How Moisture Moves through a Home
To help understand the principles of moisture control, you need to understand the basics of how moisture can move through your home.
Jeff Wilson Everyday DIY Blog
Let's talk DIY
This is the place to rant, rave, brag, belly-ache, crack a joke, procrastinate, and delve into the metaphysical aspects of the DIY mindset. We’re off the map, on a tangent, and frequently off topic. This is the stuff we don’t show on TV.
Moisture Control
Properly controlling moisture in your home will improve the effectiveness of your air sealing and insulation efforts, and vice versa. Thus, moisture control contributes to a home's overall energy efficiency.
About Buildipedia
Buildipedia was created by AEC professionals to fill their unmet need for a site to share knowledge, promote best practices, and advance their understanding of building processes.
Since its public launch in 2010, Buildipedia has established itself as an invaluable resource for the home improvement and DIY crowd, in addition to the professionals who frequent Buildipedia looking for the latest in design and construction.
With new videos, articles, and photo galleries coming every week, Buildipedia is poised for explosive growth as an increasing audience of professionals, students, and consumers go online seeking answers, solutions, and the right products.
Buildipedia's operations, including editorial, marketing, sales, web & video production, are based in Columbus, Ohio
Meet the Team
Mark Leatherwood
Founding Partner
Mark graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor's degree in 1973 and holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University, from which he graduated with honors in 1985. Mark served for over five years as a nuclear-qualified submarine officer in the U.S. Navy. Upon exiting the Navy, Mark founded a franchising business that he sold to Chemlawn Corporation after establishing franchises over a multi-state area. He then became a founder and principal of LW Associates in 1986. LW Associates and its affiliated companies provide real estate development, financial underwriting, and construction and property management services throughout Ohio. With total value of the projects exceeding $300 million, LW Associates has completed more than 70 commercial and residential developments in Ohio. Mark co-founded Buildipedia along with business partner David Skomorowski in 2009.
David Skomorowski
Founding Partner
David graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor's degree in 1970 and holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University. Prior to founding LW in 1988, he was president of Huntington Leasing Company, a subsidiary of Huntington National Bank in Columbus, Ohio.
Structural Insulated Panels
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are prefabricated insulated structural elements for use in building walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs. They provide superior and uniform insulation compared to more traditional construction methods (stud or "stick frame"), offering energy savings of 12%–14%. When installed properly, SIPs also provide a more airtight dwelling, which makes a house more comfortable and quieter.
Phenolic Foam Insulation Material
Phenolic (phenol-formaldehyde) foam was somewhat popular years ago as rigid foam board insulation. It is currently available only as a foamed-in-place insulation.
Cementitious Foam Insulation Material
Cementitious insulation material is a cement-based foam used as sprayed-foam or foamed-in-placed insulation.
Urea-Formaldehyde Foam Insulation Material
Urea-Formaldehyde (UF) foam was used in homes during the 1970s and early 1980s. However, after many health-related court cases due to improper installation practices, UF foam is no longer available for residential use and has been discredited for its formaldehyde emissions and shrinkage. It is now used primarily for masonry walls in commercial/industrial buildings.
Sprayed-Foam and Foamed-In-Place Insulation
Liquid foam insulation materials can be sprayed, foamed-in-place, injected, or poured. Their ability to fill even the smallest cavities gives them twice the R-value per inch than traditional batt insulation.
Rigid Fiber Board Insulation
Rigid fiber or fibrous board insulation consists of either fiberglass or mineral wool and is primarily used for insulating air ducts in homes. It is also used when there's a need for insulation that can withstand high temperatures.
Radiant Barriers
Radiant barriers are installed in homes — most commonly in attics — to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss, which helps lower heating and cooling costs. The barriers consist of a highly reflective material that reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it. They don't, however, reduce heat conduction like thermal insulation materials.
Reflective Insulation
Reflective insulation systems are fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of backings, such as kraft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard. The resistance to heat flow depends on the heat flow direction. Reflective insulation is most effective at reducing downward heat flow.
Cellulose Insulation Material
Cellulose — a material used as loose-fill insulation — is made from recycled wood fiber, primarily newsprint. The wood fiber is shredded and pulverized into small, fibrous particles that pack tightly into closed building cavities, inhibiting airflow. This provides a thermal resistance of R-3.6 to R-3.8 per inch.
