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Exterior insulation and finishing systems (EIFS) are inherently defective and unfit of use as an exterior cladding system where moisture sensitive components are used without a provision for drainage… Read More

Roofs can be designed and constructed to be either vented or unvented in any hygrothermal zone. Air barrier systems are typically the most common approach, however, air pressure control approaches… Read More

Air barriers are systems of materials used to control airflow in building enclosures. They typically completely enclose the air within a building. The physical properties which distinguish air… Read More

A concise explanation of how a high performance HVAC system works in a high performance home. How can I be saving energy, money, and wear and tear on my equipment if it seems as though my system is… Read More

When constructing unvented roofs with asphalt shingles in hot humid climates, a vapor barrier must be installed between the asphalt shingles and the roof deck. Asphalt shingles store water from dew (… Read More

The simplest, most effective, and most economical way to introduce fresh air in homes with central forced air systems is to use the central fan to pull in and distribute a controlled amount of… Read More

"Buildings leak water and air, which is normal and unavoidable. Therefore, designers should not fixate on preventing leakage, i.e. making buildings “airtight.” Because even if all cracks were sealed… Read More

This article was written to tie together and summarize the various papers on unvented conditioned cathedralized attics found on our website. We realize that there is a wealth of information, and much… Read More

This article briefly repeats some of the information in the other mold articles but also includes information on how to prevent mold in residential structures. Mold requires water. No water, no mold… Read More

The purpose of this document is to assist builders with the decisions regarding what to do and how to do it when mold is found in specific locations. This article provides both general guidelines for… Read More