Water, Water, Water

Realtors will say, “Location, Location, Location” those are the three most important criteria to value a property.  

Well, from the perspective of the buildings its lifetime value is similar:

“Water, Water, Water” are the three most important conditions to manage to extend the life of a structure. Extending it for life if done well! 

Water – Precipitation. One does not want water seeping in from the roof, running in behind windows, siding, or doors, nor making its way into the basement or crawl-space through porosity, hydraulics, or cracks. 

Water – Condensation. One does not want high, spot-humidity loads like boiling pasta, baking for Turkey-day, nor long showers to stay in the house. Something like 5# of water vapor is put into the room when one bakes for an hour…that is over one-half gallon of water! Does your humidifier do that?

 Water – Environmental. One does not want humidity+temperature+surface (food source) conditions to be such that molds, fungi, and mildew can form. These things are BAD to breathe.

 So,

New Homes
Most of the top ten problems with new home construction are related to water management.  

The problems are systemic—design and installation details that create water/moisture problems. Short eaves, no/ineffective window/door flashing or sealing, inadequate drainage planes, less than 4% landscape slope…if your builder can’t tell you about these details with respect to your new home plan switch builders. It is that simple!  

(Is a good dentist ignorant of cavities?) Knowledge is the first step toward remediation.

Remodeling
Insulation spaces that are not filled, air infiltration that creates condensation pockets during heating season, poor flashing at wall/roof penetrations, inattention to plumbing/heating details, no use of vapor barriers, use of duct tape as a seal, horizontal adhesive/caulk/furring lines, lack of bathroom fan timers, lack of homeowner training on “moisture management”, et cetera are all the stuff of permanent moisture based problems. Again, there are best-practice solutions in these areas.

Get a good solution for you and family! Click here to find out how.