It is old news, there are problems associated with some drywall manufactured in China. The problems are real and documented. While there are a few cases in Canada, the majority of complaints come from American home owners. It is not right. Unsuspecting home owners have been saddled with an unfair financial burden.
Though in the 'Big Picture' I am a bit suspicious. This controversy might be about more than just drywall. I think it is partly about China, "the Chinese" and trade with China. Before I am labeled a left wing nut let me explain.
I read a lot on home inspection, home renovation, real estate, economics, trade and government policy. First, it seems it is always the "Chinese Drywall" problem. Never, the problem with dry wall manufactured in China. Okay, on the surface it is the same and I'm splitting hairs. Though, I think you know what I am talking about.
My point is, I rarely read about toxic drywall manufactured in Canada and America. Recently, Florida Senator Dave Aronberg said,
"We have families that have been victimized by drywall that was made not in China but in Canada and the United States,"
Calgary Realtor Jim Sparrow has been contacted by families from the States claiming their new homes have toxic drywall (suspected sulphur contaminated) manufactured in and by American companies.
This is not just about "Chinese Drywall". It is about Toxic Drywall manufactured by Canadian, American and Chinese companies. Pointing fingers is uncivilized.
Showing posts with label Terminology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terminology. Show all posts
Monday
Efflorescence
I am not an Engineer. I can't comment on the possible present and/or future impact the efflorescence pictured below will have on the structural integrity of the foundation wall.
Efflorescence is caused by moisture moving through material(s). Most of the time it is a cosmetic issue but home inspectors do take note as it is evidence that there is, or was - moisture in the wall. The source of the moisture is often difficult to ascertain.
In Calgary's freeze and thaw environment, moisture could result in the weakening of the wall.
Efflorescence is caused by moisture moving through material(s). Most of the time it is a cosmetic issue but home inspectors do take note as it is evidence that there is, or was - moisture in the wall. The source of the moisture is often difficult to ascertain.
In Calgary's freeze and thaw environment, moisture could result in the weakening of the wall.
Friday
Fenestration - A cool scrabble word
Last night I was playing Scrabble on line and was close to spelling, fenestration. In the building science world, it refers to the arrangement, proportioning and design of windows.
Not an everyday word but sounds cool.
Not an everyday word but sounds cool.
Monday
Urban Toponymy
I love houses and I love Calgary. Recently, I have been reading books about Calgary's historical homes & buildings. I came across a word I was unfamiliar with, "Toponymy".
Like we do, I googled the word and learned that Toponymy is the scientific study of place names, their origins, and meanings. wikipedia
Urban Toponymy goes deeper than just knowing your street is named after a famous dead guy.
What was the guy's religion; Catholic, Jewish, or Protestant? What are the histories of the names of the surrounding streets. Is there a pattern?
Are there any wealthy neighborhoods named after indigenous people? Why or why not? Any historic buildings named after settlers from minority communities? Why or why not?
Urban toponymy is indeed interesting.
Like we do, I googled the word and learned that Toponymy is the scientific study of place names, their origins, and meanings. wikipedia
Urban Toponymy goes deeper than just knowing your street is named after a famous dead guy.
What was the guy's religion; Catholic, Jewish, or Protestant? What are the histories of the names of the surrounding streets. Is there a pattern?
Are there any wealthy neighborhoods named after indigenous people? Why or why not? Any historic buildings named after settlers from minority communities? Why or why not?
Urban toponymy is indeed interesting.
Sunday
Dendrochronology & Terbity
I am taking some extension courses on sustainable homes and green building practices.
Along the way I've needed to google a couple of words. I had never heard of dendrochronology, and turbidity before. Without knowing it, I practiced dendrochronology along the banks of the Elbow River in Calgary. I was always checking out the trees gnawed through by the beavers.
I understood the meaning of "nomenclature" but doubt I could pronounce it. It is a fancy word that is better understood listening to two trades people from different provinces,
Along the way I've needed to google a couple of words. I had never heard of dendrochronology, and turbidity before. Without knowing it, I practiced dendrochronology along the banks of the Elbow River in Calgary. I was always checking out the trees gnawed through by the beavers.
I understood the meaning of "nomenclature" but doubt I could pronounce it. It is a fancy word that is better understood listening to two trades people from different provinces,
"Well, that's not what we call that sh*t around here"
Thursday
Xeriscape
In Alberta, when we hear about "Green Buildings Design", we think about how great it is to help the environment. In the same breath, we wonder about our furnace, insulation and energy bills. Well, maybe we think about our energy bills first.
Recently, I took a course on Green Building Design. One section of the course talks about the relationship of the building structure and the design of the surrounding property.
Until I took the course, I had never heard of the word "xeriscape". The word xeriscape is a portmanteau of xeros (Greek for "dry") and landscape. A Xeriscaper designs a property in a way that minimizes the use of water.
The first thing I thought of was my friend's hippie parent's back yard; river stones, cacti and not a lawnmower in sight. (It was a cool back yard but we couldn't play hockey)
I learned it doesn't have to be this way. Alberta Views Magazine, has an interesting article that pertains specifically to our climatic region, Seven Steps to Water Conserving-Xeriscape.
Some of us do our own landscaping. One day you might sell your house and possibly, it will be subjected to a Home Inspection. When you landscape: Always grade away from your foundation. Before you dig and plant your favorite tree, think about where the gas and water pipes are buried. And, consider how tall (big) your trees will be in relation to the home 25-50 years down the road. Remeber, think about roots as well.
Malus x ‘Thunderchild’ (Thunderchild Crabapple) via: Foothills Nurseries Calgary
Recently, I took a course on Green Building Design. One section of the course talks about the relationship of the building structure and the design of the surrounding property.
Until I took the course, I had never heard of the word "xeriscape". The word xeriscape is a portmanteau of xeros (Greek for "dry") and landscape. A Xeriscaper designs a property in a way that minimizes the use of water.
The first thing I thought of was my friend's hippie parent's back yard; river stones, cacti and not a lawnmower in sight. (It was a cool back yard but we couldn't play hockey)
I learned it doesn't have to be this way. Alberta Views Magazine, has an interesting article that pertains specifically to our climatic region, Seven Steps to Water Conserving-Xeriscape.
Some of us do our own landscaping. One day you might sell your house and possibly, it will be subjected to a Home Inspection. When you landscape: Always grade away from your foundation. Before you dig and plant your favorite tree, think about where the gas and water pipes are buried. And, consider how tall (big) your trees will be in relation to the home 25-50 years down the road. Remeber, think about roots as well.
Malus x ‘Thunderchild’ (Thunderchild Crabapple) via: Foothills Nurseries Calgary
More information at Sustainable Sources
Tuesday
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
Do you have any old firewood stacked up against your house? Debating if you should get that old tree stump ground down?
Maybe you should. Why? Click on this site to read what one Calgary company does to pay the bills.
Maybe you should. Why? Click on this site to read what one Calgary company does to pay the bills.
Sunday
Psychrometrics
"Psychrometrics is the study of the physical and thermal properties of air and water vapor mixtures (Henderson et al., 1993)." Atmospheric air contains water vapor, pollutants, and gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc. Dry air is referred to as air devoid of water vapor and pollutants. The mixture of dry air and water vapor, called moist air, is the basis for psychrometric analysis. A solid understanding of the physical and thermal properties of moist air is the foundation for conceptual and design analyses of industrial drying, heating and cooling processes".
Read more at wikipedia here.
Read more at wikipedia here.
US vs Canada. Building Codes
I read something interesting on the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) site,
"While there are many similarities between U.S. and Canadian codes, there are also some significant differences. Many Canadians may have the perception that Canadian codes are superior or that compliance with Canadian requirements should result in approval in the U.S., but in fact the performance levels specified in the IRC often exceed Canadian requirements".
"Scope: The IRC is more comprehensive and inclusive than Canadian codes. It includes requirements for plumbing, electrical and fuel gas..."
"Fire Safety: Some fire resistance ratings are longer. Requirements for escape windows and smoke alarms are more stringent..."
"Framing: Joist, lintel (header) and rafter spans are more conservative in some cases. Requirements for jack studs at openings in walls are more stringent..."
"Duct Sealing: All joints in ducts are required to be sealed, even if the ducts are run entirely within conditioned space..."
If you are interested you can read the rest of the article here.
"While there are many similarities between U.S. and Canadian codes, there are also some significant differences. Many Canadians may have the perception that Canadian codes are superior or that compliance with Canadian requirements should result in approval in the U.S., but in fact the performance levels specified in the IRC often exceed Canadian requirements".
"Scope: The IRC is more comprehensive and inclusive than Canadian codes. It includes requirements for plumbing, electrical and fuel gas..."
"Fire Safety: Some fire resistance ratings are longer. Requirements for escape windows and smoke alarms are more stringent..."
"Framing: Joist, lintel (header) and rafter spans are more conservative in some cases. Requirements for jack studs at openings in walls are more stringent..."
"Duct Sealing: All joints in ducts are required to be sealed, even if the ducts are run entirely within conditioned space..."
If you are interested you can read the rest of the article here.
Dew Point and Mold
The Dew Point is the temperature to which the air must be cooled before it becomes saturated. When it is saturated, it is holding all the water vapor it is able to hold. The dew point cannot be higher than the temperature. It can be the same, but not higher
Warm air can hold more water than cold air or said another way, as air cools, it loses its ability to hold water. The dew point (the temperature at which moisture will condense out of the air) correlates with absolute humidity 100%.
The dew point is an indication of how much water vapor is in the air. The more water vapor, the closer the dew point is to the temperature. When the air becomes saturated, the dew point and the temperature are the same.
Understanding the dew point is one step in better understanding where mold might come from in your home. Certified Industrial Hygienist Barry Westbrook writes in the American Home Inspectors Directory,
"Dew point is the other scientific principle necessary to understand the mold phenomenon. For water vapor in the air to condense onto a surface, the temperature of that surface must be below the dew point. At that point, the air is 100% saturated and can no longer hold all the moisture. The air begins to drop some of the water onto the surface as condensation. The colder the surface, the more condensation will form. That is why there is usually more mold underneath bathrooms and kitchens. These floors are not insulated as well as carpeted floors, and become very cool in the summertime.
Advance Housing Technology
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is an organization dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing. Check out their main page here.
Yes, it is an American organization. However, they do address problems facing homes in northern regions. My favorite resource is the tools section found here.
PATH also sponsors a second site called, Tool Base Services, which is described as,
"...housing industry's resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems."
You can find Tool Base Services here .
My favorite resource on this site is the Building Systems page which is described as,
"Information about selected innovative products & processes that can help you build or remodel homes at lower cost, with higher quality and/or energy efficiency, and/or that are safer".
You can find that page here.
Yes, it is an American organization. However, they do address problems facing homes in northern regions. My favorite resource is the tools section found here.
PATH also sponsors a second site called, Tool Base Services, which is described as,
"...housing industry's resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems."
You can find Tool Base Services here .
My favorite resource on this site is the Building Systems page which is described as,
"Information about selected innovative products & processes that can help you build or remodel homes at lower cost, with higher quality and/or energy efficiency, and/or that are safer".
You can find that page here.
Saturday
Horizontal Cracks & Foundations
Cracks in foundations walls cause stress for home sellers, home buyers, Real Estate Agents, Home Inspectors, Builders, Contractors, Lenders and Insurance Underwriters.
It is obvious, not all cracks are equal. A half inch crack in a 50 year old house, with no water damage present, is much less of a worry than a half inch crack in a 3 year old house.
Concrete is rigid. Some cracks will be present. Cracks from shrinkage is less of a worry than stress-induced cracks. However, they should be filled with proper sealant and monitored.
It is obvious, not all cracks are equal. A half inch crack in a 50 year old house, with no water damage present, is much less of a worry than a half inch crack in a 3 year old house.
Concrete is rigid. Some cracks will be present. Cracks from shrinkage is less of a worry than stress-induced cracks. However, they should be filled with proper sealant and monitored.
Horizontal cracks, are generally, less a problem for the structure of the house than vertical cracks. They still need to be noted, repaired and monitored.
Again the size of the crack, in relation to the age of the house and recent environment changes, dictates how serious the matter is. An example of environmental change, is frost heave. In Calgary, this is generally more a concern for homes in newer communities.
Home inspectors note and report the presence of cracks. Structural Engineers, Soil Mechanic Engineers or Qualified Contractors, determine the seriousness of the problem and, if any, recommend remedial action.
Faulty GFCI
GFCIs have been around for many years. They are inexpensive devices that prevent electrocution. The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) did a survey...
"...inspectors turned in the results of more than 13,000 home and building inspections and found 15 percent of GFCI's were not working properly".
Read more at, simple device can prevent electrocution.
"...inspectors turned in the results of more than 13,000 home and building inspections and found 15 percent of GFCI's were not working properly".
Read more at, simple device can prevent electrocution.
Attic Ventilation Calculator
An attic needs ventilation.
The problem is, Building Science Tecks, Architects, Engineers, Manufacturers and Roofers, don't fully agree on how much ventilation is required. Further, there is some debate on the best way to ventilate. There are many climatic consideration as well.
To top it off, Provincial and State codes vary.
Here is an attic ventilation calculator.
The problem is, Building Science Tecks, Architects, Engineers, Manufacturers and Roofers, don't fully agree on how much ventilation is required. Further, there is some debate on the best way to ventilate. There are many climatic consideration as well.
To top it off, Provincial and State codes vary.
Here is an attic ventilation calculator.
Friday
Roof Cupolas
We see a lot of cupolas on Calgary roofs. Interestingly, many are not set up to ventilate the attic - they are purely decorative. The best way to check? Get up into the attic and take a look.
Facisa, & Soffits
When discussing roofing components the meaning of Fascia & Soffits are often confused. They are different components of the roofing system as you can see in the picture below.
What is Efflorescence?
Efflorescence is a white powder on the surface of walls due to evaporation of water. It forms on the surface of bricks and concrete. Read more at wikipedia.
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