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Web Extra: Secrets to a Dry Home

From "Best Built Home"
episode DBBH-103F

Leaks, stains, standing water, ice formations and humidity are all ways that water intrudes upon a home, where it may not only cause ugly damage in the form of peeling paint and discolored of surfaces, but also cause durability issues. The three major problems water can cause in a home are reducing its cosmetic value, damaging structural component, and creating a ripe environment for mold growth.

Flashing is a piece of material that overlaps on top of the piece below it, providing a good plane for rainwater to channel down without being able to get under any of the roofing material.

Air infiltration into your home can cause moisture problems, and another way to help prevent this problem is to use a sill sealer, which serves it purpose by filling in any gaps or imperfections of the foundation block, which will help keep any type of air infiltration "out" of the house.

Your builder also may want to consider utilizing weather guard, which is a new technology that protects against ice and water, on your roof. It's basically a shield.

If you're building a new home, you can take steps to avoid water damage before it starts. The construction industry refers to these tactics as water management. Start your project by asking your builder or contractor about plans for water management, as every new home should have a strategy in place that incorporates specific materials and techniques.

The Materials

A water management strategy will likely involve some of these materials:

Weather-Resistant Barrier -- You might think that your brick, siding or stucco exterior protects your home from rain or snow, but that's not entirely true. Exterior finishes may be porous or contain gaps -- in other words, their primary function is aesthetic. Behind these exterior finishes, homes need to have a weather-resistant barrier made of waterproof material, such as house wrap or building paper. The same material is needed underneath the shingles of the roof.
Flashing -- Flashing is a water-resistant material that guides water away from places where it might sneak in. You'll often see this material at the intersections of roofs, around windows, and at the base of chimneys, where water running downwards meets a barrier that changes its direction. Without flashing to protect these vulnerable areas, water has the opportunity to enter and cause damage.
Waterproofing -- After rain or snow, groundwater drains through the soil and can move along the walls of a foundation. Below grade, a water impenetrable material can be coated on the exterior of foundation walls. This waterproofing protects a home's foundation and basement from water that may seep in.
Capillary Break -- When a liquid is in close proximity to a solid, the liquid has a natural tendency to rise to meet the solid. Watch how a bead of water will rise to meet your fingertip when you hover over it. This characteristic is called capillarity, and it can cause problems in foundations that aren't protected from wet soil and a rising water table in the rain. A waterproof capillary break (sometimes made of polyethylene) between the footing and the foundation wall can keep water from rising into a house from below.

Techniques

Materials are only half the solution. Proper installation of these materials must happen to ensure protection against water intrusion.

Continuous Drainage Plane -- The drainage plane is like a raincoat for a home. When it works, all water hitting the house will take the path of least resistance away -- never toward or behind a home's materials. It's important for all weather-resistant material to be installed in a continuous fashion that protects every inch where gaps, cracks and absorbent areas may exist.
Shingling Principle -- When materials for water management such as house wrap and flashing are installed, the crew must follow the shingling principle. Using this method, the installer will apply the first row of material across the bottom of a surface, such as a wall or roof, and place the next layer above it -- with some overlap. This method of installation creates a seal at the top of the material, so water doesn't run behind it. Ask your builder or contractor how they will ensure the use of this method on the jobsite.

Leaks and water damage doesn't have to be a typical problem of homeownership. Today's construction materials and methods can protect a home, as long as your team knows and understands how to properly approach a strategy for water management.

For more information:

Water Management Guide from the Energy and Environmental Building Association
Website: Water Management Guide

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Mold Information
Website: Mold Resources