Moisture Control

Architectural detailing that sheds rainwater away from walls:

___  Overhangs all around (2 ft. wide)

___  Roof pitch between 3:12 and 6:12

___  Roof drip edge

___  If lacking overhangs, non-clogging gutters or diffusers

___  Covered entries

___  Cap flashing with drip edges above windows, doors

___  Extended, sloped window sills

___  Sloped porches, balconies, driveways, etc.

Roof leak reduction:

___  Simple roof design

___  No flat roofs

___  Minimal penetrations; leak-resistant vent systems

___  Properly installed flashing at penetrations, valleys

___  Step and kickout flashings if a roof intersects a wall

___  Higher performance underlayment for leak-prone roofing types

Continuous drainage plane in walls exposed to rain:

___  Drainage space behind cladding in high-rainfall areas

___  Vented space behind cladding in extreme-rainfall areas

___  Or, sealed masonry construction (reservoir system)

___  Flashing of windows, doors, etc. that continues drainage plane

___  Shingle-fashion installation of all materials

___  Flexible flashing tape, waterproof coating or sill pans and corner guards

___  Doors set in pan flashing or “seat” in slab

Hot, humid climate ideal wall assembly (south La.):

___  Air flow retarder to the exterior

___  Vapor diffusion retarder to the exterior, if used

___  Permeable interior finish (no vinyl wallpaper)

___  Unfaced cavity insulation

Mixed, humid climate ideal wall assembly (north La.):

___  Air flow retarder to the interior

___  Permeable interior finish (no vinyl wallpaper)

___  Vapor diffusion retarder (not vapor barrier) that adapts to seasons:

___  > R 5 insulating foam sheathing or foam core

___  Kraft paper-faced insulation to interior

___  Special membrane that is low-perm in winter and high-perm in summer.

Water managed foundation:

___  Ground slopes away from foundation

___  Gasket (capillary break) between foundation and framing

For slab-on-grade house:

___  Durable plastic sheeting under slab and lining the grade beam

___  Coarse gravel drainage bed under slab

For raised house:

___  Ground level inside crawl space higher than outside

___  Entire wood subfloor treated to resist decay or insulated and sealed like a wall

___  Plastic ground cover in enclosed crawl space

___  Drainage board for any below-grade walls

Other:

___  Exhaust fans, clothes dryer do not vent under house or into attic

___  Wood, fiber cement siding backprimed

___  No plumbing within exterior walls

___  Stainless steel hoses for clothes washer

___  Sloped floor and drain or drain pan for clothes washer, water heater

___  Air infiltration control (see Energy-efficiency section)

___  Humidity control system (see Healthy/ Indoor Air section)

Long-Lasting Materials and Equipment

___  > 40-year roofing warranty, 12-year total system, 100% warranty

___  > 50-year cladding warranty or masonry

___  > 10-year window frame, 20-year glass warranty

___  pressure-treated wood, masonry, steel structural components

___  fiber cement, plastic fiber composite or other long-life trim

___  plastic lumber or pressure-treated wood decking

___  appliances, equipment with longer-than-average warranties

___  long-lasting floorings

___  foundation designed for soil conditions