Proven Solutions for Every Envelope Challenge

If you're dealing with recurring water intrusion, rising energy costs, or envelope repairs that don't seem to hold — the problem is rarely the repair itself. It's the diagnosis. Most building envelope solutions fail because they address symptoms rather than root causes. A sealant joint gets replaced, but the underlying movement accommodation problem remains. A waterproofing patch is applied, but the drainage path obstruction that caused the original failure is still there.

ACE Building Envelope Design approaches every building envelope solution from a forensic perspective. Before we recommend a repair strategy, we identify the mechanism that caused the failure — using FGIA/AAMA-accredited testing and forensic investigation to document the root cause with defensible evidence. This diagnostic-first approach means our solutions are designed to address the actual problem, last for decades, and provide documentation that supports warranty claims, insurance recoveries, and legal proceedings when needed.

The six solution categories below represent the most common envelope interventions we design and oversee. Each is informed by patterns we've observed across hundreds of forensic investigations and remedial repair projects throughout the Western United States.

Waterproofing Repair and System Upgrades

Waterproofing design and repair is the most consequential solution category in building envelope work. When waterproofing systems fail — whether on below-grade foundations, podium decks, plaza systems, or above-grade wall assemblies — the repair cost can be many times the original installation cost because accessing the failed membrane often requires demolition and reconstruction of the overburden. ACE's waterproofing solutions are designed to address the root cause of the failure and specify replacement systems that account for the conditions that caused the original system to fail.

Our waterproofing repair approach starts with non-destructive investigation. Electronic leak detection and flood testing can pinpoint breach locations without exploratory demolition, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Once the failure mechanism is understood, ACE designs a targeted repair that addresses the specific conditions. The ASTM International standards framework provides the testing protocols we use to verify that repaired systems meet performance requirements before the project is closed out.

Air Barrier and Thermal Performance Solutions

Uncontrolled air leakage and thermal bridging drive energy waste, comfort complaints, and concealed condensation damage in commercial buildings. ACE's air barrier system and continuous insulation solutions address these interconnected problems with integrated strategies that restore both energy performance and moisture control.

Air barrier solutions range from targeted repairs — patching discontinuities identified through ASTM E783 air leakage testing and infrared thermography — to full system replacements on buildings where the original air barrier was inadequate or was never properly installed. Continuous insulation solutions address thermal bridging at structural connections, shelf angles, balcony penetrations, and parapet caps where heat loss concentrates.

These solutions are particularly critical for buildings seeking compliance with increasingly stringent energy codes. The U.S. Department of Energy has documented that air leakage and thermal bridging together can account for 25-40% of a commercial building's total heating and cooling load. ACE's thermal performance analysis quantifies the performance improvement from proposed solutions, providing data that supports both the engineering rationale and the financial business case for envelope upgrades.

Flashing, Sealant, and Transition Detail Solutions

The most common point of failure in any building envelope is where different systems meet. The transition from wall to window, roof to wall, below-grade to above-grade, and old construction to new — these junctions are where water finds its way in and where air finds its way out. ACE's flashing and transition detail design and sealant joint repair solutions are specifically targeted at these high-risk locations.

Our approach to transition details is informed by decades of forensic investigation findings. We've documented how improperly lapped flashings create water traps, how sealant joints fail when the joint design doesn't accommodate the building's actual thermal movement, and how kickout flashings left out of the original construction allow water to bypass the drainage plane entirely. The International Code Council building codes establish minimum flashing requirements, but code minimum is rarely sufficient at complex transitions. ACE's designs exceed code minimums based on actual field performance data.

Sealant joint repair requires understanding the specific failure mechanism. A sealant that has lost adhesion requires different remediation than a sealant that has split cohesively. ACE's forensic approach ensures that replacement sealant specifications, joint geometry, and surface preparation address the conditions that caused the original failure.

Comprehensive Envelope Retrofit Solutions

When individual repairs are no longer cost-effective — or when a building's envelope has reached the end of its service life — a comprehensive envelope retrofit may be the most responsible path forward. ACE's retrofit solutions are designed as complete system upgrades that address waterproofing, air barrier, thermal performance, and fenestration in a coordinated scope that treats the envelope as an integrated system.

Our retrofit design process starts with a thorough condition assessment that documents the current state of every envelope component. This assessment identifies which components can be retained, which need repair, and which need replacement — allowing owners to make informed decisions about the scope and sequencing of the retrofit investment. For buildings in ACE's seven-state service territory, our localized climate knowledge ensures that retrofit specifications account for the specific environmental conditions each building faces.

Retrofit projects are especially well-suited to ACE's integrated service model. Our design team specifies the solution, our construction administration team oversees the installation, and our testing team verifies performance after completion. This closed-loop approach ensures that the retrofit performs as designed.

Explore Specific Envelope Solutions

Each solution page details ACE's approach, methodology, and the types of problems that solution addresses.

Frequently Asked Questions