If you want your housing envelope to perform at its peak, proper attic ventilation is key. This is because the regulation of the temperature, pressure and moisture in the attic to more closely resemble a conditioned space will reduce thermal loss and moisture vapor migration. Effective attic ventilation practices also ensure the durability of your roofing components and eliminate the possibility of damage by mold and mildew.
Moisture can cause many structural problems and create a very unhealthy home for your family when mold and mildew begin to form. Building a home that deals effectively with moisture requires due diligence from design to installation and on to maintenance. The home must be built in such a way as to prevent leaks which are the biggest cause of damage and it must also eliminate condensation which occurs naturally in every home.
Condensation is moisture that can lead to a myriad of problems from water damage to mold. With the tighter building envelopes of modern structures, this condensation problem is exacerbated as reduced air flow can prevent moist areas from drying out. Luckily there are ways in which you can mitigate the conditions that lead to condensation and keep moisture out of your home.
Hardwood can make for a durable and beautiful floor, but small mistakes in the subflooring or installation can wreak havoc and buckling, squeaky, uneven floors can all result from poor installation. While this is not a definitive guide to hardwood installation over OSB panels, there are some important points to ponder.
The best way to design a crawlspace that accentuates your building envelope and does not allow unwanted moisture into the home is to treat them as if they were miniature basement spaces. Crawlspaces should be insulated, sealed and all exposed masonry should be covered to prevent condensation.
