Water Destroys Homes and Buildings.

7/21/2020 (Permalink)

Water Destroys Homes and Buildings.

Vapor Diffusion

Vapor diffusion is a confusing subject. There are two main ways it does damage in our climate.

• When moisture reservoir cladding (masonry, fiber cement siding, stucco) gets saturated with rain and the sun or warm outdoor temperatures drive the stored moisture towards the inside. Interior vapor barriers like vinyl wallpaper increases interior vapor drive problems. Expect more damage in our region with masonry against wood common practices.
• In the wintertime, when exterior sheathing or framing is cold and interior humidity is too high.

Keep interior humidity below 40% during cold weather. Exterior insulative sheathing helps keep vulnerable structural members warmer, thus safer from risky dew points. It's common for people to misdiagnose a vapor diffusion problem for one of the first two. When evaluating water damage, suspect number one is bulk water.  Most mold inside hidden building cavities, not exposed to bulk water is caused by air leakage.

https://www.greenbuilt.org/the-top-3-ways-that-water-destroys-our-homes-and-buildings/

SERVPRO of South Arlington is here for all of your mitigation needs.