WHAT IS BUILDING SCIENCE?
9/15/2024 - 2 MIN
Yes this is a field of science! Not known by many (including many in our own industry, sadly), it’s an essential piece of building your house.
So what is it exactly?
Building science combines many different fields of science and applies to the built environment. Specifically, it:
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improves the durability of your home to withstand it’s no. 1 threat: nature. However glorious and life sustaining it is, between the temperature swings, wind, climate change, rain, and flooding, etc. nature is constantly trying to tear your house down!
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defines how to build based on climate type
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determines compatibility among materials to avoid mold, rot, and structural degradation
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guides building codes
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enhances indoor air quality
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boosts energy efficiency
And these examples are just a few.
If you want a durable and healthy home, should you be asking your builder and architect if they have a solid understanding of building science principles? The answer is a resounding YES! Your home, arguably the largest investment you will likely make in your lifetime, and the place you spend the majority of your time, should be built with quality materials, quality oversight, and on a foundation of building science principles.
While some building science principles are simple and easy to implement, there are others that are more challenging to overcome.
Let’s take the example of a roof overhang – a very old and wise concept, but also one that is easy and inexpensive to build. Interestingly, they seem to have disappeared in many new, modern homes. The reason: it became a popular new design fad because it "looks cool". While the look is cool, not having one can severely compromise your structure. Overhangs are essential. We live in Texas. It’s hot and it rains, sometimes a lot. Our houses need a hat to help withstand nature. The shorter your overhang is, the more likely you are to experience damage from bulk water issues. In fact, with no overhang you have a 90% chance of experiencing damage. That number drops to 30% with a 2 foot overhang. (1) Water is the number one killer of buildings. Let’s keep it out, not in!
NO OVERHANG
OVERHANG
The challenges for implementing some of the other principles are due to:
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Building science, as with most all other sciences, changes over time. Materials change, technology changes, and how we live changes, so it’s important to stay updated on the science of how we build. The popular way is not necessarily the smart way.
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There are lag times between new systems, new technologies and actual implementation. Material availability and finding the labor that understands how to implement it correctly is one such challenge, and in actuality, is probably one of the biggest. Fortunately, we have trained some of our own crews do some of these systems and have filtered through many outside labor teams to find those that understand how to do the task.
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The cost structure for healthy homes is different than your "standard" build. Due to a number of factors, it can be more expensive upfront. For example, we incorporate a belt and suspenders approach for sensitive areas of your home, so when the first system fails (based on age or resiliency), you have another system that steps in. While increases in cost may not be what you want to hear, we urge you to rethink where you are allocating your money within the build. Why not spend more on the building envelope (see Fig. 1) to decrease your chances of problems with areas that affect your health or safety, like roof or wall failure or bad indoor air quality, rather than spending it on the square footage or finishes that can be easily replaced later. While some of the upfront costs may be higher, you can see savings down the road in increased energy efficiency and decreased maintenance problems. You also have the ability to stay healthier, and who doesn't want that?
So what can we do as a design build team to increase your chances of building science success? We work as a team throughout design and construction to ensure building science principles are designed and implemented correctly, ultimately creating a more durable, healthy home. The focus on building science tends to get lost in a design-bid-build project delivery method, especially in spec homes where profit tends to be the ultimate motivator for decision making.
Food for thought.
References and further reading:
(1) A House Needs to Breathe, Or Does it..., Allison A. Bailes, III, Phd / Morrison Hershfield paper
What climate do you live in? Where you put your house on land (or water like this one!) and how it's oriented is the driver for everything else.
Designed and built by my 7 year old. He's got a ways to go on understanding building science, but he gets an A+ for effort. In some ways, this isn't too far off from some other builds I have seen lately.... sigh.
Fig 1. The building envelope are the planes of your home that separate you from nature.