How Hydrostatic Pressure Causes Basement Water Problems

Many homeowners are surprised to discover that water can enter their basement even when there are no obvious plumbing leaks or major cracks in the foundation. In many cases, the real cause of the problem lies outside the home, in the soil surrounding the foundation. One of the most common causes of basement water intrusion […]

Engineering silence and clarity: A practical guide to building acoustics

By Alan Scott, FAIA, LEED Fellow, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, WELL AP, CEM, and Hyun Gabriel Paek, INCE, ASA Photo ©YIN WENJIE | Getty Images In the design of high-performance buildings, architects and engineers routinely focus on what occupants can see, daylight, materials, spatial organization, and finishes. Yet what occupants hear, or struggle to hear, […]

Why Basements Get Wet Even Without Heavy Rain

Many homeowners assume that basement water problems only occur during heavy storms or major flooding events. However, countless homeowners discover damp walls, musty odors, or small puddles in their basements even when the weather has been dry for days or weeks. This situation can be confusing and frustrating. If it has not rained recently, where […]