Heavy rain penetrating a building's exterior shell without an opportunity to drain or dry out rapidly causes wood framing to rot, steel to corrode, and creates favorable conditions for mold and mildew. This common - and potentially disastrous - housing durability problem can be prevented by using appropriate roof designs and moisture-resistant materials, such as housewraps and flashing. Water damage is one of several housing durability issues discussed in "Durability by Design: A Guide for Residential Builders and Designers." The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) published Durability by Design as a best-practice resource for designers, builders, and homeowners interested in learning about how to prevent or address the most common housing durability problems. The first two chapters introduce concepts related to durability and their importance. The last six chapters are devoted to ground and surface water, rain and water vapor, sunlight, insects, decay and corrosion, natural hazards, and miscellaneous issues, such as finishes and air leakage. Why is Durability Important? Durability is governed by a complex set of physical interactions that have a significant impact on long-term building performance. When durability is compromised, there can be substantial economic consequences, which can be further compounded by concerns relating to occupant health. In either event, poor durability is costly for builders and homeowners alike. Builder callbacks to fix durability problems have a negative impact on the builders' bottom lines and reputations. Even when health issues are not a concern, durability failures often increase homeowners' operating and maintenance costs. A Different Kind of Natural Disaster Rooms bathed in sunlight are generally desirable, but the combination of visible light and non-visible radiation can cause substantial wear on housing structures. The sun produces both chemical and physical reactions that attack materials and shorten their life expectancy. These reactions can cause interior and exterior paint color to fade, premature asphalt roof shingle failure, and warping and discoloration of vinyl siding. Durability by Design discusses types of solar radiation damage and describes options for preventing it. For example, properly sized roof overhangs can minimize solar exposure on interior and exterior walls. Natural elements like sun and water are not the only potential threats to housing durability. Pests such as termites, carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles, and carpenter bees also pose a threat to wood structures. Durability by Design reviews practices for controlling pest damage and describes the advantages and limitations of each. For example, builders can use termite-resistant materials (such as concrete and masonry building materials) instead of wood. Chemical treatments are also effective, but must be periodically reapplied. For each factor that hinders structural durability, Durability by Design offers several solutions, while taking into account the fact that cost effectiveness is a priority for both builders and consumers. PATH's latest offering concludes with appendices containing helpful durability checklists for builders and homeowners. A complete copy of "Durability by Design" is available for $5.00 from HUD USER. Please use the order form on the back of this newsletter. You can also download the form from the HUD USER Web site at www.huduser.gov/publications/destech/durdesign.html. |
