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Chapter 10 Thermal & Moisture Protection
Master roofing systems, exterior wall finishes, insulation materials, and waterproofing takeoff methods for Division 07 of the CSI MasterFormat.
Exterior Finish Materials and Methods
Roofing types, wall systems, and CSI Division 07 overview
Exterior finish material information for takeoff and estimating is indicated on exterior elevations, specifications, and floor plans. Division 07 of the CSI MasterFormat includes thermal protection, moisture protection, roof covering materials, siding, fire and smoke protection, and joint sealants.
Thermal systems are designed to control temperatures that affect the comfort of building occupants, deter condensation, and reduce heat transmission to improve energy use within the structure.
Roofing Systems
A roof is the covering for the top exterior surface of a building. Roofing materials are selected based on appearance, cost, roof pitch, temperature variation, and local climatic conditions.
Bituminous (Built-Up) Roofing
Commonly known as built-up or hot tar roofing. Composed of layers (plies) of asphalt-impregnated felt or fiberglass fastened to the roof deck and mopped with hot tar to create a waterproof surface.
- Rigid insulation may be applied to top of roof deck
- Building paper covers insulation before roofing application
- Gravel, slag, or mineral top sheet finishes the surface
- Used for flat or low-slope roofs
Elastomeric Roofing
Made of pliable synthetic polymer. Sheets are laid in place and sealed at joints. Made from CPE (chlorinated polyethylene), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), or PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
- Vapor barrier and rigid insulation installed on roof deck surface
- Sheets rolled out across entire roof surface
- Joints sealed with solvent joining sheets into single unit
- May be covered with gravel or elevated pavers
Metal Roofing
Made of steel, aluminum, copper, or various metal alloys. Formed into shingles, corrugated sheets, or sheet-metal strips.
- Building paper: felt saturated with tar for waterproofing
- Metal sheets set with long dimension parallel to rafters
- Seams: flat, ribbed, or standing types
- Fastened with clips or self-tapping screws; overlapped joints coated with waterproof sealant
- A purlin is a horizontal support between roof rafters; a girt is a horizontal brace around a structure perimeter
Shingles and Tiles
A shingle is a thin piece of wood, asphalt-saturated felt, fiberglass, or other material providing a waterproof covering. Exposure is the amount visible after installation.
- Composition shingles: asphalt or fiberglass coated with mineral gravel; available in three-tab, laminated, architectural styles
- Solar shingles: similar to composition shingles but generate electricity
- Shakes: hand-split wood; exposure varies with width, thickness, and slope
- Tiles: clay, slate, or lightweight concrete; shapes include French, Spanish, English, Mission, Roman, Greek, Shingle
- Tiles are heavier and require stronger roof support systems
Sustainable Roof Systems
Installations of planting media and plant materials on roof systems create sustainable “green” roofs. Layers from bottom to top:
- Roof deck and suspended ceiling
- Insulation (if necessary)
- Waterproof membrane layer
- Drain layer (for water runoff)
- Plant media
- Plant material and foliage
Advantages include stormwater runoff reduction, insulation benefits, and quieter roof covering.
Roof Pavers and Accessories
A roof paver is a flat, precast concrete unit set on a roof deck to provide a walking surface and protect waterproof roofing materials. Roof accessories include vents, smoke hatches, and curbs around roof surface perimeters.
Exterior Wall Systems
Building walls may have an exterior facing with a wide variety of materials including exposed concrete, brick, stone, and glass. Exterior wall finish materials are referenced under Division 07 titles in the CSI MasterFormat.
Layer of exterior sheathing, insulation board, reinforcing mesh, base coat of acrylic copolymers, and textured finish. Insulation board is extruded or molded expanded polystyrene.
Sheet-metal siding panels attached to purlins or girts. Information on erection plans/elevations includes direction, finish trim, manufacturer name, and colors.
Bevel: 8-12″ wide, tapered 3/4″ to 1/8″. Shiplap: rabbeted edges for overlap, 4-12″ wide, 3/4″ thick. Clapboard: consistent 4-12″ wide, 3/4″ thick. Red cedar and redwood are most common species.
Approximately 3/16″ thick, 8″, 10″, or 12″ wide, 12′-6″ long. Panel types include 8″, Double 4″, Quad 2 1/2″, and Vertical. Fiber cement siding is highly durable lightweight concrete material.
Unlike solid lumber, tempered hardboard siding is not susceptible to warping and twisting. May be applied horizontally or at an angle. Smooth or textured finishes available.
Tempered hardboard or plywood with special adhesive binder and face veneer. Flat or patterned to simulate wood grain, reverse board-and-batten, stucco, and shiplap siding.
Sheet metal wall panels are commonly used on large wood post or steel framed buildings such as warehouse facilities, storage facilities, and farm equipment buildings.
Exterior Finish Quantity Takeoff
Estimating roofing and wall finish materials by area and count
Primary sources for the estimator include exterior elevations, specifications, details, mechanical plans, and roof and floor plans. Most exterior finish material quantities are determined by area of coverage in square feet.
Special fasteners may be required for certain roof and exterior finish materials. The specifications should be checked to ensure proper fasteners and quantities are included in the estimate.
Roofing Takeoff Overview
The method used depends on the type of material. Estimators must take into account roof accessibility, job scheduling, roof pitch, and overall building height. Roofing material quantities are based on the roof area in square feet or number of pieces for sheet-metal roofs.
Bituminous and Elastomeric Roofing
Taken off based on roof area to be covered. Number of roof accessories and type of edge treatment affect labor costs. Installation costs per square foot are obtained from industry standard or company historical data.
Sheet Metal Roofing
Estimator must determine the width of sheets, types of seams, types of sheets, and total roof area (sq ft) to calculate number of sheets. The total length of the roof divided by width of a sheet determines the number of sheets and seams.
Shingles and Tiles
Quantities based on number of squares required. One square = 100 sq ft of coverage. Composition shingles are packaged in bundles of 33 sq ft, so three bundles = one square.
Gable roof, 39′-0″ long, total rafter length 12′. Roof area = (39′ x 12′) x 2 = 936 sq ft. Squares without waste = 936 / 100 = 9.36. Total squares with 10% waste = 9.36 x 1.10 = 10.3 squares; round to 11. Add 2 bundles for 39′ of ridge.
Wood Shingles and Shakes
Four bundles of wood shingles or shakes = one square (100 sq ft). Minimum slope for wood shingles/shakes is 4″ rise per foot of run. An estimator multiplies the exposure factor by the roof area to determine quantity of wood shingles/shakes needed.
Wall Takeoff
Quantities of exterior wall covering materials are based on coverage area in square feet. Deductions are made for large wall openings such as doors and windows. Wall height and accessibility are key elements in pricing labor.
EIFS Wall Takeoff
EIFS wall coverings include takeoff of insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and various coats of cementitious materials. These are taken off by square feet of coverage. Trim members for edge and opening treatments are taken off by the linear foot.
On larger projects, a roof plan is often included in the construction drawings and helps in determining roofing material quantities. Drones or satellite images may also be utilized to calculate roof surface areas.
Thermal System Materials and Methods
Insulation, waterproofing, fire protection, and flashing
Thermal systems are designed to control temperatures affecting building occupant comfort, deter condensation, and reduce heat transmission to improve energy use. Thermal systems may also add structural strength, support surface finishes, and reduce water vapor and noise transmission.
Insulation
Insulation is material used as a barrier to inhibit thermal and sound transmission. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) has adopted a uniform method of rating effectiveness of all thermal system insulation when installed according to manufacturer instructions. The resistance of a specific thickness and type of insulation is indicated by R value.
R value is the unit of measure for resistance to heat flow. Higher R values indicate higher heat-flow resistance. An R-12 material offers three-fourths as much resistance as an R-16 material. The resistance of any thickness of material equals its resistivity per inch multiplied by its total thickness.
Insulation Material Types
Insulating materials are categorized based on their structure and form:
- Cellular – small individual cells separated from each other (polystyrene, polyurethane)
- Granular – small nodules containing voids or hollow spaces (vermiculite, perlite, cellulose)
- Fibrous – small-diameter fibers (rock wool, slag wool, glass/fiberglass)
- Loose fill
- Flexible blankets and sheets
- Semirigid blankets and batts
- Rigid board, blocks, and sheets
- Tapes
- Spray-on fibers and cements
- Foams
Insulation Material Properties
Applications
The type and amount of thermal insulation depends on the geographic location and intended use of the building. Architects and engineers use standard tables and charts to determine minimum R values for common building usage in various zones of the United States. The type of insulation used depends on whether walls are frame or masonry, and the location of application.
Reducing the air infiltration from the outside to the inside of a building can significantly reduce the convective heat transfer rate. This increases the effectiveness of insulation placed in walls and ceilings.
Water Vapor and Fire Protection
- Waterproofing: makes material impervious to water; prevents water passage through walls and floors
- Damp-proofing: makes material moisture-resistant; does NOT prevent effects of hydrostatic pressure
- Hydrostatic pressure: pressure exerted by a fluid at rest
- Membranes: built-up bituminous layers and rubber or PVC sheets
- Hydrolithic coatings: tar, plastics, plaster, or cement
- Concrete admixtures: chemical compounds for impervious surface
- Bentonite: natural compound that expands when wet
- Sheet metal: coated aluminum, alloys, galvanized sheets
Flashing and Joint Sealants
Flashing is material installed at seams or joints of two building components to inhibit air, water, or fire passage. Types include base, cap, concealed, and exposed flashing. Base flashing is installed at the lowest meeting point of a vertical and horizontal surface. Cap flashing overlaps base flashing.
Joint sealant is material installed between two members to seal the seam. Locations such as construction joints require allowance for expansion and contraction. Common elastomeric sealants include acrylic, polysulfide, polyurethane, and silicone materials.
A substrate is the underlying surface of a finish material.
Thermal System Quantity Takeoff
Estimating insulation, waterproofing, and fire protection materials
Insulation, waterproofing, and damp-proofing materials are installed after structural and framing members are in place. Installation must be coordinated with the project manager to ensure accessibility and completion prior to surface finish materials.
Insulation Takeoff Methods
Rigid Insulation
Rigid insulation material quantities are calculated by the area to be covered, similar to floor or wall sheathing or siding. The length (in feet) is multiplied by the height or width (in feet) to calculate the area of coverage (in square feet).
Loose Fill Insulation
One type of loose fill insulation material is dry granules or fibers. Poured or blown into place. Quantities measured in cubic feet or cubic yards of material.
Flexible Insulation (Blankets and Batts)
Quantities for frame walls expressed in square feet. Estimators take off the surface area to be insulated and deduct square footage of large openings such as windows and doors.
- Manufactured in blankets or batts 3.5″, 5.25″, or 6.5″ thick, or sheets 1″, 2″, 3″, or 4″ thick
- Each batt precut to 24″, 48″, or 96″ long or in continuous roll
- Wall area = wall length x wall height (same as sheathing calculation)
- For masonry walls, same takeoff process as frame walls
Foam Insulation
Purchased in liquid form, applied using compressed air or gas. Total coverage area is divided by coverage or volume per gallon to determine material quantities. Installation costs include labor, material, transportation, and pumping or placing equipment.
Water Vapor and Fire Protection Takeoff
Foundation plans, floor plans, elevations, roof plans, specifications, and details are reviewed to check locations of waterproofing, damp-proofing, and fire protection materials.
Special Items – Taken Off Individually
Special items taken off individually include: smoke vents, joint gaskets that provide fire protection where pipes penetrate floors/roofs/walls, roof vents, other roof specialties (counted individually), and gutters/downspouts (determined by linear foot).
Estimating Calculators
Interactive tools for common Chapter 10 calculations
Practice Problems
Apply Chapter 10 formulas to real estimating scenarios
- Calculate the roof area (length x rafter length x 2)
- Divide roof area by 100 to get squares without waste
- Multiply by 1.10 for waste factor and round up
Step 2: Squares (no waste) = 1,176 / 100 = 11.76 squares
Step 3: Total = 11.76 x 1.10 = 12.94 = 13 squares (rounded up)
- Calculate the wall area (length x height)
- Divide by 100 to determine squares without waste
- Multiply by 1.05 for the waste factor and round up
Step 2: Squares (no waste) = 480 / 100 = 4.80 squares
Step 3: Total = 4.80 x 1.05 = 5.04 = 6 squares (rounded up)
- Convert depth from inches to feet (6″ = 0.5 ft)
- Calculate volume: thickness (ft) x width (ft) x length (ft)
- Divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards
Step 2: Volume (cu ft) = 0.5 x 35 x 50 = 875 cu ft
Step 3: Volume (cu yd) = 875 / 27 = 32.4 cu yd (round to 33)
- Look up the exposure factor for a 6:12 pitch (1.12)
- Multiply the roof area by the exposure factor
- Divide by 100 to determine number of squares and round up
Step 2: Adjusted area = 1,200 x 1.12 = 1,344 sq ft
Step 3: Squares = 1,344 / 100 = 13.44 = 14 squares (rounded up)
Chapter 10 Quiz
Test your knowledge of thermal and moisture protection estimating
Glossary
Key vocabulary for Chapter 10: Thermal and Moisture Protection
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