Essential Building Science

Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors

Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science.

Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction.

Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation.

Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones.

Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

Poor heat and moisture detailing are enemies of durability, comfort and efficiency in house design. Essential Building Science provides a visual, accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building physics and the skills to develop thermal and moisture strategies for creating better new buildings and improving old ones.

Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors

Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science.

Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction.

Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation.

Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones.

Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

Acknowledgments
Introduction

1 Part I: Rationale
Chapter 1: Establishing Goals

Part II: Fundamentals of Building Physics
Chapter 2: Thermal Dynamics: Understanding Heat Loss and Gain
Chapter 3: Moisture and Hygrothermal Dynamics

Part III: Developing Strategies
Chapter 4: Moisture Control
Chapter 5: Thermal Control
Chapter 6: Examples of Building Assemblies
Chapter 7: Buildings As Whole Systems

Endnotes
Resources
Index
About the Author
A Note About the Publisher