The Critical Role Sheathing Membranes Play in Exterior Wall Assemblies
Choosing a sheathing membrane can be challenging. But as Graham Finch explains, they’re necessary as they play a key role in exterior wall assemblies.
Category: Industry Insights
The Top 5 Open-Joint Cladding Building Designs
Revolutionary building design shouldn’t trump basic building science. These 5 open-joint cladding projects are pioneering design & high-performance protection.
Cary Grant Does Foundations*
The fundamental principles of groundwater control are to keep rainwater away from the foundation wall perimeter and to drain groundwater with sub-grade drainage and perimeter drains before it gets to the foundation wall. Nothing has changed in several millennia. Let’s look at the groundwater part. For groundwater, there are two things that need to happen […]
How Construction is Adapting to Social Distancing
For several weeks, construction sites all over the world have had to practice social distancing between their workers in order to comply with government guidelines. Are you adjusting or still struggling with where to begin? This is a guide to help you ensure the safety of all workers, no matter the size of your jobsite.
Greater Expectations: What’s Trending in the Building Industry
“Code is a four-letter word for the worst building you can build without going to jail.” Building science engineer Dr. John Straube called it like it is at the latest DELTA® Academy Seminar Series in Washington, DC. His message was loud and clear: merely meeting code does not and should not cut it in an […]
Foundation Protection Solutions. Step 1: Ditch the Sprays
When it comes to foundation protection and wall waterproofing, some builders only factor in code compliance. They simply spray a tar/asphalt coating on the concrete foundation and proceed with backfilling. Problem is, this approach is short-sighted, leading to spray-on foundation protection issues. Easily damaged spray-on coatings may create vulnerabilities on numerous levels, including moisture leading to mold […]
How to Control High-Risk Moisture Environments
The best way to protect high-risk moisture environments – for walls and roofs It does not get any riskier than constructing an enclosure over an indoor swimming pool. Except maybe an enclosure over a pressurized and humidified hospital. Or, how about an enclosure over a conditioned museum designed by a famous architect who is incapable […]
How to Install an Airtight, Watertight Window with DELTA®
In this post, I want to show you some of the important details for installing DELTA®-VENT SA. I will walk through all the steps of installing the house wrap and then focus on what it takes to flash a window, using the DELTA® line of products from Dörken Systems Inc. Dörken is a German company […]
Painlessly Complying with Code-Mandated Air Sealing
When I first started doing blower door tests 15 years ago, I was full of bravado, thinking I had a pretty tight house. I was using a good house wrap and taping the seams, and I was paying my insulation and drywall contractor extra to include “air-sealing measures.” I thought “No problem. I should be […]
What’s the deal with pressure equalization versus open-cladding?
You would think that after a half century the physics of wall design would be obvious, straightforward and non-controversial. Apparently not. Folks latch onto concepts that are partially true…true in a limited sense…without appreciation of the range of applicability. As Dirty Harry Callahan would say…a wall has got to know its limitations. There has been […]
Interior Foundation and Basement Retrofits
How to fix a leaky basement without digging a hole, adding an exterior drain, or re-landscaping One of the most difficult issues to deal with as a landlord or a homeowner is a leaking foundation or basement wall. You go through a whole bunch of stages, much like grief counseling. First is denial that it […]
Water-Resistive Barriers: When and Why Does Vapor Permeance Matter?
Dr. John Straube is a highly regarded building science expert, well known for his research, his consulting work, and his leadership as an educator. He is a Principal at RDH Building Science and a faculty member at the University of Waterloo. This past year, Dr. Straube discussed key building enclosure concepts (including moisture control, airtightness, […]
Airtightness: On the Path to High Performance
Dr. John Straube is a highly regarded building science expert, well-known for his research, his consulting work, and his leadership as an educator. He is a Principal at RDH Building Science and a faculty member at the University of Waterloo. This past year, Dr. Straube discussed key building enclosure concepts (including moisture control, airtightness, and […]
Four Trends from World’s Biggest Build Expo
It’s not easy staying on top of industry trends and new products, but 19 buildings filled with the industry’s brightest minds certainly makes it easier. The BAU trade show, held every two years in Munich, Germany, brings together every branch of the construction industry from across the world to exchange, share and build new ideas.
Dörken Systems & Fine Homebuilding: Achieving the Net-zero Ideal
Today, net-zero energy initiatives are taking the building industry by storm. These are homes designed and built to generate as much energy as they consume, once all renewable energy systems are fully installed—with the goal of reducing the energy needed to maintain them. According to a standard set by the NZEC, net-zero energy structures are […]
High-performing Air Barriers: The Unsung Hero of Construction
Air barriers are no longer just a passing consideration. They are not only federally mandated, but also demanded by code-conscious and sustainability-oriented building owners and occupants who are in the know. For good reason, too. A high-performing air barrier means greater comfort at a lesser cost. Based on simulations, the National Institute of Standards and […]
More than meets the eye: what’s happening behind your stucco and manufactured stone
Stucco and manufactured stone have been used in the building industry for ages. These claddings are well known, and well used for their leading properties in fire resistance, durability, and aesthetics. In fact, according to the Census Bureau’s recent Survey of Construction, 25% of homes built in the US in 2017 used stucco cladding; second […]
Continuous Insulation Addresses Problem of Thermal Bridging
Inevitably, thermal bridging is an adversary in the quest for energy-efficient buildings. Continuous insulation bolstered by a moisture barrier is a powerful weapon in the battle. Rising energy costs and a definite move toward green building accentuate the need to corral the problem of thermal bridging. Thermal bridging typically occurs in 3 ways One material […]
Reducing Lawsuits for Mold Damage in Buildings
There are countless stories about lawsuits for mold and moisture damage in buildings, none of which are insignificant. Mold and moisture damage in buildings is a serious topic that has garnered millions of dollars of litigation for companies and individuals. Buildings that do not properly mitigate moisture and water leakage can present toxic and mold-infested environments […]
Lawsuits for Mold and Moisture Damage in Buildings
The Mold You Can’t See Poses More Danger Than the Mold in Your Refrigerator Stories about lawsuits for mold and moisture damage in buildings abound. Unfortunately, there are a lot of dangers associated with mold–and they aren’t just dangers regarding the state of the building. When mold accumulates over time, it can cause health […]
DELTA®-TRELA Provides Moisture Control For Gehry Design
DELTA®-TRELA Roof Underlayment Lou Ruvo Brain Institute – Las Vegas, NV The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Gehry’s portfolio includes such projects as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Gehry’s design of the Cleveland Clinic Lou […]
Knowing a Home’s HERS Rating Makes Shopping for a New One Easier
Although an affordable mortgage payment is the major concern for new homebuyers, people are paying closer attention to what it will cost to heat and cool their new residence. Whether they are in the market for an existing home or building or buying a new house, consumers can use HERS Ratings to make an informed decision before […]
House Buying Goes Green with Fannie Mae Energy Mortgages
Housing developers and new home buyers are following a smart path. They are incorporating whole-house energy efficient systems in the planning phase of residential construction and installing energy efficient upgrades when buying older homes that are desirable for their charm and character. A home that has a good home energy score sells faster and increases […]
