Uncontrolled moisture is the most prevalent cause of deterioration in older and historic buildings. It leads to erosion, corrosion, rot, and ultimately the destruction of materials, finishes, and eventually structural components. Ever-present in our environment, moisture can be controlled to provide the differing levels of moisture necessary for human comfort as well as the longevity of historic building materials, furnishings, and museum collections. The challenge to building owners and preservation professionals alike is to understand the patterns of moisture movement in order to better manage it--not to try to eliminate it. There is never a single answer to a moisture problem. Diagnosis and treatment will always differ depending on where the building is located, climatic and soil conditions, ground water effects, and local traditions in building construction.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings
Uncontrolled moisture is the most prevalent cause of deterioration in older and historic buildings. It leads to erosion, corrosion, rot, and ultimately the destruction of materials, finishes, and eventually structural components. Ever-present in our environment, moisture can be controlled to provide the differing levels of moisture necessary for human comfort as well as the longevity of historic building materials, furnishings, and museum collections. The challenge to building owners and preservation professionals alike is to understand the patterns of moisture movement in order to better manage it--not to try to eliminate it. There is never a single answer to a moisture problem. Diagnosis and treatment will always differ depending on where the building is located, climatic and soil conditions, ground water effects, and local traditions in building construction.
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2 comments:
This is a great theme. Moisture can cause a lot of problems, but as the article states, it's something you just have to work with.
An example of its negative effects can be seen in a few of the Buckland House windows (RAP headquarters), which are currently being replaced by MOHR Historic Restoration. In their case, unchecked moisture damage caused the sills to warp, creating a shape conducive to more water collection. In turn, water was able to reach past the sill. The extent of the damage was evident upon removal of the window. The moisture had leaked into the walls to cause stucco and paint damage, and left untreated could even cause structural damage.
As moisture is never avoidable altogether, windows are usually designed to work with it. Installed at a slight angle, they should allow rainwater to run down away from the dwelling. Additionally, there are other methods of working with the elements. For example, when we paint sashes on our restored windows, we leave certain sides unpainted. As the seasons change, any moisture that does get into the window is naturally eliminated.
If you're interested in more information or have other questions, we'd love to hear from you! Visit MOHR Historic Restoration's blog at
www.myoldhousejournal.com/profile/ MOHRHistoricRestorationCompany .
Great comments, Angel. For those of you who don't know, Angel has very kindly offered to restore some of the most damaged windows at Buckland House. Thanks!!
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