Housing Giants - April 1, 2009 - (Page 6) Process By Michael Dickens, BuildIQ Prevent Water IntrusIon In BrIck veneer Follow these tips to avoid errors that lead to water leaks in brick veneer applications. Every housing giant seeks to reduce the number of callbacks, especially those related to water intrusion. These callbacks can be especially costly and difficult to repair, wasting significant dollars from your bottom line — exactly what you want to avoid in this economy. Brick vaneer is one area that water can damage, and there are ways to prevent problems. masonry walls, brick veneer is much thinner — typically only 4 inches thick (older masonry walls are typically more than 12 inches thick). Brick veneer is less successful at naturally keeping water out of the interior. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to ensure the durability of a brick wall through careful design and workmanship. Water Management An essential step in the home building process, water management plays a critical role in making a home durable and comfortable. Water management also helps in controlling risk and maintaining insurance coverage — all positive benefits. However, water management is a tricky principle to implement properly because there are so many potential ways water can enter a home. Always a culprit is water intrusion, and water Brick Veneer In today’s market, brick veneer is the most common type of brick construction in the residential home building industry. Unlike older 06 04.01.09 HOUSING GIANTS www.HousingGiants.com management going awry is the focus of many warranty complaints. Despite brick’s many benefits, which aren’t under contest here, it still remains at heart a porous material. Arlan Burdick, E.I.T., a building performance specialist with IBACOS Homebuilding QC, explains that a porous material such as brick absorbs rainwater quickly. “After a storm, some of the moisture in the brick will move toward the exterior, and some will move toward the interior. A robust water management system acts as a defense against moisture heading toward the interior of the home.” Water can wick through pores in the brick via capillary action. In addition, water can enter through cracks and through mortar joints, as well as through the edges around openings and transitions to other exterior claddings. In fact, if a brick exterior is showing any damage, it’s likely to be water-related. Don’t let this scare you, though. The solution, as with any exterior finish, is to limit the amount of water intrusion and control any water that does enter the wall assembly. Errors That Lead to Water Intrusion in Brick Veneer The most common errors on-site that cause water intrusion can be prevented by using the right design and construction practices. Otherwise, unmanaged water intrusion can lead to mold growth, structural deterioration and cosmetic damage. Think about efflorescence, a common result of water intrusion that leaves a whitish deposit from salts behind on the surface of brick. Although efflorescence does not damage brick, it is unattractive and frequently the first issue homeowners notice. As always, the best way to ensure errors aren’t made on site is through education. On that note, let’s look at three of the most common installation errors that cause water intrusion and their best practice solutions. Pro tIP! The home’s grade can change over time. For example, when homeowners install mulch, the grade can end above the weep holes, preventing the air space from draining properly. Maintaining the grade below the weep holes allows the wall to drain. http://www.buildiq.com http://www.homebuildingqc.com/bios/arn-burdick.aspx http://www.ibacos.com http://www.homebuildingqc.com http://jobsite.buildiq.com/articles/risk-management/moisture-movement.aspx http://www.gobrick.com/pdfs/Builder_Notes_1.pdf?CFID=6216989&CFTOKEN=78623350 http://www.gobricksoutheast.com/downloads/ConstructionGuide.pdf http://www.gobricksoutheast.com/downloads/ConstructionGuide.pdf http://www.housingzone.com/giants/article/CA6544302.html http://www.HousingGiants.com
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