IMI Webinar Series - Flashing and Moisture Control Best Practices for Masonry Wall Assemblies
Well-designed masonry walls are among the most durable and resilient building systems and effective moisture control helps them perform at their best. Learn how thoughtful detailing and proper flashing design protect masonry from long-term water damage while supporting healthy, efficient buildings. You’ll explore how water moves through wall assemblies and discover proven strategies to manage it through proper drainage, weeps, vents, and continuity across adjacent systems. We’ll review best practices for selecting and installing flashing materials that enhance durability, energy efficiency, and occupant safety. By applying these techniques, you’ll gain the tools to design and build masonry walls that remain strong, dry, and reliable for generations.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common sources and pathways of moisture infiltration in masonry wall assemblies and their potential impact on durability and occupant safety.
- Explain how to select and properly locate flashing materials to ensure effective drainage and long-term wall performance.
- Describe the function of drainage planes, weeps, and vents in managing water movement and preventing deterioration.
- Evaluate the importance of continuity and material compatibility between flashing systems and adjacent building components to maintain a resilient building envelope.
About the Speaker:
Tom Elliott
Director of Industry Development and Technical Services, IMI
Tom is a journey-level craftworker who joined the masonry industry in 1985 as an apprentice bricklayer for BAC Local 5 in Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout his time in the industry, he has worked as a journey-level bricklayer, project foreman, and field superintendent on larger masonry projects in Ohio and surrounding states. He also served as a project manager for a restoration contractor and oversaw the restoration of several historic structures.
Previously, he managed his own mason contracting business and helped to negotiate local labor contracts as a board member of the Northeast Ohio Contractors Association.
Tom is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and is a CSI-Certified Construction Document Technologist. He is a voting member on several TMS subcommittees and is actively involved in the ACE Mentoring program. He is also a lecturer at both the Ohio State University and Kent State University and the Chairman of his local Architectural Board of Review and Planning Commission Board.