Educate The Public And Sell Your Services.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences reports many adverse health effects due to exposure to damp indoor environments including coughs, wheezing, upper respiratory symptoms and more. Of course, that’s not the only cost associated with uncontrolled moisture. Damage to your customers’ homes and buildings is also very expensive when unwanted moisture creeps in.
Increased insurance risk, repair and replacement costs associated with corroded structural fasteners, wiring and damaged moisture-sensitive materials; repair and replacement costs associated with damaged furniture, products and supplies; loss of use of building spaces after damage and during repairs; increased insurance and litigation costs related to moisture damage claims; reduced effectiveness of insulation; insect infestations; the expenses go on and on.
Moisture can invade homes and buildings in many ways:
- Improper insulation installation.
- Lack of proper ventilation.
- Roof leaks (for example, due to poor sealant selection and installation, etc.).
- Water infiltration through penetrations (for example, due to improper flashing installation).
- Lack of a structural air barrier.
- Improper concrete pad construction.
- Insufficient site drainage.
- Poor roof drainage.
- Improper vapor retarder selection/installation.
- Incorrect vapor pressure differential between the inside and outside of the building.
To control moisture for long building life and good indoor air quality, you should follow specific guidelines to address the issues noted above. For example, seal insulation at the ends by rolling the vinyl-backing over the ends or taping the side-laps with vinyl tape. All joints and seams must be lapped, sealed, and secured to prevent moisture from reaching the fiberglass batt. Wet fiberglass loses performance, allows mold and mildew to grow, and can hold moisture against your metal panels causing early corrosion. Also remember, insulation should be continuous on metal buildings. Inserting insulation between framing members only leaves exposed metal areas vulnerable to condensation as well as unwanted heat transfer.
Proper ventilation is also vital. Ventilating a building dilutes moist interior air with drier outside air, lowering the relative humidity of the interior air mass. Without this ventilation, the building will not only have stale air, it will have higher heat levels and higher humidity, which can lead to moisture problems.
There are more best practices for controlling moisture that you can practice to keep your customers’ homes and buildings protected (along with your reputation). In fact, moisture control should be a big selling point for your services! In addition to best practices, always use Marco quality ventilation and other roofing accessories to protect from moisture. Then, promote it! By sharing the dangers of moisture and what you do to control it, you can turn prospects into customers.
To learn more about Marco, visit www.MarcoIndustries.com. To contact Marco directly, you can email them here or call 1-800-800-8590.
