Building Envelopes Eliminate Moisture Problems Due to Rain

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

There are many good reasons for implementing building envelopes.

You’ve Never Heard Of a Building Envelope?

Imagine surrounding your entire business space with insulation and a vapor barrier. That’s an envelope. It has several characteristics:

• Insulation surrounds the space and keeps the temperature at the desired level
  
• A vapor barrier surrounds the space and keeps rainwater out
  
• Rain damage cannot occur inside the envelope
  
• Rain cannot cause black mold inside the envelope
  
• Any area of the structure outside the envelope is susceptible to water damage
  

Building Envelopes Are Most Effective in New Construction

The concept is most effective when the entire structure is inside the envelope. Retrofitting envelopes to existing structures is a challenge. It is difficult for them to achieve a comparable level of protection against rain. External portions of the retrofitted structure may still be susceptible to rain damage.

A Properly Implemented Envelope Keeps Moisture Levels Low During Storms

Control is important if the business processes demand low levels of humidity. It is also important when circumstances require more moderate levels of moisture. Set the humidity to any level and weather won't affect it.

Remember That Rain Is Not the Only Source of Moisture
Envelopes are an excellent way to limit inside moisture due to rain. However, remember that they will not solve all moisture problems. You have restrooms. You may have kitchen areas and laboratories. You have sprinklers as part of your fire suppression system. Any of these can make a rain-caused moisture problem look trivial. There are many good reasons for implementing building envelopes. Just don’t expect it to be a cure-all for moisture problems.
Your building envelope helped you avoid rain damage, but water never gives up. It always finds a way to cause trouble. When you end up with water damage, the best response is to deal with it immediately. Otherwise, you may encounter that black mold that you hoped to avoid. Skilled water remediation professionals are in the Olde Cypress, FL, area. They are ready to handle your problem and are a phone call away.