Having an even substrate is integral to effective wall assemblies that prioritize structural integrity and eliminating wall irregularities. If you are designing a building where uneven substrates may occur, there are solutions available to correct irregularities such as plane deviations and out of plumb walls. While shims have historically been a popular choice, these corrections will increase installation costs for the additional materials, and are labor intensive to install.
This article discusses common wall irregularities that occur in retrofit, recladding, and new construction projects, and how the GreenGirt CMH Delta™ Adjustable system resolves these issues while maintaining the structural integrity of the walls, eliminating the need for shims.
Even vs. Uneven Substrates
Not all substrates are flat and level, which can impact the installation of building envelopes, specifically for the cladding and installation. Wall irregularities are common, but can be resolved through continuous insulation systems designed to adjust wall assemblies to be flat and level. Two common wall irregularities include plane deviations and out of plumb walls.
Plane Deviations
Plane deviations are a wall assembly’s divergence from a specified flat surface, measured as the perpendicular distance from the actual constructed surface to the intended reference plane. Shims can solve this issue, but as the diagram above demonstrates, shims require extra materials for installation that aren’t necessary with adjustable continuous insulation systems.
Out of Plumb Walls
When a wall assembly is out of plumb, it means that the wall is not vertically straight, is leaning, or has shifted over time, creating an uneven substrate that heavily impacts the structural integrity of the entire building. Shims can fix the structure’s alignment in retrofit and recladding projects, but require additional materials and longer installation time that effective adjustable systems eliminate across all project types, including new construction projects.
Uneven substrates can lead to the following issues:
- Poor insulation performance
- Water intrusion
- Structural misalignment
It is important to correct these substrates to maximize the building’s structural performance, but the design and materials of the adjustable system play a major role in how effective the performance is of the adjustable system.
Shims vs. Adjustable Continuous Insulation
While both plane deviations and out of plumb wall irregularities can be resolved with shims in retrofit and recladding projects, this solution is not cost-effective, nor does it provide industry-leading structural performance across all project types. Adjustable continuous insulation solves wall irregularities with ease, eliminating the need for extra materials and can maintain structural integrity of the uneven wall, depending on what materials are used in the system. Additionally, adjustable systems are faster and easier to install compared to systems that require shims.
The GreenGirt CMH Delta Adjustable Solution
Construction of the Stanley Center for Peace & Justice in Muscatine, Iowa, which installed the GreenGirt CMH Delta Adjustable system on the building’s walls.
GreenGirt CMH Delta™ Adjustable is an adjustable composite metal hybrid continuous insulation system designed to easily correct wall irregularities in retrofit, recladding, and new construction projects. The system consists of a composite fiberglass base bracket with steel-reinforced flanges, Dual Grip™ retention technology, and attaches to either a metal or CMH clip or rail, designed for flexibility to adhere to any uneven substrate.
Benefits of GreenGirt CMH Delta include:
- Ease of design
- High thermal efficiency
- Universal substrate and cladding attachment
- Industry standards compliancy
- Adjustability for up to 10.5” away from the substrate
- High structural integrity
- NFPA 285 compliant
- Story pole installation method
Using the GreenGirt CMH Delta system improves the speed and ease of installation as the CMH brackets are installed onto the metal rails prior to being installed onto the building’s walls. This efficient method is what helps GreenGirt CMH Delta systems to install up to 4x faster than legacy systems!
The efficient installation of GreenGirt CMH Delta not only eliminates thermal bridging and maintains structural integrity, but it also eliminates the need for additional materials, such as shims, to maintain the adjustability needed for uneven substrates without compromising performance.
Conclusion
Wall irregularities in any building type can be resolved with adjustable continuous insulation systems. However, the most effective system is GreenGirt CMH Delta because not only does the system significantly improve the wall assembly’s structural performance, but also eliminates the need for shims with its simplistic design and ease of installation. Eliminate uneven substrates and get the most out of your continuous insulation system with GreenGirt CMH Delta.
A2P’s AIA-Accredited Presentation on Uneven Substrates
A2P’s 60-minute, AIA-accredited presentation, “Bringing Walls Into Plane: Selecting Continuous Insulation Systems for Wall Irregularities,” will help you and your team in understanding the benefits of adjustable continuous insulation in solving wall irregularities with ease.
Request an In-Person or Virtual AIA Presentation Today
Ready to start designing with GreenGirt CMH Delta? Get a quote from your A2P territory representative.
Related Resources:
GreenGirt CMH Delta Adjustable System Details & Performance Data
Download GreenGirt CMH Delta Specs, Installation Guides, Details, & More
Read “How to Install the GreenGirt CMH Delta Adjustable Continuous Insulation System”
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are two types of wall irregularities?
Two types of wall irregularities are plane deviations (when the built wall surface diverges from the intended flat reference plane) and out-of-plumb walls (when the wall is not vertically straight/leans/has shifted over time).
How is an adjustable continuous insulation system different from using shims to fix uneven walls?
Shims can correct plane deviations and out-of-plumb conditions, but they add extra materials, labor, and installation time. In contrast, adjustable continuous insulation systems are designed to bring assemblies back to flat and level without needing those extra shim materials, and they’re described as faster and easier to install than shim-based approaches.
What is GreenGirt CMH Delta Adjustable?
GreenGirt CMH Delta Adjustable is an adjustable composite metal hybrid continuous insulation system intended to correct wall irregularities in retrofit, recladding, and new construction. The system consists of a composite fiberglass base bracket with steel-reinforced flanges and Dual Grip™ retention technology, and it attaches to a metal or CMH clip or rail for flexibility across uneven substrates.