News & Resources

Merry Christmas (2015)

Posted by in Commemoration/Celebration | December 21, 2015

What do I say about Jesus Christ whose Incarnation we celebrate every year at this time? Nothing that hasn’t already been said or written, (but I can paraphrase) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,… Read More →

Quick & Easy Repair for a Soil Stack Boot

Posted by in Buying/Maintaining a Home, Roof, Shingles | December 14, 2015

Ever get up on a roof and find the soil stack boot has deteriorated or split (see the feature photo).  It is one of those “Argh” moments. Here is a quick repair that may come in handy this winter or… Read More →

An Oversight Makes a Rafter More Susceptible to Fracture

Posted by in Construction & Shortcuts, Roof, Structural Analysis, Wood | December 07, 2015

In the featured photograph we see where the rafter fractured at its end.  This fracture was due to vertical tension in the rafter.  That is, the weight of the roof framing and the snow were pushing downward along the length… Read More →

What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 12)

Posted by in Apparent Mold/Biological Growth, Simple Forensic Methods | November 30, 2015

What does this photograph show? This photograph was taken of active condensation of excessive airborne moisture on the underside of a roof deck.  This photograph provides a significant amount of information about the consequences of condensation and even about the… Read More →

Happy Thanksgiving! (2015)

Posted by in Commemoration/Celebration | November 23, 2015

Thank you for your friendship, your kindness, and your consideration of Prugar Consulting for your forensic structural engineering evaluations throughout 2015. …. And together let us: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His lovingkindness endures forever. “ ….… Read More →

Spalling, Paint & Repointing

Posted by in Buying/Maintaining a Home, Cracking, Masonry | November 16, 2015

Spalling is a shallow delamination, bulging, and dislodging of thin slices of a material.  In the case of a masonry chimney spalling is the delamination and dislodging of thin slices of the clay brick material which often extends into the… Read More →

Please be careful this winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by in Buying/Maintaining a Home, Roof, Shingles, Snow Loads, Weather Events | November 09, 2015

If you are chipping ice dams out of the gutters and valleys of your roof this winter, please be careful. I know it gets frustrating as we chip away at the ice in the cold, but a few slips of… Read More →

Observations Regarding Wind Damage to Shingles

Posted by in Shingles, Wind Damage | November 02, 2015

Just because a tree or portion of a large tree has been felled by wind doesn’t necessarily mean that the shingles have been damaged by wind (See the photos below of the undamaged shingles on the roof near a fallen… Read More →