Designing to
Shed Water
by Gordon Tully
Water in all its forms constitutes the
single greatest threat-excepting only
the occupants-to the continued
existence of a building. Buildings that
refuse to get out of water's way do not
stand for long.
While corrective action can help
control water problems, the best time
to solve water problems is during a
building's design. Good design works
cooperatively with water, and lets it
have its way.
In this, the first of a pair of articles
about water, the emphasis is on
design; next month's article will
concentrate on detailing.
What water problems are we talking
about? Here are some top contenders:
• Wood changes its physical and
chemical state depending upon how
much water it contains; when