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Climate Design Basics
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Climate Design Basics

A house not just a shell. It is a system - a manipulated environment that attempts to control the movement and amount of heat, air, light, sound, sights and even feelings. How you deal with building dynamics can greatly affect energy consumption, durability, indoor air quality and comfort.

Remember: You must design and build the home for the climate you're in. Houses designed for northern climates will not work in hot-humid Louisiana.

Every component of a building has an effect on how the system performs. Many building failures are caused by changes in building components that offer improvements in some characteristics without compensating for how they change the air or moisture dynamics. That’s why a basic understanding of some key building science principles is so important. These principles hold true regardless of the product or system used and are an essential tool in evaluating emerging technologies or methods.
Geographic Basics - Climate, Flood, Wind and Termites
climate zone map

Geographic Basics in Louisiana include Climate, Flood, Wind and Termites. Read about the climate, wind and flood hazards, and termites in Louisiana.

Load Paths
To illustrate the concept of load paths and highlight important connections in a wind uplift load path. SOURCE: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction FEMA 499: Technical Fact Sheet 10.
Moisture Barrier Systems
The location of water entry is often difficult to see, and the damage to substrate and structural members beyond the exterior wall cladding frequently cannot be detected by visual inspection. A successful moisture barrier system will limit water infiltration into unwanted areas and allow drainage and drying of wetted building materials. SOURCE: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Contruction FEMA 499: Technical Fact Sheet 9.