Mark Fowler

3 weeks ago | wconline.com | Mark Fowler

Windows and doors are unique elements of a building’s envelope, as they penetrate the entire wall assembly, connecting the interior and exterior. Unlike small penetrations such as hose bibs or electrical outlets, windows are subject to both interior and exterior design pressures. To understand these pressures, consider how a slightly open back door can slam shut due to the differential pressure or vacuum created between indoor and outdoor spaces.

1 month ago | wconline.com | Mark Fowler

Due to the wildfires, January 2025 will be remembered as an historic month for the city of Los Angeles. Fire ripped through neighborhood communities destroying property and lives. This event proves natural disasters are an equal opportunity destroyer of property and taking innocent lives. The fire did not care if it destroyed multi-million-dollar mansions or the working class homes. It did not discriminate. While California is known for wildfires, this event seemed different.

2 months ago | wconline.com | Mark Fowler

The Stucco Manufacturers Association has released a document called "Wildland-Urban Interface." WUI is where human development and undeveloped land meet. Structures in the WUI zone face a higher potential to succumb to wildfires. The WUI zone is more widespread than most people know; almost 10 percent of the United States falls in a WUI zone, which grows yearly. According to the U.S. Fire Academy, 38 percent of all U.S. housing is in a WUI zone.

Jan 27, 2025 | wconline.com | Mark Fowler |John Wyatt |Fernando Sesma

What or who is a blue-collar worker? I am sure many tradesmen have been at a function and someone says they know a particular craft or trade. They feel they know the trade,even if they once did a remodel on their home years ago. I once sat at a conference and the speaker claimed to be from the field. I assume this was to provide some form of blue-collar cred, as the audience was comprised of construction workers.

Jan 27, 2025 | wconline.com | Mark Fowler |John Wyatt |Fernando Sesma

Why is the ASTM standard for lath and plaster in conflict with the reality of stucco installations found in the world? And yes, I said the world—not just the United States. The answer may lie in the history of how ASTM became the national standard, the regional practices of the craft and some hidden agendas. ASTM is the standard referenced in the International Building codes for lathing and plastering, giving it immense power. However, it was not always that way.