Matt Risinger has had a great conversation with envelope consulting expert, Peter Yost, about how to build mould free houses.
The following is an excerpt from Matt’s page and a link to his video below.
It’s well worth checking out Matt’s other content at his Build Show Network
5 Keys to Building a Mould-Free House :
1. **Manage moisture, not mould** – Mould has been around a LOT longer than we have. We have learned to live with mould, not the other way around. Mould needs food, the right temperature, and water. The easiest and least expensive way to manage mould is to manage moisture.
2. **Design your home for your climate and site** – Ocean-side in Miami Florida, (or Cairns, Queensland) is a different set of environmental conditions than cliff-side in Boulder Colorado (or Falls Creek, Victoria). Favour rather than fight your site and climate.
3. **Flash and seal** – Focus on the most intense and most prevalent ways that building assemblies get wet—bulk water and air leakage. We flash to manage bulk water and we seal to manage air leaks (because air ALWAYS carries water as vapour wherever it goes…).
4. **Manage moisture INSIDE as well as OUTSIDE** – There are typically 4 spaces inside your home that get wet—bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and garages. These rooms need dedicated ventilation and/or dehumidification AND different kinds of building materials than other rooms in your home.
5. **Maintain your mould-free home** – Your builder sets you up for successful mould management. Honour that investment by servicing your moisture management systems: gutters downspouts, and splash-blocks; HVAC filters and exhaust fan grilles; battery replacement in hygrometers.