Materials
How construction materials respond to moisture, heat, movement and age.
Asphalt shingles
Layered roof covering affected by age, wind, heat and flashing details.
Brick masonry
Absorbs and releases rainwater through units and mortar joints.
Carpet and underlay
Can conceal dampness, odors and residues beneath a dry-feeling surface.
Cast-iron drain pipe
Heavy drain pipe that can corrode internally and crack at hubs or thin sections.
Cellulose insulation
Hygroscopic fiber insulation that can store moisture and settle when wetted.
Cement render
A rigid exterior or interior coating that can crack, debond or trap moisture.
Ceramic tile
Usually resists surface water, while joints, backing and penetrations determine the assembly performance.
Closed-cell spray foam
Low-permeance insulation that can conceal the condition of the substrate behind it.
Concrete
Transports moisture and salts through pores and cracks while remaining structurally different from its surface finish.
Concrete roof tile
Water-shedding covering that relies on overlap, underlay and flashings.
Copper pipe
Metal water pipe susceptible to joint leaks, corrosion and condensation.
Engineered wood
Can swell at edges and lose strength when water penetrates bonded layers.
Fiber-cement siding
Cementitious cladding sensitive to clearances, joints and trapped water.
Fiberglass insulation
Air-permeable insulation whose performance depends strongly on installation and air control.
Glass
Nonporous surface that makes dew-point conditions and seal failures visible.
Grout
Porous joint material that records moisture, cleaning residues and movement.
Gypsum board
Softens, stains and loses paper bond when repeatedly wet.
Hardwood flooring
Changes width and shape with moisture gradients.
Laminate flooring
Wood-fiber core that swells quickly when water enters joints.
Lime plaster
A vapor-open finish that can show salts and moisture while tolerating movement differently from cement.
Metal roofing
Durable covering whose seams, fasteners and underside condensation require separate attention.
Mineral wool insulation
Generally does not absorb like cellulose but loses performance when airflow or water bridges the layer.
Mortar
Joint material whose hardness and permeability should suit the masonry around it.
Natural stone
Mineral material with stone-specific porosity, salts and cleaning sensitivities.
Open-cell spray foam
Air-sealing foam that remains vapor permeable and can hold water against adjacent materials.
Oriented strand board
Absorbs water strongly at exposed edges and may remain swollen after drying.
Painted surface
Finish layer that can reveal moisture, adhesion and substrate movement.
PEX pipe
Flexible supply pipe whose fittings, supports and exposure conditions determine reliability.
Plywood
Layered wood panel that may stain, swell or delaminate under repeated wetting.
PVC drain pipe
Plastic drain pipe that can move thermally and fail at joints or supports.
Roofing underlay
Secondary weather layer beneath roof coverings.
Silicone sealant
Flexible seal that can detach, split or conceal failed joints behind it.
Solid timber
Moves with moisture and can stain, split, decay or support growth when persistently damp.
Structural steel
High-strength structural material vulnerable to corrosion and thermal bridging.
Vinyl flooring
Low-permeance finish that may trap moisture from below.
Vinyl siding
Rain-screen-like cladding that sheds bulk water but is not the drainage plane itself.
Wallpaper
Decorative layer that can lift, stain and conceal growth at cold or damp surfaces.
Wood siding
Exterior cladding that must drain, dry and remain separated from ground and roof water.
