Here is the picture I posted recently about why every home needs a building science specialist. There is visible evidence of long-term moisture issues in the corner of this all wood window(discolored wood in the corner). The home is located in Central Virginia on a wall that is directly impacted with most local storms. There is wall paper on the inside of almost all walls.
The initial scope of work was simply to replace the windows. Little did I know the full extent of the damage that would be uncovered. The wall paper was acting as an air and moisture barrier on the inside of the wall. There was another vapor barrier inside the wall behind the drywall. Once the moisture got into that space, it had to dry to the outside. It could only dry to the outside if conditions were exactly right. This led to an incredible amount of damage that could previously only be seen in the corners of the windows.
Here is what we found.
The scope ended up rebuilding the wall structure, insulation, drywall, house wrap, flashing, paint… To say the least, a lack of understanding of building science in this 20 – 30-year-old house – destroyed the house.
Can you identify the potential problems with this home? There is visible evidence of long-term moisture issues in the corner of this all wood window (see discolored wood in the corner). The home is located in Central Virginia on a wall that is directly impacted with most local storms. There is wallpaper on the inside of almost all walls. There is wood siding outside that has been painted multiple times. The house is not used on a regular basis (vacation home). Recognizing issues that can be solved using building science will help keep your home from looking aged and worn. Give us a call if you are looking to protect your home for future generations to come.
For more information on problems with wood window frames or to follow this home’s progress, read here.
We design many different types of buildings. One of the most interesting to design (while they may lack something in aesthetics) is the warehouse. You have to learn how the facility inhabitants move materials (food, lumber, medical supplies…) whatever they are and design a solution that enhances the efficiency of the facility. This process of learning the flow through the building gives you the information you need to design an effective building solution. From warehouse to retail, design is delivered through understanding the occupants needs and hearing their concerns. Here are some of our various warehouse projects:
Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or glaring artificial light. There are many consequences from light pollution including:
wasted energy
habitat and migration disruption
human health impacts
not being able to see stars in the sky
Light pollution can be avoided with proper design. It should be carefully planned on the outside of buildings as well as inside. Safety around buildings can be improved, environmental issues can be mitigated, and the architecture can be enhanced.
Here are the full cut off lights used on this project that had very particular lighting needs. The solution provided very appropriately placed lights for a senior community while not casting a glow within an existing neighborhood.
Many new homes are taking advantage of that space above the attached garage for an additional bedroom / bonus room space. It was made possible by the invention of the attic frame truss that is able to span a two car garage and provide a 12′ wide usable room above. However, most bonus rooms have a problem – they are uncomfortable. You can see in this image that a builder has addressed the problem by adding an ugly through wall heating / air conditioner. This will make the room comfortable, but adds to your electric bills, does not address indoor air quality issues, and is usually noisy – not to mention ugly.
This bonus room space is a nice add to the usable space in a home, but has indoor air quality and comfort issues. This is due to the difficulty in getting them air tight as well as difficulty getting supply and return air into the space. A bonus room above the garage needs extra attention from the insulator. In order to get it air tight and efficient, they need to use a LOT of caulk or an open cell spray foam solution. This will also protect against the air infiltration from the garage below. Good planning may also allow for HVAC ducts, supply and return to reach the room through the knee walls. This all needs to be carefully planned and thought through in advance of construction to get it right.
While I prefer this space to only be used for storage in a detached garage, sometimes the lot demands it be attached. If you do take that route, be sure to plan for comfort and indoor air quality solutions that will allow you to sleep knowing you have protected your family.
Here is the picture I posted recently about why every home needs a building science specialist. There is visible evidence of long-term moisture issues in the corner of this all wood window(discolored wood in the corner). The home is located in Central Virginia on a wall that is directly impacted with most local storms. There is wall paper on the inside of almost all walls.
