| Abstract | Moisture management in the building envelope plays an important role determining long-term durability and serviceability of Canadian houses. Improper or inadequate moisture management has caused severe damages in the Canadian houses. In many cases, building materials may not be able to compensate for deficiencies in the wall design and construction. Service life, as a result of these deficiencies, is shortened in the areas of heavy and sustained rainfall. In such a situation, it is important to develop a proper understanding of the mechanisms of moisture transport into and out of the building envelope, address the deficiencies, incorporate design features that will reduce moisture loading on the wall, and consider the modification of the hygrothermal properties of the building materials. In the latter case, such modifications of the hygrothermal properties of the building material can be engineered through innovative manufacturing technique and the material evolved through the process can lead to better moisture management in the building envelope. |
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