DON’T BET THE HOUSE

In the world of gambling, the "house" refers to the people who offer the bet (the casino, bookmaker, slot machine owner, etc.). Because of this, the house will always have the "edge.” This means that the designers of the machine or game make sure that it works in their favor, and they will always make money overall. 

Just like the “house,” moisture has the upper hand in building development & construction. This is mainly due to:

• Increasingly complicated details & transitions
• Shortage of skilled laborers throughout the industry
• Tightened building envelopes in order to increase energy efficiencies

Luckily, there are solutions available that, when utilized properly, will allow you to regain the upper hand and beat moisture at its own game.

 

IMPROVE YOUR ODDS

 

Step 1 – Admit Defeat. 

Yes, you read that correctly. Before anything else, the first thing you need to do is admit defeat. The fact of the matter is that no matter what you do, water WILL get in behind your veneer. It’s inevitable and can not be stopped. However, it CAN be controlled. 

 

Step 2 – Understand What Meeting Code REALLY Means. 

"This meets code."

What does it mean when a builder says this? Ask anyone in the industry & you're bound to get a multitude of answers referencing things like ASTM standards, IRC requirements, etc. But once you begin to understand the real meaning behind the phrase, it might change the way you view your standards of building efficiency.

To better understand what it means to "meet code minimum," watch Dan Gibson (VP of Sales, Keene Building Products) give a full explanation during his presentation at NAHB IBS 2020 (see video above).

 

Step 3 – Design With Redundancy In Mind.

A redundant or indeterminate structure has more structure than is absolutely necessary. So, if some part of the structure is damaged or removed, the structure will not necessarily fail or collapse, as another part can bear the load of the damaged or missing piece.

When discussing redundancy with regard to moisture control, a wise man once said, “If we know it’s getting in, let’s design a way for it to go out.” 

(That wise man was Dan Gibson, our Vice President of Sales, during this presentation.)

 

DRIWALL VENTILATION OPTIONS

 

• Keene Building Products offers cost-effective options for every type of cladding.
• Codes are adjusting to include these products in many regions.
• It’s the least expensive insurance on the market!