The main purpose of insulation is to reduce the loss of heat through a building. By looking at which areas loose the most heat from a domestic dwelling, key areas for insulation can be identified.
The following give an illustration of approximate heat loss percentages…
Roof – 25%
Roofs are now largely insulated to some extent to reduce [...]
Anywhere with a damp climate suffers problems from water penetration into buildings. Here are some of the ways water enters buildings….
Capillary Action: when water runs down the face of a building, if there are mortar (or bed) joints such as in brickwork, water is absorbed like a sponge. Eventually it will get to a point [...]
The key function of buildings is to protect us from the external environment, to keep the weather out and keep residents and contents dry and safe. Therefore, exposure to weather and weather events is important to consider as part of building and construction.
In the UK, the prevailing wind direction is from the South-West. Winds are [...]
Buildings and their materials can decay and become unsafe as a result of a number of different factors…
Life expectancy
Causes of deterioration
Wear
Biodegredation
Insect attack
Corrosion
Impact
Erosion
Ground movement
The building will deteriorate unless steps are taken to slow the decay process.
A number of factors limit what is possible from buildings themselves…
Regulations control size, volume, appearance and construction methodology
Materials can only perform within their limitations
Costs have to be considered
Unexpected incidents such as adverse weather, strikes, material availability, regulations and planning policy may all affect construction
Ground quality and content affects what can be built on top
