A recent article in my local newspaper titled “Building a better basement” explains the difference of using traditional stick framing and drywall with panel systems for basement remodeling projects. So, naturally red flags went up for me when I saw the title. Primarily because what we have done in the past that we thought were the right things to do, are really not and are causing lots of problems today. Especially the four letter word “mold”. I think back to when my father finished our home when I was younger putting up the sheet of plastic (vapor barrier) before applying the paneling to the insulated stick framing, not to mention the rotten wood I found when tearing down finished basement walls in my own home. If you are wondering what I may be afraid of, check out a couple of studies on insulating existing basements I posted last year. (Building Science Sunday: Basement Insulation)
I want to take a little time and explain some of these systems mentioned in the article a little further and make a couple of suggestions. Now the good thing is that all the companies mentioned in the article all agree that the basement has to address any moisture issues if any first. Because if you have water problems in your basement, it doesn’t matter how mold resistant a product says it is. If the material does not get a chance to dry and is not exposed to sunlight, mold can grow on almost any surface. So lets talk about some of these systems.
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This week is the annual Building Science Summer Camp hosted by Joe Lstiburek and his company Building Science Corporation. Now if you think you can buy tickets for this event like the USGBC Greenbuild or the AIA convention, think again. This is an invitation only event, with some of the industry’s leading building scientists handpicked by Joe himself.
Now I would definitely not expect to be invited (not this year anyways) to such a note worthy week of learning on the latest thoughts in the world of building science and elbow rubbing of the industry leaders. But I would have to say that for someone who is moving into the industry, this would be a great confirmation of one’s work and contribution to be invited. So for the time being I will have to be satisfied with the fact I was able to attend one of Joe’s great lectures and pick his brain at breakfast, as well as work with his partner Betsy Pettit on Ohio’s only LEED Platinum home.
Like Allison Bailes from Energy Vanguard, we will have to sit in our office glued to the computer screen watching as the tweets (#bscamp) come in from its attendants about some of this week’s topics such as spray and foam board insulation, IAQ etc. So if you’re interested to know more about the Building Science Summer Camp, check out the Energy Vanguard blog post (I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Building Science Summer Camp!), as Allison pleads his case for an invitation to next year’s event. Or do as we do and check out some of the thousands of papers that Building Science Corporation has published and posted to their site, free of charge. It is a great resource for some of the industry leading research for building performance.
-Josh
I have been helping the parents of a friend visualize a basement remodel project, where they are going to be claiming a portion of the basement for living space. Therefore while helping them, it has brought me back to a few article written on how to properly insulate your below grade walls. Building Science Corporation has lots of good articles on the subject (here & here), however I will bring your attention to an article that talks both about the good and the bad systems used.
RR-0202: Basement Insulation Systems
by Building Science Corporation
The Problem
Meeting Energy Star levels of performance is one of the criteria for constructing homes to Building America levels of performance – levels defined by the Building Science Consortium and others. Homes constructed with basements require some degree of basement insulation to meet Energy Star. As a result all Building America homes with basements constructed by the Building Science Consortium have basement insulation.
In any event, heat loss from basements accounts for such a significant portion of the energy loss from a home that it is clear that a home with a basement must have basement insulation to be called “energy efficient.” Additionally, in many jurisdictions, basement insulation is a building code requirement.
Finally, most homeowners with homes with basements finish the basement area for additional living space. When they do, they typically insulate the perimeter walls. Homes with basements often end up with basement walls that are finished and insulated.
There are only three ways to insulate a basement wall: on the interior, on the exterior or in the middle. Of the three,
the most common approach has been to insulate basements internally. The reasons for this have been due almost strictly to cost.
Continue reading the article at buildingscience.com
From the website of The Carbon Neutral Curriculum Materials Project:
The Carbon Neutral Curriculum Materials Project is a joint research effort between members of the Society of Building Science Educators, the American Institute of Architects, and a private donor, the purpose of which is to provide practitioners, faculty and students with the means to meet the 2030 Challenge — that is, to be able to design and construct buildings to a state of carbon neutrality by the year 2030.
Continue reading the article at BuildingGreen.com LIVE:
Now this article talks a little about hiring the right professional when you are having problems with your home as the one in the article.
Don’t Try This At Home: Armchair Building Science.
By Peter Yost via GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Is the mold on the plywood in this attic the result of inadequate attic ventilation or air leakage?
The homeowners called me after a certified home inspector stated the former; that the attic was underventilated and moisture was building up as a result. The roof assembly had soffit vents at the eaves and two gable end vents. Not as effective as ridge-to-soffit ventilation, but probably close to building code requirements (see Green Basics – Attics).
I did not have the time to get down to the home to take a look myself, so I asked the homeowner to send me photos of the house and the problem. Bit dicey to diagnose a problem and give guidance over the phone based on a short series of photos, but armchair building science is an honorable pastime.
Continue reading the article at GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Posted by Mark Piepkorn via