IMI Webinar Series - To Coat or Not to Coat: Evaluating Coatings for Existing Masonry Facades
Coatings can enhance the appearance and weather resistance of masonry facades, but their success depends on proper assessment, timing, and application. Explore how coatings interact with different masonry materials and wall systems and how environmental conditions influence their performance Learn why premature coating applications, without addressing underlying repairs, can lead to accelerated deterioration and higher long-term costs. We’ll also review best practices for selecting compatible coatings, evaluating existing substrate conditions, and exploring alternative moisture mitigation strategies. By understanding the science behind coatings and their proper use, you’ll be equipped to make informed decisions that protect both the structure and its occupants.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe common masonry wall types and explain how their construction methods manage moisture and vapor to maintain building health and durability.
- Identify moisture-mitigation strategies beyond coatings that protect masonry facades from deterioration and safeguard occupant welfare.
- Evaluate coating options for compatibility with masonry materials, environmental conditions, and long-term performance requirements.
- Compare coating systems commonly used on existing masonry walls and assess their properties, advantages, and limitations in preserving envelope integrity.
About the Speaker:
Casey Weisdock
Director of Industry Development and Technical Services, IMI
Casey is an architectural conservator whose professional experience spans preservation design, project management, and contracting/implementation. She is a graduate of Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Previously, Casey served as an architectural conservator and site manager, focused primarily on the preservation of historic structures through research of traditional materials, and implementation of traditional repair methods and contemporary restoration techniques.
Today, Casey supports the masonry restoration industry internationally, and is also a regional director, providing support for all masonry projects, new and existing, at the local level. She's a developer and instructor of the Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate (HMPC) training offered through the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation (IMTEF). Casey is also the Board Chair Emeritus of the Association for Preservation Technology– Delaware Valley Chapter (APT-DVC).