Basement Waterproofing: Is Your Dimple Mat Up for the Job?
You choose a dimple mat based on decent specs, and it appears to be of good quality – but how can you know if the product you’ve chosen is truly up for the job?
Category: Mold
Can Homeowners Sue Homebuilders for Foundation Problems?
If a homeowner’s new construction home is showing moisture-related issues in the basement, it’s a costly mistake to repair. Naturally, it’ll lead back to the builder as the owners will want some form of remediation or coverage.
4 Tips for Homebuilders Handling Mold Claims and Lawsuits
It is an exciting time in a family’s life when they move into a newly constructed home. Unfortunately, when mold also moves in due to faulty construction or faulty product manufacturing, the dream can turn into a litigation nightmare, as they can take legal action against the builder.
What’s the Difference Between Air Barriers and Vapor Barriers?
Confusion between air barriers and vapor barriers is common. We’ve simplified the differences between the types of barriers to clarify some misconceptions.
Large Building Airtightness and Appropriate Air Barrier Strategies
Tall buildings require a robust air barrier design strategy to withstand higher air pressures from wind, stack effect, and mechanical systems.
Stucco House Problems? Install Stucco the Right Way with Matt Risinger
The Build Show’s Matt Risinger shares some of his stucco failures, and how you can avoid the same fate with his proven step-by-step stucco installation method.
Air and Moisture Control in Hot, Humid Climates
A well-designed air and moisture control system can add decades to a home’s life, save the home buyers thousands of dollars on energy and maintenance costs, reduce health risks like mold, and generally add to the value of the home and the quality of life and comfort of the buyers. The best practices for air […]
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 […]
Managing leaky basements without digging yourself into a hole
If you haven’t experienced the gross inconvenience and expense of a leaky basement, count yourself lucky. If you have, you know it is not something that can just be ignored in hopes it will go unnoticed or perhaps “fix itself.” Basement leaks can either be slow and steady, gradually seeping into a dwelling over days, […]
Energy Efficient Building Envelope Design & Technologies
Space heating and cooling accounts for over 30% of global energy consumption. With a 150% predicted increase by 2050 for cooling alone, it’s hardly surprising that the question of how to design energy efficient buildings is echoing around the planet. Recently, the focus has been on the building envelope. The new construction phase offers the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Top four ways that mold is eating into your profit and your reputation
Experienced home builders understand how much work goes into building a good reputation, getting referrals, and growing their business. They also know just how quickly a bad experience for the homeowner can undo all of that hard work. One particularly bad experience that has many homeowners seeking retribution is the discovery of mold in […]
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 […]
5 Reasons Why Basements Can Be Uncomfortable
Basements are known to have particular problems: they are often found to be damp, humid, and even occasionally flooded. Once moisture has intruded, it can be difficult to treat the problem. Moreover, these conditions make basements vulnerable to mold. Even common solutions, such as using a dehumidifier, can increase foundation issues and prolong the problem […]
Avoiding Moisture Barrier Problems
With all of the different risks and dangers that come with building commercial structures, moisture problems often get overlooked until it’s too late. While it’s possible to fix problems with the moisture barrier once construction is completed, it’s always better to prevent these problems from happening in the first place. Moisture Barrier Problems in Commercial […]
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 […]
Builders Beware: High-Payout Lawsuits Over Mold and Moisture Damage
Though it seems like homebuyers might sue over even the smallest detail, lawsuits brought against architects, builders and contractors that cite faulty moisture control are definitely justified. Exposure to mold and mildew can have detrimental effects on the health of the occupants, as well as causing large amounts of structural damage to the building. Common […]
Building Design Shouldn’t Trump Moisture Issues
Even the most prestigious architects can get it wrong. In 2007, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) sued renowned architect, Frank Gehry, for design and construction defects in the $300 million dollar Stata Center on the MIT campus. Three years later, the lawsuit was resolved amicably, but the revelations regarding the failures are still instructive for […]
Mold Lawsuits Against Landlords
There are so many stories about lawsuits for mold and moisture damage in buildings that a special blog called MoldBlogger: Fight Mold and Win has now surfaced online. This blog is evidence of the seriousness of the issue. Many of the cases described originate during construction when important steps to prevent leakage and moisture seepage were skipped, resulting in […]
Architect and Contractor Sued for Moldy Stadium
BBB Stadium Inc. is claiming that the Winnipeg IGA Stadium is leaky, moldy, and not properly suited for year-round use. The stadium, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is home to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football Club and the University of Manitoba. Despite the stadium’s location in a high-snowfall city, the concession areas are without heat, the water and electric […]
Air and Moisture Control in Buildings
Air and moisture control in buildings is a fundamental function for any commercial project involving conditioned space. Unfortunately moisture problems are common in many buildings and people often consider them inevitable. Moisture accumulation is the scourge of buildings throughout the United States, from tropical Hawaii to arctic Alaska and from the hot, humid Gulf Coast to the hot, dry Sonoran Desert. Between […]
Colorado Construction Defect Bill Dies In Senate
An attempt by the Colorado State legislature to improve condominium owners’ legal remedies for shoddy commercial building practices has failed. Seeking controls over access to litigation by disgruntled Condominium Home Owner Associations (HOA), SB 177 died in a House committee in late April 2015. Six Colorado legislators believed the bill unfairly limited the rights of […]
Berkeley Balcony Collapse: Builder Had History of Lawsuits
(Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP; Image via latimes.com) Balcony construction defects can be deadly, not just expensive. Witness the tragedy in Berkeley, CA, on Tuesday morning, June 16, 2015, when six people were killed and seven severely injured when a fifth floor balcony they were standing on collapsed. The balcony was found to be in violation of […]
Attention Builders: Home Buyers Want Dry Basements
High Performance Drainboards Provide Reliable Waterproofing Protection If you offer basements with your homes, you realize what a problem moisture can be. When a downpour causes a flooded basement, you get blamed. Flooded basements can also come from grading problems, unforeseen underground water issues, or something as simple as gutter placement. Whatever the cause, as […]
Moisture Control in Construction Prevents Expensive Litigation in Court
Mold construction defects happen. As a natural element in the environment, mold exists virtually everywhere. Soy sauce, sake, blue cheese, and penicillin are all derived from mold-imbued substances. However, when mold grows unabated in contained areas, it can sicken people who are exposed to it. Mold can trigger allergic, irritating and sometimes toxic responses in […]
Cold Joints are Prone to Moisture Damage
Cold Joints Should Not Be Ignored Cold joints can cause serious foundation problems if not dealt with properly. A cold joint occurs where two separate pours of concrete meet; one pour is cured and one pour is not. The hardening of the two are inconsistent, leaving a potential gap between the two layers. A serious […]
Rainscreens Create Structure and Separation to Protect Against Moisture
Without proper ventilation and drainage, moisture can accumulate between the water-resistive barrier and siding of a building. A rainscreen separates the cladding from the building, allowing drainage and moisture evaporation. Ventilated rainscreens are a support system in the building envelope that separates the cladding from the building, allowing for proper ventilation and drainage. It does […]
Architect Air and Moisture Control Concerns
Air and moisture control is important for occupant comfort and structural durability. Architects have to consider moisture control during the planning and construction phase of any building. There are several ways for moisture to travel into a building. In addition to precipitation and natural humidity, moisture can get into buildings from construction moisture, ground moisture, […]
