GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Fun article “The Pitfalls of an Underground House”

jameshowison | Posted in General Questions on

Saw this and thought that people on GBA might find it interesting.

https://dengarden.com/misc/The-Pitfalls-of-an-Underground-House

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. erik_brewster | | #1

    I was just going to post this :) It seems like an excellent cautionary tale of building science (or lack thereof) going wrong. As I read this, I kept thinking to myself, "this is a basement that got built poorly, but it's the whole house and the roof is another bad basement wall. It's really tragic that this is supposed to be their retirement home and they don't seem equipped to solve the water problems. It seems that water problems are nearly all of their serious problems.

    Seems like to really fix it, the entire thing would need to be excavated, cleaned, waterproof membrane of some sort applied. Roof drainage paths then would need to be ensured. After that a serious rainscreen of sorts on vertical walls and roof put in place. Then cover the whole thing back up. Don't know -- just guessing. And they still would have mold inside. I do not envy them.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |