FACADE RESTORATION
A facade, any external-facing wall, may be comprised of many different building facing materials ranging from brick, stone, concrete, glazing, terra cotta, etc. It also includes varying façade elements such as balconies, railings, fire escapes, cornices, etc.
Façade Restoration refers to the maintenance of the buildings’ external walls and elements due to deterioration. The causes for such deterioration ranges from moisture intrusion, rust expansion, age of materials, poor workmanship, defective materials, as well as wear and tear.
A facade provides structural integrity as well as weather and fire protection. Maintenance of facades is vital to not only public safety, but the safety of the building occupants, and overall building integrity.
Terra-cotta
Terra Cotta is comprised of clay and sand molded and fired at high temperatures and is often finished with a protective glaze. It was a popular façade material installed between 1880 and 1930. Repair of existing terra cotta is challenging due to complex anchoring systems and material weakness, often leading to repairs which can cause more harm than good. The extent of repair, the underlying cause of the defects, and the chance of reoccurrence must also be considered to determine whether terra cotta will be repaired or replaced. Replacement campaigns may include replicas in kind with terra cotta (often required for Landmarked properties) or replicas with pre-cast or glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). The NYC DOB highlights the importance of “special attention” to façade elements such as terra-cotta due to its history of failures and civilian fatalities, including the death of Erica Tishman on December 17, 2019.
Handrail & Guards
Handrails and guards are structures present for fall protection on roofs, bulkheads, exterior walkways, terraces, and balconies. Repairs are typical to parapets or railings and come in a wide array of compositions including masonry, metal railings, or glass panels.
As part of FISP inspections, handrails and guards require inspection for structural soundness and code compliance. Code compliance governs the height and spacing of any vertical posts and may be based on the governing building code when constructed, as long as there is no associated safety hazard. Soundness is evaluated by means acceptable by the certified inspector, including load testing, pull testing, and destructive or non-destructive testing.
Fire Escape
Exterior fire escapes were deemed a requirement in NYC in the 1860's as a means of fire egress as tenement structures began to grow taller in height, unreachable to fire department ladders. In 1968, the NYC Building Code made it officially illegal for new buildings to be constructed with exterior fire escapes.
Throughout the years of mandated exterior fire escapes, many installations were installed purely for utilitarian use, but others were elaborately detailed and designed as an architectural feature of the building façade. The Landmarks Preservation Commission often governs repair, replacement, and removal of fire escapes on historic buildings.
