AAMA & ASTM Testing in San Antonio and Austin

Corner view of a brown brick apartment building beside a sidewalk and trees under an overcast sky

A leak that keeps coming back, a new storefront that has to perform before the owner accepts it, a curtain wall that three contractors explain three different ways: each of these needs a test result, not another opinion. We perform AAMA and ASTM field testing on installed windows, doors, storefronts, curtain walls, and wall assemblies, across San Antonio and Austin, so you know what is performing, what is failing, and what to fix first.


Call our San Antonio office at (210) 446-8086 or schedule building envelope testing.

Test Results You Can Build a Repair Plan Around

Every test we run answers a specific question about your building. We match the standard to the problem instead of running a generic checklist, so the results point straight to a decision.


  • Water penetration testing (AAMA 501.2 and ASTM E1105) - We apply water to installed windows, storefronts, doors, and curtain walls with calibrated equipment to reproduce wind-driven rain. AAMA 501.2 uses a calibrated spray nozzle, while ASTM E1105 adds an air pressure difference across the assembly. You learn exactly where water gets through, and where it does not.
  • Forensic water testing (AAMA 511) - When a building is already leaking, we test window and door assemblies in a set sequence to separate a product failure from a failure at the surrounding wall.
  • Air leakage testing (ASTM E783 and ASTM E1186) - ASTM E783 measures air leakage through installed windows and doors, and ASTM E1186 locates leakage sites in air barrier systems. Air leaks raise energy costs and can carry moisture into the wall.
  • Whole-building air tightness testing - Shows how the full enclosure performs as a system.
  • Adhesion testing (ASTM D4541) - Pull-off testing that confirms whether coatings and applied membranes are bonded to the substrate the way they should be.
Request AAMA or ASTM Testing

Catch Installation Defects Before They Repeat Across the Building

Testing is most effective during new construction. When we test the first installed windows, storefront bays, or curtain wall sections, a flashing or sealant detail that fails can be corrected while access equipment is still on site, before the same mistake is repeated on every floor.


Owners, general contractors, and architects use quality assurance testing to confirm the work matches the specified performance before they accept it. On existing buildings, the same testing confirms that a repair actually stopped the leak. That is why our repair recommendations often pair a Scope of Work with follow-up quality assurance testing on the corrected areas.

Modern brick-and-glass office building with large windows and trees in front

What to Expect From a Testing Visit

  1. We review the concern and the building. We start with what you are seeing: where water or air shows up, when it happens, past repair attempts, and any drawings or specifications for the assemblies in question.
  2. We choose the test and the test locations. The standard depends on the assembly and the question. On multi-component areas, we test in sequence from the lowest location upward, so water from one test area is never mistaken for a leak at another.
  3. We set up and calibrate the equipment. That can mean a calibrated spray nozzle, a pressurized spray rack, or a custom-built air chamber when the test requires a pressure difference across the wall.
  4. We test and observe from the inside. A team member watches the interior face while water is applied and records the time and location of any leak. Once water appears, we stop the test to limit interior wetting.
  5. We report findings and next steps. You receive a photo-documented report showing where the assembly passed and where it failed, with recommendations. When repairs are needed, we can develop the Scope of Work and review contractor bids against it.

What Affects the Cost of Building Envelope Testing

Testing is quoted per project because no two buildings or concerns are the same. The main factors are:



  • The number of assemblies and test locations
  • The standard required (a nozzle spray test sets up faster than a chamber test that needs a sealed air chamber)
  • Access, such as whether test areas can be reached by ladder or need a man-lift
  • Scheduling around an occupied building or business hours
  • The level of reporting, including documentation prepared to support a warranty claim or dispute


We review your concern before quoting, so you know the scope of testing and what it will answer before any work begins.

Request AAMA or ASTM Testing

Why Property Owners and Project Teams Trust Our Test Results

  • 18 years of roof and wall system experience. Thomas Kita Jr. began his field career in 2008 and has focused on how buildings actually perform over time. [VERIFY: confirm preferred experience framing]
  • A licensed Texas attorney and construction mediator. Findings are documented with the clarity a contract question, warranty claim, or dispute requires, and we offer expert witness and litigation support when a case calls for it.
  • Independent, client-focused advocacy. We work for the owner or project team that hires us, and testing is tied to a defensible Scope of Work rather than a sales pitch for a repair.
  • Trusted on local institutional and commercial buildings. Past and current clients include H-E-B, UTSA, Alamo Colleges, and St. Mary's University.
  • BBB Accredited with an A+ rating.

Recent Building Envelope Testing Projects

At a San Antonio Starbucks, AAMA 501.2 testing in eight sequential locations traced a storefront leak to the window header and awning transition, cleared a nearby cladding crack, and confirmed negative slope at two door thresholds.


At the UTSA John Peace Library, we built an air chamber and ran ASTM E783, ASTM E1105, and AAMA 501.2 testing on the curtain wall. Isolation testing ruled out the glazing as the primary leak source, so the next phase could focus on the surrounding wall conditions instead of the windows.


At an Ashley HomeStore atrium tower, testing confirmed active intrusion on the east face above the windows and none on the north face during testing, leading to a targeted EIFS repair scope with follow-up quality assurance testing.

Building Envelope Testing FAQs

  • What is the difference between AAMA 501.2 and ASTM E1105?

    AAMA 501.2 is a field check that sprays water at joints and seams with a calibrated nozzle. It works well for quality assurance and for isolating a specific leak path. ASTM E1105 applies water while holding an air pressure difference across the assembly, which more closely simulates wind-driven rain. On the UTSA project we used both: E1105 confirmed water was entering, and 501.2 isolation testing showed the glazing was not the source.

  • When should testing happen on a new construction project?

    As early as possible, once the first representative windows, storefronts, or curtain wall sections are installed. Early testing lets the installer correct a detail before it is repeated across the building. Testing again after corrections confirms the fix worked before the work is accepted.

  • Can you test an occupied building?

    Yes. Our diagnostic testing regularly takes place on buildings that are open and in use, including a retail storefront and a university library. We need interior access to the test areas to watch for water, and we coordinate timing with your staff or tenants to limit disruption.

  • Is building envelope testing destructive?

    No. Water and air testing is performed on the building as it stands, without taking assemblies apart. Because water testing introduces water, we stop each test as soon as a leak appears. If testing confirms a failure, we may recommend opening a small area afterward so the underlying condition can be documented and repaired correctly.

  • What do I receive after testing?

    You receive a report with photos of each test location, the standard used, what passed and what failed, and our recommendations. If repairs are needed, we can turn those findings into a Scope of Work so contractors bid on the same, clearly defined fix.

  • Do you offer building envelope testing in Austin?

    Yes. We serve Austin and surrounding Central Texas from our office at 14425 Falcon Head Blvd. You can reach that office at (512) 553-8781.

Get Clear Answers About Your Building

If testing confirms a leak, our water intrusion testing and leak investigation service traces it through the full wall and roof system. If the problem may start at the roof, we cover it through commercial roof consulting, and for EIFS-clad buildings we offer dedicated EIFS inspections.


Bring us the leak, the specification, or the disagreement, and we will help you find out what the building is actually doing. We are available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM.