Moisture Management Video Series

Video 1: Series Overview

The building enclosure includes the foundation, exterior walls, and the roof. It provides environmental
separation between the inside of the house and the outdoors. The building enclosure must keep out rain
water, isolate the building from ground water, and manage heat flow, air flow, and vapor flow.
This video series focuses on moisture management. The most important function of the building
enclosure is to direct bulk water or rain away from the house. This is done by the roof, gutters, and
downspouts along the exterior wall, site grading, and foundation drainage. This video series emphasizes
construction details for managing bulk water.
To keep water out of the building enclosure, flashing is critical. Some portions of flashings are not visible
in completed construction, such as flexible flashing material around windows, doors, and wall
penetrations. However, the outer terminations of roof flashing are always visible from the exterior at
completion of construction.
The building enclosure also manages heat flow, air flow, and vapor flow. This function is important not
only to the energy performance of the house but also its durability.
Construction practices will vary by climate zone. Our instruction video demonstrates common moisture
management practices within Climate Zone 4 around the Maryland and Northern Virginia area of the
country. Although bulk water management details are generally applicable in all climates, certain
construction practices shown here, particularly insulation and water vapor management might not be
suitable for your area.
The construction practices shown in our video series are intended to provide general guidance. You must
follow specific building code requirements within your area.