| Initial thoughts may seem straightforward with a | | | | and their affect on building materials and occupants. |
| straightforward answer: durable housing is tough; its | | | | All definitions of service life and durability include |
| vertical and horizontal surfaces resist deterioration | | | | references to the service environment, underscoring |
| from weathering and use. It could be theorized that | | | | the key concept that durability is a function of both |
| durable housing would possess three qualities. | | | | material and its environment, a point too often |
| Firmness - it is well built of solid materials. | | | | misunderstood by designers. |
| Utility - it is useful and comfortable to its inhabitants | | | | Longevity of housing: What is our expectation of |
| over time. | | | | how long houses should last? Some do-it-yourself |
| Delight - it remains appealing from one era to | | | | folks build so that their "improvements" last until the |
| another. | | | | house is sold to someone else. Bankers and lending |
| Durability is a key point to prevent the deterioration | | | | institutions expect the structure to last 30 years |
| of structures, members, and building components | | | | from the time they initiate a mortgage on the |
| over time and to maintain the safety, comfort, and | | | | structure. Serviceability could mark the end of its |
| health of its occupants. The question of durability, | | | | safe use. Catastrophic failure of a home's structure |
| explicitly considers architecture over time. Different | | | | caused by wind or earthquake will mark the end of |
| people will obviously appreciate and focus on | | | | its safe use. Green building systems are on the rise |
| different aspects of durability. Residents want to live | | | | and will have consumer recognition within the next |
| in a pleasant and dignified place with a "good | | | | few years. Consumers are becoming aware of the |
| address". Neighbors want to look at something calm | | | | impact of their purchasing decisions. More attention is |
| and reassuring, not odd or brutal. Maintenance people | | | | being paid to renewability, sustainability, and |
| hope for buildings with predictable performance and | | | | environmental impact of the materials and systems |
| the fewest surprises and problems. Planners and | | | | we advocate. There are many lessons from existing |
| politicians worry about the quality of the cityscape, | | | | housing systems; given the massive housing stock in |
| the social health of neighborhoods, and the cost to | | | | place, there is much information to gain by making a |
| public budgets. | | | | connection between existing housing systems and |
| The important aspect of durability is that buildings | | | | new housing. We should be able to make inferences |
| that are considered comfortable and attractive are | | | | from problems witnessed and to quantify the |
| somehow more worthy of the trouble of | | | | behavior and performance of existing structures. |
| maintenance and renewal than the buildings that are | | | | The effect of the do-it-yourself market is far |
| not comfortable or attractive. Therefore there is a | | | | reaching. The large retail "big box" centers send the |
| high correlation that suggests that the physical, social, | | | | message to most homeowners that they can do |
| and aesthetic aspects of durability are definitely | | | | most projects by themselves. Whether the job |
| related. | | | | entails painting the house to building an addition, is |
| This Issue will focus on durability in terms of the | | | | often seen as week-end work. Professional support |
| physical attributes, longevity, and performance based | | | | for such projects will almost always result in a better |
| requirements. The need to build efficient, sustainable, | | | | job. We need to be more cautious about what we |
| durable and cost effective buildings for the housing | | | | tell people they can tackle. Real estate professionals |
| sector has become more important than ever. The | | | | often see that projects done by homeowners can |
| Building Envelope Performance heavily depends upon | | | | lower the value of a house compared to not making |
| the various agents and environmental factors that | | | | any "improvement" at all. These types of |
| affect it's function. Building science can be defined as | | | | improvements are also common in the commercial |
| the body of knowledge regarding heat, air and | | | | sector. |
| moisture flow in buildings resulting from these agents, | | | | |