Nuclear Moisture Survey Case Study: Miami Powerhouse Management
Discover How Our Nuclear Moisture Survey Helped Miami Powerhouse Management Save Big
The Problem
At the beginning of 2021, Roof Consulting Services was approached by a private property management company, Miami Powerhouse Management, regarding an ongoing leak issue with a new .060 mil thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO roof installation at one of their properties, Sea Beach Towers. The installing contractor’s attempts to determine the cause of moisture entry had been unsuccessful.
The Results
RCS was contracted to perform a nuclear backscatter moisture survey to identify areas of moisture entrapment within the existing roofing assembly, identify the source of moisture entry, and provide recommended corrective action to properly correct the issue and provide the building owner with a roof system that performs as intended for published life expectancy of the installed system.
The nuclear moisture scan was conducted with a Troxler model 3216 roof moisture gauge. The roof was grid on a 3’ x 3’ grid pattern. Readings were taken at each intersecting grid point and recorded on a field-generated roof plan. Following the scan, RCS then performed destruction core sampling to verify readings at saturated, damp, or dry.
A total of 987 square feet (16.96% of the roof) was found to have concentrated moisture at the bottom facer of insulation. Additionally, the system was not properly adhered to the structural substrate to provide code-required uplift capacity for the location of the building.
The Solution
Due to the roof installation not being installed in compliance with local building code requirements, it was the recommendation of RCS that the building Owner proceed with legal action to seek compensation from the installing contractor.
