Expert Building Envelope Evaluation

and Analysis in Chicago and Chicago Suburbs

Wet Brick and Block Building, West Loop, Chicago

Common Building Envelope Assemblies

Wet Building Solutions focuses on residential construction of single family, multi-family and mix-use buildings in the Chicago area. Residential construction is where the majority of the problems occur.


A combination of factors contributes to problems in these buildings. Lack of oversight, as well as self managed inspections have caused an epidemic of wet structures. In addition, roofing, masonry, sheet metal and lumber materials have changed, so new masonry buildings are far different than their older counterparts.


We also evaluate commercial and municipal masonry buildings with flat roofs, including apartment buildings, small industrial buildings, public and private schools, hospitals and government buildings.


Bob has over 35 years of experience evaluating Historic and Contemporary Masonry Buildings in Chicago and on Chicago's North Shore. We also evaluate buildings with Stucco  and EFIS (Dryvit) exteriors, as well as traditional Frame  buildings.


WBS has almost 15 years experience providing repair plans for contemporary masonry buildings constructed with Split Face Block , Pre-Cast Concrete and Renaissance Stone. If your building has persistent leaks, call to schedule an evaluation.

Resevoir Claddings – the First Line of Defense

Split Face Block

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)

Wet parapet wall with Renaissance Stone in Lakeview, Chicago

Renaissance Stone

Brick and Pre-Cast Concrete

Wet pre-cast concrete detailing on brick building in Bucktown, Chicago

Stucco and EFIS (aka Dryvit)

Wet pre-cast concrete detailing on brick building in Bucktown, Chicago

Multiple Cladding Types
with Complicated Transitions

Flashing Details – the 2nd Line of Defense

Custom design vented metal cornice protects Renaissance Stone cornice and maintains curb appeal

Flashing Details Planning

Flashing diverts rain water away from a building's walls, which helps keep buildings dry. There are many types of flashings used in construction. If any necessary flashing is omitted or installed improperly the result can be persistent leaks and water damage.


  • The way the parapets are finished
  • Flashing  and drip edges under capstones
  • Leg Length of the metal copings
  • "Stone" detail flashings
  • Balcony connections to walls, ledger board flashings
  • Doors, headers, sills and openings
  • Windows, headers, sills and openings
  • Chimneys, flashings and chimney caps


We provide easy to read, plain English reports and cost ranges.