Masonry Magazine February 2001 Page. 24
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MASONRY TROUBLESHOOTING: Proper Installation of Flashing
by Karen Flynn, Director of Marketing, Dur-O-Wal, Inc.
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24 MASONRY-FEBRUARY, 2001
For many years, designers have known that moisture trapped in walls causes significant damage to the integrity of buildings. In fact, providing for proper elimination of moisture from the exterior walls of buildings is one of the most important aspects of proper building design. In the last decade, masonry repair and restoration has become one of the fastest growing segments in the marketplace. Forensic engineers frequently find that improper flashing installation or sub-standard flashing materials are the root of the problem in masonry walls that have failed.
Additionally, once moisture penetrates a building's moisture barrier, it can damage insulation, drywall and other building materials. The deterioration of these building materials caused by moisture penetration, sometimes results in the "sick building" syndrome, whereby bacteria seeps into the ventilation system and is carried into a building causing peo- (Continued on page 26)