Finishes and Features

 Shingles are small units of roofing that are laid on a roof  There are many types of shingles: 1.Wood shingles  They last between 30 and 40 years  Normally made from redwood or cedar 2.Slate shingles  They last between 6- and 100 years  They weigh 3-5 times more than asphalt shingles  They are made using stone (slate)

3.Asphalt shingles  They are classified by weight  320 pounds per square lasts more than 25 years  210 pounds per square lasts between 12 and 15 years  1 square = 100SqFt  They are made using asphalt and impregnated felt paper that is reinforced with another coating of asphalt and finally covered with a granular material  Slate shingles last the longest, i.e years. ◦ They are not used much in North America ◦ Typically the red shingles seen on mansions

4.Roll Roof  Best option for low-pitched roofs  Has life between 5 and 10 years 5.Corrugated Plastic Tile  Single-pity, translucent roof that is normally used for light structures and patios  It is typically low-quality roofing that fades, discolors and leaks at joints  It is commonly used by accessory structures and buildings

 Asphalt shingles weighing 210 pounds per square last between 12 and 15 years  Each square is 100 square feet

 They are located along the edges of roofs ◦ Look like half-open pipes ◦ Made using either plastic, copper, aluminum or galvanized steel  They perform a number of functions ◦ Collect water from roof ◦ Protect walls and localize ground level erosion that is caused by roof runoffs ◦ Keep basement area dry by directing water away from foundation

 There are several problems that may arise: ◦ They may loosen up ◦ Leakages ◦ Damage ◦ They can get clogged with debris such as leaves ◦ They begin to slope

 Downspouts are pipes that take water from the eaves troughs away from the basement wall / foundation ◦ They should ideally be 6 feet away but in reality, they are normally only 6 inches away  Downspouts discharge water into the ground or underground drains that are made with cast iron, clay tile, or plastic ◦ These underground drains may break or become clogged

 Brick veneer walls are wooden wall frames with a brick exterior (but not a brick wall) ◦ They are “fake bricks” that are only 4 inches thick ◦ It is situated outside residential buildings ◦ Most frequently used in residential construction  It carries the weight of the roof to the foundation ◦ It is a popular choice among home buyers because they serve a decorative function as well as a protective one

 A brick masonry wall is a custom-built wall that is 8-inches thick in residential construction  Its inner layer is made up of clay, brick, title, glass and concrete while its weather-resistant outer layer is made from stone, clay, glass and cinderblock

 Weep holes are holes outside Brick Veneer Walls ◦ They are inserted after every 24 inches along bottom row of bricks  Bricks absorb rainwater and melted snow and weep holes provide a way out for water in walls ◦ The drywall will be spoiled without a water outlet  Weep holes are related to the rain screen principle

 What are brick veneer walls used for? ◦ They are an exterior finish  What is the inner layer of a brick masonry wall made of? ◦ Stone, clay, glass and cinderblock ◦ It is custom-built  Which principle do drainage techniques that relate to brick veneer walls use? ◦ Rain screen principle

 Siding is installed over flashings on exterior walls and on top of building paper ◦ It is typically butted against the exterior rim ◦ It has a minimum 6-inch clearance from the bottom right above the finished grade level  Stucco is a material that is made using cement, lime and aggregate water ◦ It is used as an exterior covering for walls ◦ It is applied when wet but becomes durable and hard ◦ It functions like plaster for the exterior

 Volatile organic compounds are products that emit gases that deteriorate the quality of air indoors  Examples of volatile organic compounds include carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and radon gas

 New windows are required to meet the Canadian Standards Association requirements  Windows are responsible for as much as 25% of the heat loss in a house if not installed properly  Windows are used for ventilation and lighting

 Casement windows are a type of crank- open window that open sideways either inwards or outwards  They can only open sideways  They cannot be sliding windows and are only crank open

 Windows have a layer of low-E (Low Emissive) on their surfaces  Low Emissive describes the ability of a surface to reflect long-wave radiation ◦ Low-E glass has a thin metallic layer that enables sunlight to enter a home during winter ◦ It also prevents heat from entering during the summer, minimizing cooling costs

 Inert gases such as krypton are filled between two glass frames in a window ◦ It helps enhance window efficiency  Windows have a half-inch space between glasses ◦ If this space is filled with inert gases, the efficiency in the house increases  In the past, this airspace would be filled with water vapor, but since this would evaporate over time, it was not very efficient ◦ Inert gas will stay forever so long as the glass does not break

 ER determines how efficient the window is ◦ It represents how much heating is necessary for a window during winter (heating season) by taking into account heat loss through frames, glass and spacers, air leakage and solar heat gain  It basically measures solar performance ◦ A positive ER shows that more solar heat is gained than lost ◦ A negative ER shows that more solar heat is lost than gained ◦ Solar heat refers to heat from the sun

 U-value is a measure of heat flow levels through an object (like window glazing) ◦ It is commonly known as “heat transfer coefficient”  U-value = reciprocal of R-value that commonly measures insulation ◦ As R-value increases, U-value decreases  U-value establishes the ER of windows in a house