Resilience Treatments & Strategies
Wall Structure
Description
The upright parts of your building’s superstructure (the building’s load-bearing elements) that support upper stories or the roof. Load-bearing parts of a wall may include wood framing (dimensional lumber or heavy timbers), solid masonry, metal columns, reinforced concrete, and other construction types. Wall construction can also use a hybrid of different technologies. Except for load-bearing masonry, the wall structure is often concealed behind finishes.
Typical risk factor of this component:
Moderate
The wall structure generally has little exposure to elements such as wind and rain. However, it is highly important to the structure’s stability and the impact a failure might have on other assemblies is also high.
Typical Damages from Floods or Hurricanes
- Uneven settling (a.k.a. differential settlement) between building areas or elements
- Large cracks (over 1/8” thick) in masonry walls
- Wood frame members (e.g., studs) have become waterlogged and are buckling, bowing, cupping, or swelling
- Deteriorating bedding mortar
- Adobe or dried masonry becoming waterlogged
Other common conditions contributing to vulnerability towards floods or hurricanes
- Deformation within walls due to thermal expansion
- Movement of soils (see also Soil)
- Adobe or dried masonry is exposed without being protected from water damage
- Vegetation growing in or through exterior walls
- Metal components oxidizing, expanding, and causing structural damage to surrounding wall
Resilience Treatments and Strategies
In-house
Air out the building immediately following water infiltration and saturation, limiting the use of forced ventilation to avoid drying surfaces too quickly. If mold is present, consult specialists that treat hazardous materials.
Install and check crack monitors on large cracks to determine their stability.
Implement an integrated pest management plan.
Professional needed [type]
Reinforce wall structure and its connections with structural stiffening members to improve strength to forces such as wind and fast-moving floodwaters [engineer].
Repair, coat (e.g., paint, galvanize), or replace damaged metal components with similar assemblies that will resist oxidation [architect].
Perform deep repointing of bedding mortar, after addressing underlying causes of mortar loss [architect].
- Consolidate wood frame members or reinforce with epoxy if appropriate and necessary to improve strength [architect or engineer].
Wall Structure
Description
The upright parts of your building’s superstructure (the building’s load-bearing elements) that support upper stories or the roof. Load-bearing parts of a wall may include wood framing (dimensional lumber or heavy timbers), solid masonry, metal columns, reinforced concrete, and other construction types. Wall construction can also use a hybrid of different technologies. Except for load-bearing masonry, the wall structure is often concealed behind finishes.
Typical risk factor of this component:
Moderate
The wall structure generally has little exposure to elements such as wind and rain. However, it is highly important to the structure’s stability and the impact a failure might have on other assemblies is also high.
Typical Damages from Floods or Hurricanes
- Uneven settling (a.k.a. differential settlement) between building areas or elements
- Large cracks (over 1/8” thick) in masonry walls
- Wood frame members (e.g., studs) have become waterlogged and are buckling, bowing, cupping, or swelling
- Deteriorating bedding mortar
- Adobe or dried masonry becoming waterlogged
Other common conditions contributing to vulnerability towards floods or hurricanes
- Deformation within walls due to thermal expansion
- Movement of soils (see also Soil)
- Adobe or dried masonry is exposed without being protected from water damage
- Vegetation growing in or through exterior walls
- Metal components oxidizing, expanding, and causing structural damage to surrounding wall
Resilience Treatments and Strategies
In-house
Air out the building immediately following water infiltration and saturation, limiting the use of forced ventilation to avoid drying surfaces too quickly. If mold is present, consult specialists that treat hazardous materials.
Install and check crack monitors on large cracks to determine their stability.
Implement an integrated pest management plan.
Professional needed [type]
Reinforce wall structure and its connections with structural stiffening members to improve strength to forces such as wind and fast-moving floodwaters [engineer].
Repair, coat (e.g., paint, galvanize), or replace damaged metal components with similar assemblies that will resist oxidation [architect].
Perform deep repointing of bedding mortar, after addressing underlying causes of mortar loss [architect].
- Consolidate wood frame members or reinforce with epoxy if appropriate and necessary to improve strength [architect or engineer].