5thWall

Welcome to 5thWall, LLC.  We are Building Diagnostics Consultants.  We are specialists in all aspects of the Building Envelope including roofing, waterproofing, moisture and air barriers, and wall and window systems.  Our expertise is in design, evaluation and condition assessment, testing, and construction quality assurance.  5thWall services include:
   Design
   Roof/Envelope Asset Management
   LEED Assistance
   Building Envelope Commissioning
   Garden Roof Design
   Non-Destructive Testing
   Envelope Integrity Testing
   Forensic Investigation
   Evaluation and Condition Assessment Surveys
   Production of Schedules, Plans, Specs and Cost Estimates
   Construction Adminsitration
   Expert Witness
   Constructability Review
   Construction Quality Assurance and Inspection
   Development of Maintenance Programs                        

 

Our Approach

Our approach to any project involves key items:

•Teamwork
•Communication

Our goal is to provide our clients with all the information needed to help them make better decisions.  A team approach is fostered for every project by including team members representing the Owner, Contractor(s), and Design Team at a minimum.

Our approach includes several items, all of which are geared to providing a clearly defined and cost-effective result.  Such items include but are not necessarily limited to:

  A.  Establishment of project requirements based on criteria such as building usage, environment, budget, and specific needs.

  B.  Thoroughly investigating all parameters of the project.  Items to be noted include, but are not necessarily
       limited to:

       • Physical features
       • Drainage
       • Building usage
       • Building location
       • Make up of existing systems
       • Hazards affecting performance of the work
       • Minimization of penetrations
       • Insulation needs 

C.  Preparing clear and concise design documents, estimated construction costs and schedules.

Construction Quality Assurance

Professional construction quality assurance helps verify construction is taking place as specified.  Simple documentation of daily progress or construction deficiencies is not in and of itself satisfactory.  As the site representative, upon discovery and/or notification of any deficiencies 5thWall will immediately inform the client and the contractor thereby enabling problems to be corrected promptly before construction continues, not later when it may be impractical or more difficult and costly.  Construction quality assurance functions generally include:
• Providing experienced personnel for quality assurance monitoring of materials, workmanship, and sequence of construction per project specifications.
• Routinely documenting material storage and protection, application procedures, site and weather conditions, crew size and progress.
• Conducting supplemental ASTM laboratory testing as required.
• Providing consultation as construction problems arise.
• Formulating a correction punch list.
• Conducting a final inspection.

Non-destructive testing equipment and methodologies are routinely used as a diagnostic tool.  Non-destructive testing can be utilized for determining the presence and location of moisture entrapped within various assemblies ultimately resulting in development of a long term, cost-effective, watertight solution.  Non-destructive testing can also be performed of various building components as an evaluative tool for a wide variety of analytical procedures.

Experience with Project Costs

As 5thWall personnel have been providing building envelope design and consultation services for over 30 years, we have an extensive database of costs as well as an intimate familiarity with materials, systems, the environment, and the resultant effects of those characteristics on any given project.  We have a successful track record with regard to maintaining budgetary control with our projects routinely brought in within established budget limitations.

Construction Administration

5thWall professionals assist in maintaining control of the project through a thorough understanding of administrative functions to assure that the project is constructed in accordance with plans and specifications and that no changes are made without the client’s prior knowledge and approval.