Water Entry & Water Damage to Buildings
InspectAPedia^® -

Guide to detecting and evaluating leaks and water entry into buildings
Foundation & Structural Damage due to Building Leaks & Water Entry
How to Dry Out Buildings after Flooding & Leaks, Prevent Further Damage, Mold, etc.
Basement / Crawlspace Water Removal & Leak Prevention Systems
Basement waterproofing & foundation coatings or sealants: Wet Basement or Wet Crawl Space Causes & Cures
Questions & answers about diagnosing and curing wet basements & crawl spaces in buildings

This series of articles explains the causes of building water entry, leaks, or actual flooding of buildings and describes how to fix building water entry problems. We describe the damage that is caused by flooding, water entry, or smaller leaks, and we explain how best to cure water entry problems in buildings using a series of measures to keep water out of the building basement or crawl space (or other areas), how to get rid of water or wet conditions in a building, and how to correct building damage, mold, rot, etc. caused by water entry.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

Building Leaks, Water Entry, Flooding, Moisture: Diagnosis, Evaluation, Cure, Prevention - Key Concepts

We include a series of detailed "how to" articles for stopping and fixing building water damage. Our page top photo shows our client pointing to flood lines on a heating system expansion tank, indicating that this building was subject to severe deep flooding. We learned from neighbors that a nearby river had flooded this home and others in its neighborhood repeatedly over the 60 year life of the building.

If your building has been flooded by hurricane, tropical storm, burst pipe, or other water problems, see FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP. Also see BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR where we describe procedures for finding evidence of the frequency, extent, source, and causes of leaks, water entry, and actual building flooding - a critical step in evaluating a building as well as in planning the cure for building leaks, water entry, and mold.

The most basic advice we can give on stopping or preventing basement or crawl space water entry is that it's best to find where and why water is leaking into the structure and to correct that source - usually it's outside the home. If there are reasons that you really cannot address the water problem at its source, a second best approach is to choose among various methods for keeping water out of the building at the last minute - from inside, combined with steps to dry out or remove excess indoor moisture or water, combined with avoiding generating excessive moisture by proper handling of moisture coming from indoor activities.

Here we begin a article series on drying out a wet basement or crawl space and keeping it dry.

Wet basement signs (C) Carson Dunlop Assoc

Visual inspection of a the exterior and interior of a building can provide ample evidence of the history of leaks and water entry at a property.

Carson Dunlop Associates' sketch (left) shows some clues that easily indicate a history of wet basement troubles.

Even when a building is brand new, an experienced home inspector or waterproofing or de-watering contractor can spot conditions that are likely to lead to future leaks, water entry, flooding, and moisture or even mold problems at a structure.

At BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR we describe how to inspect a building for evidence of its history of leaks, water entry, or flooding.

How Long Does It Take for a Building To Dry Out After a Flood or Leak

Our photos below show the basement dry-out procedure for a New York home that had water entry from a foundation wall leak. Because a finished floor had been put down over wood sleepers, it would have been virtually impossible to dry out this space without pulling up the flooring. The contractor also removed the bottom foot of all drywall to permit inspection of wall cavities for leak signs. It was that step that allowed us to trace this basement soaking to a single foundation wall crack.

Wet basement dryout procedure (C) Daniel Friedman

The length of time required for wet conditions in a building to dry out is quite variable, depending on multiple factors. The time for water to dry in a wall cavity can be substantial, depending on:

the original wetness level: Was the building flooded, was there a plumbing leak, is the moisture due to trapped condensation?
the building materials involved: more porous materials dry more rapidly and permit the cavities they cover to dry more rapidly
the amount of air movement in and out of wet or damp building cavities as well as along the outer surfaces of damp materials or wet building cavities (this is why we supplement use of dehumidifiers with area fans when drying out a building).
the permeability of building surface coverings: more porous materials dry more rapidly; building walls, floors, ceilings that include openings or cracks might dry more rapidly, but probably unevenly and unreliably nonetheless
temperatures and relative humidity outside the wet building cavities on all sides
other factors such as weather involving wind (and wind direction), intermittent rain or snow, etc.

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Basic Building Dry-Out Procedures

We have inspected numerous buildings after flooding or severe plumbing leaks, and we have examined and tested the results of various building dry-out, "de watering", or "water extraction" methods used by contractors.

Carson Dunlop Associates' sketch (left) shows common measures to control roof and surface runoff to get water away from the building. In general this is the first step in stopping or preventing wet basements or crawl spaces.

Detailed Investigation to Determine the Extent of Basement Water Entry

Even when drywall is measured (using a moisture meter) as "dry", we have pulled off wall baseboard trim to find visible water and soaking conditions in such locations.

Readers who need to know how to properly respond to flooded buildings should see our series of articles beginning at FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP and also FLOOD RESPONSE CHECKLIST.

Simply operating a dehumidifier and/or fans will not remove moisture from wet building cavities fast enough to avoid a risk of hidden mold contamination.
Making small 2" diameter openings along the bottom of a wall, or even along the bottom and top of a wall between each wall stud pair in order to try to speed wall cavity dryout has proven ineffective and has resulted in severe mold contamination in some locations.
Strip cuts at the entire length of the bottom of walls in a room that has been flooded, removing the bottom 12" of drywall or plasterboard is often sufficient to dry out cavities that were not flooded to higher levels, but check for wet materials such as wet insulation at higher levels in the wall cavity and extend the strip cut higher as necessary.
Complete wall covering demolition indoors is often needed on at least one side of the wall to rapidly dry cavities that were wet from above, such as during a fire extinguishment, an upper floor plumbing leak, or severe building flooding. Similar approaches may be used for wet ceilings.
Wet carpeting needs to be removed and disposed-of;
Wet finish flooring that has buckled or moved will probably have to be demolished. Often it is possible to allow subflooring to remain in place if it is not water-damaged. See TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES for details.
Wet building insulation needs to be removed and disposed-of, not re-used.

Six Topics to Sort Out Building Leaks, Water Entry Cause, Cure, and Prevention

A series of detailed articles addressing these categories are listed below. Contact Us to suggest changes and additions to this material.

Present building condition: how wet or dry is the building, what building surfaces or cavities have become wet, what steps have already been taken or need to be taken to dry out the building. See WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS for a discussion of sources of building leaks, moisture, and moisture related problems other than actual building flooding.
Building water entry damage control: what emergency steps should we take to minimize damage to a building that has suddenly been wet by leaks or flooding? (If your home has been flooded see FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-priorities first)
Building water entry history: Identify evidence of the leak, water entry, moisture, or flood history at the building.
Building water entry causes: identify building or site conditions likely to cause leaks, moisture, basement or crawl space water entry, or actual flooding at the building. Often on older buildings there has been a history of water entry and there may be multiple sources of water entry, confusing insurance claims as well as proper building repair procedures.
Building Leaks & water entry cures: what should we do, in what priority order, to stop recurrent water and moisture problems at a building?
Building water entry and flood damage prevention: what should we do at any building to prevent future leaks, condensation, water entry, or actual flooding at a building

Evidence of Prior Building Water Entry & Flooding

This home inspection client was not happy to learn that the home she had recently purchased had been the subject of recurrent basement and crawl space flooding.

Flood lines in a building indicate the depth of water entry. Careful observation of water and mud stains can also indicate the number of significant floods that have occurred as well as possibly their frequency.

Even after a post-flood cleanup it is usually the case that clues of a building's history of leaks and water entry can be found.

See
  BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR
    Cold Pour Joint Leaks
    Form Tie Leaks
    Wall Crack Leaks
    Floor-Wall Joint Leaks

Also see FLOOD Damage Assessment & Repairs.

Links to Key Articles on Diagnosing & Curing Moisture and Water Problems in Buildings

Photo of a mud-clogged footing drain

Our client saved this partly-clogged footing drain that was excavated from around their nearly-new but very wet home to show how quickly soils can enter and block drainage at a property if the system was not properly installed.

Scroll down to see our links to building water-entry related articles on the detection, diagnosis, cure, and prevention of building water damage and water related problems such as rot and mold.

Key building water entry diagnosis and cure articles:

BASEMENT WATERPROOFING - use of sealers to help keep basements and crawlspaces dry
BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR - where and how water gets into basements and crawl spaces
CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES - details about curing wet or damp crawl spaces.
EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits - these white deposits are a great indicator of where moisture is penetrating a foundation
HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS - so how dry should a building be for comfort and mold prevention?
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS - master list of detecting and controlling building moisture levels
MOISTURE METER STUDY - reliability of methods for screening buildings for leaks, water, moisture, mold
MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE - moisture and building energy loss
SUMP PUMPS GUIDE - how and where to install a sump pump as an emergency backup against basement or crawl space flooding
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS - causes and cures of un-wanted building leaks in all areas
WET BASEMENT PREVENTION - how to stop basement flooding

Comment on Using Moisture Meters During a Home Inspection to Screen Buildings for Leaks or Mold

Question: will my inspector test for moisture?

I am scheduling a pre-purchase home inspection and my real estate agent asked a question about moisture detection: he wants to know if the home inspector will check the moisture level in Sheetrock? - C.W., New York, NY.

Reply: ... it depends ...

Moisture meters, particularly pin-type probing moisture meters that detect moisture by sending an electrical signal between two probes inserted into a material (such as the time-tested Delmhorst™ twin-point electronic resistance moisture meter shown at left) are one of the first tools that many building inspectors purchase after a flashlight, ladder, and screwdriver.

Relying on any test instrument, as we discuss at Warnings re instruments for detection of gases, is not a good substitute for a careful inspection. While using a moisture meter is a popular tool among home inspectors and building environmental inspectors or "mold investigators", and a useful one, the visual inspection of a building for leak history is much more critical than a general "check" using a moisture meter.

After all, the building could have had a history of leaks in the past, as well as hidden rot, insect damage, or mold, related to leaks or trapped moisture, but the leak spot could happen to be dry at the time of testing.

Absence of evidence of moisture when using a moisture meter in a building is not evidence of absence of a history of building leaks, and there is a long list of visual clues that readily tell the story of a building's leak history or the risk of building flooding. .

So properly a moisture meter is, in our opinion, useful principally to confirm that a leak is current. We also find moisture meters useful, particularly radio-signal based non-probing moisture meters such the Tramex™ electronic moisture encounter, to check for hidden leaks behind ceramic tile walls in bathrooms and kitchens where probing is impossible.

Tramex also makes pin-type moisture meters.

And certainly "spot checks for moisture" done randomly at a building would be nonsense.

In a field study we conducted in February 2004 we compared the effectiveness of various methods to test for moisture in the walls of a home reported to have suffered leaks from ice dams at its roof eaves. We surveyed the inside surface of building exterior walls of the entire second floor front and rear building surfaces using the popular tools and methods - the results are reported at MOISTURE METER STUDY.

Home buyers and home owners are right to worry about building leaks and moisture - water where we don't want it is at the top of the list of sources of building problems. If you have a particular reason to be suspicious about something be sure to let the inspector know.

Watch out for "show and tell" tools that impress the client but are a poor substitute for doing a good job.

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about diagnosing and curing wet basements & crawl spaces in buildings

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

HTML Comment Box is loading comments...

Recommend / Share this Article

...

Technical Reviewers & References

InspectAPedia.com^® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also list books on the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

WATER ENTRY in buildings
  ATTIC LEAKS Moisture or Mold
  BARRIERS, EXTERIOR WATER
  BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER
  BASEMENT De-Watering Systems
  BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
  BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR
  BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
  BASEMENT WATER ENTRY PREVENTION
  CATCH BASINS
  Chimney Leaks
  CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
  CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS
  CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS
  CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES
  DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
  DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
  DRYER VENTING
  DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES
  DRYWELL DESIGN & USES
  EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits
  ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE
  EXTERIOR WATER SOURCE ELIMINATION
  FLOOD Damage Assessment & Repairs
  FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
  FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS
  FLOODS IN buildings-priorities
  FOUNDATION DRAINS, INTERIOR
  FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
  GEOTEXTILES & DRAINAGE MATS
  GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR
  GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS
  HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  LOG HOME Leak Diagnosis & Cure
  LOG HOME Condensation &Moisture
  MOISTURE in BUILDING WALLS, EFFECTS
  MOISTURE in CELLULOSE INSULATION
  MOISTURE CALCULATIONS
  MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
  MOISTURE METER STUDY
  MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE
  MOLD in buildings
  MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING
  MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
  PERIMETER DRAIN SYSTEMS
  ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
  Soffit Intake Vents & Attic Condensation
  SEALERS, Basement Floor & Wall Moisture
  SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
  SITE & SURFACE DRAINAGE
  SUMP PUMPS GUIDE
  SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS
  VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
  VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
  VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES
  WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
  WET BASEMENT PREVENTION
  WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO
  Window Flashing & Sealing Guide
  WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT

Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ^® editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.

Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for certain articles found at this website. All rights and contents to those materials are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
Appliances and Home Electronics, - energy savings, U.S. Department of Energy
Avongard foundation crack progress chart for structural crack monitoring
Basement Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
Building Failures, Diagnosis & Avoidance, 2d Ed., W.H. Ransom, E.& F. Spon, New York, 1987 ISBN 0-419-14270-3
Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724 ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
Building Pathology: Principles and Practice, David Watt, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 7, 2008) ISBN-10: 1405161035 ISBN-13: 978-1405161039
The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
Crawl Space Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
Design of Wood Structures - ASD, Donald E. Breyer, Kenneth Fridley, Kelly Cobeen, David Pollock, McGraw Hill, 2003, ISBN-10: 0071379320, ISBN-13: 978-0071379328
This book is an update of a long-established text dating from at least 1988 (DJF); Quoting:
This book is gives a good grasp of seismic design for wood structures. Many of the examples especially near the end are good practice for the California PE Special Seismic Exam design questions. It gives a good grasp of how seismic forces move through a building and how to calculate those forces at various locations. THE CLASSIC TEXT ON WOOD DESIGN UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE LATEST CODES AND DATA. Reflects the most recent provisions of the 2003 International Building Code and 2001 National Design Specification for Wood Construction. Continuing the sterling standard set by earlier editions, this indispensable reference clearly explains the best wood design techniques for the safe handling of gravity and lateral loads. Carefully revised and updated to include the new 2003 International Building Code, ASCE 7-02 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, the 2001 National Design Specification for Wood Construction, and the most recent Allowable Stress Design.
Diagnosing & Repairing House Structure Problems, Edgar O. Seaquist, McGraw Hill, 1980 ISBN 0-07-056013-7 (obsolete, incomplete, missing most diagnosis steps, but very good reading; out of print but used copies are available at Amazon.com, and reprints are available from some inspection tool suppliers). Ed Seaquist was among the first speakers invited to a series of educational conferences organized by D Friedman for ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors, where the topic of inspecting the in-service condition of building structures was first addressed.
Domestic Building Surveys, Andrew R. Williams, Kindle book, Amazon.com
Defects and Deterioration in Buildings: A Practical Guide to the Science and Technology of Material Failure, Barry Richardson, Spon Press; 2d Ed (2001), ISBN-10: 041925210X, ISBN-13: 978-0419252108. Quoting:
A professional reference designed to assist surveyors, engineers, architects and contractors in diagnosing existing problems and avoiding them in new buildings. Fully revised and updated, this edition, in new clearer format, covers developments in building defects, and problems such as sick building syndrome. Well liked for its mixture of theory and practice the new edition will complement Hinks and Cook's student textbook on defects at the practitioner level.
Guide to Domestic Building Surveys, Jack Bower, Butterworth Architecture, London, 1988, ISBN 0-408-50000 X
"Avoiding Foundation Failures," Robert Marshall, Journal of Light Construction, July, 1996 (Highly recommend this article-DF)
"A Foundation for Unstable Soils," Harris Hyman, P.E., Journal of Light Construction, May 1995
"Backfilling Basics," Buck Bartley, Journal of Light Construction, October 1994
"Inspecting Block Foundations," Donald V. Cohen, P.E., ASHI Reporter, December 1998. This article in turn cites the Fine Homebuilding article noted below.
"When Block Foundations go Bad," Fine Homebuilding, June/July 1998
Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer, Robert A. Young, Wiley (March 21, 2008) ISBN-10: 0471788368 ISBN-13: 978-0471788362
Log Homes: Minimizing Air Leakage in Log Homes, U.S. Department of Energy
Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies, by Cheryl Anderson, Frank Woeste (Forest Products Society), & Joseph Loferski, October 2003, ISBN-13: 978-1892529343, $39.00 at Amazon.com or at the InspectAPediaBookstore
Masonry structures: The Masonry House, Home Inspection of a Masonry Building & Systems, Stephen Showalter (director, actor), DVD, Quoting:
Movie Guide Experienced home inspectors and new home inspectors alike are sure to learn invaluable tips in this release designed to take viewers step-by-step through the home inspection process. In addition to being the former president of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), a longstanding member of the NAHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and the Environmental Standard Organization (IESO), host Stephen Showalter has performed over 8000 building inspections - including environmental assessments. Now, the founder of a national home inspection school and inspection training curriculum shares his extensive experience in the inspection industry with everyday viewers looking to learn more about the process of evaluating homes. Topics covered in this release include: evaluation of masonry walls; detection of spalling from rebar failure; inspection of air conditioning systems; grounds and landscaping; electric systems and panel; plumbing supply and distribution; plumbing fixtures; electric furnaces; appliances; evaluation of electric water heaters; and safety techniques. Jason Buchanan --Jason Buchanan, All Movie Review
Masonry Design for Engineers and Architects, M. Hatzinikolas, Y. Korany, Canadian Masonry (2005), ISBN-10: 0978006100, ISBN-13: 978-0978006105
Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design, Robert G. Drysdale, Ahmid A. Hamid, Lawrie R. Baker, The Masonry Society; 2nd edition (1999), ISBN-10: 1929081014, ISBN-13: 978-1929081011
Masonry, Engineered: Using the Canadian Code, J. I. Gainville, Cantext publications (1983), ASIN: B0007C37PG
Masonry, Non-reinforced masonry design tables, Hans J. Schultz, National Concrete Producers Association and the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association (1976), ASIN: B0007C2LQM
Moisture Control in Buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
Moisture Control in Walls, U.S. Department of Energy
Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeling Industry, National Association of Home Builders Remodelers Council, NAHB Research Foundation, 1987.
Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeler, N.U. Ahmed, # Home Builder Pr (February 1991), ISBN-10: 0867183594, ISBN-13: 978-0867183597
R-Value of Wood, U.S. Department of Energy
Slab on Grade Foundation Moisture and Air Leakage, U.S. Department of Energy
Straw Bale Home Design, U.S. Department of Energy provides information on strawbale home construction - original source at http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10350
More Straw Bale Building: A Complete Guide to Designing and Building with Straw (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series), Chris Magwood, Peter Mack, New Society Publishers (February 1, 2005), ISBN-10: 0865715181 ISBN-13: 978-0865715189 - Quoting:
Straw bale houses are easy to build, affordable, super energy efficient, environmentally friendly, attractive, and can be designed to match the builder’s personal space needs, esthetics and budget. Despite mushrooming interest in the technique, however, most straw bale books focus on “selling” the dream of straw bale building, but don’t adequately address the most critical issues faced by bale house builders. Moreover, since many developments in this field are recent, few books are completely up to date with the latest techniques.
More Straw Bale Building is designed to fill this gap. A completely rewritten edition of the 20,000-copy best--selling original, it leads the potential builder through the entire process of building a bale structure, tackling all the practical issues: finding and choosing bales; developing sound building plans; roofing; electrical, plumbing, and heating systems; building code compliance; and special concerns for builders in northern climates.
"Vapor Barriers or Vapor Diffusion Retarders", U.S. DOE: how vapor barriers work, types of vapor diffusion barriers, installing vapor barrier
Ventilation for energy efficient buildings, Purpose, Strategies, etc.,
...

Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Building Leaks, Water Entry, Flooding, Moisture: Diagnosis, Evaluation, Cure, Prevention - Key Concepts

How Long Does It Take for a Building To Dry Out After a Flood or Leak

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Basic Building Dry-Out Procedures

Detailed Investigation to Determine the Extent of Basement Water Entry

Six Topics to Sort Out Building Leaks, Water Entry Cause, Cure, and Prevention

Evidence of Prior Building Water Entry & Flooding

Links to Key Articles on Diagnosing & Curing Moisture and Water Problems in Buildings

Photo of a mud-clogged footing drain

Key building water entry diagnosis and cure articles:

Comment on Using Moisture Meters During a Home Inspection to Screen Buildings for Leaks or Mold

Question: will my inspector test for moisture?

Reply: ... it depends ...

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair