Water damage is the number one cause resulting in lawsuits against builders. In the spring, the roof leaks, but it has not rained for months. Where is the water coming from?

I used high-permeable materials in the building construction, so why do I have moisture problems? I have been constructing buildings for decades; I never had a moisture problem in the past, so why am I getting them now?

This presentation shows the ways that moisture moves in the building and why moisture problems are showing up in today’s construction. The energy and moisture transport calculator is used to provide some of the answers to these questions.

Session Takeaways

• Determine the ways that moisture moves in building assemblies
• Articulate why water vapor transmission properties of a single material are not important
• Identify the top two ways why moisture will show up in a building assembly
• Identify why moisture problems in buildings will continue to get worse in the future

Laverne Dalgleish, CABS
Executive Director, Air Barrier Association of America

Mr. Laverne Dalgleish has been actively involved in the construction industry for over 35 years and has specialized in building envelopes, energy efficiency and building performance for both commercial and residential construction.

Starting as a builder in the 1970’s, Laverne constructed some of the most energy efficient houses in North America, including houses that were Net Zero ready with a focus on high levels of airtightness and insulation.

Since then, he has championed to transform the building industry to raise the bar in professionalism for building trades and focus on quality processes in construction to ensure long-term high performance buildings.

Laverne acts in the role of Executive Director has become a frequent presenter across North America on a variety of topics as they relate to building envelopes, energy efficiency, green building practices, and standards and quality of construction.