 2013 6:03 PM
Subject: painting brick
Message:
As you notice, it's done frequently but still not recommended.  Painted brick seems like a good approach on a new structure in a historic district because even an inexpensive modern brick can look like it belongs with the right color paint.  Brick will absorb moisture, however, whether it comes from below grade or - assuming your brick is a veneer - from vapor pressure in the cavity.  The coating will need to be 'breathable' if the brick is to dry to the outside; the thought of brick faces popping off after a few cycles of freeze thaw is what the Brick Institute is concerned about.  I have specified lime-based paints for historic brick buildings (check out Virginia Lime Works) - this is 'whitewashing' but you can have pigment added and it can be applied in a number of coats to be opaque.  The application requires a bit more care and you'll want to have your painter experiment some. 
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Sabina Weitzman, Architect
Fredericksburg VA
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