Renovation – House As a System

A house is more than just four walls and a roof. It's a complex system of different components that interact and determine the performance of the home, the longevity of materials, energy costs and the health, safety and comfort of the people living in it. The building industry has long recognised the importance of "the house as a system" concept – changes to one part of the system will affect others and, hence, the entire house.

With every renovation, CastleCorp applies an integrated, house-as-a-system approach based on building science, so that renovations in one area of your home don't create problems elsewhere and with the entire house system. Your home's temperature distribution, ventilation, humidity and moisture levels (mold and mildew), indoor air quality, rate of deterioration of building materials, building envelope (shell) air-tightness, the efficiency of heating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, structural integrity, construction material assembly, drainage pattern and the behaviour of occupants all interact in a systematic way to determine the indoor environment.

• New high-efficiency windows won't prevent condensation problems if your furnace air flow is inadequate, humidifier adjusted incorrectly or your kitchen's range vent was not installed correctly or the blower undersized.
• Care must be taken to ensure the addition of ventilation does not cause backdrafting of combustion appliances such as fuel-fired furnaces, water heaters or fireplaces.
• Air flow and moisture problems can occur with a new addition if ventilation has not been taken into consideration; additionally, existing HVAC systems will either need to be expanded, augmented or replaced entirely and the main electrical service and panel may need to be upgraded.
• Proper drainage and control of run-off is important to keep outside moisture away from your home. Some renovations, such as additions and decks can change the drainage patterns on your property. Experienced renovators such as CastleCorp take into account proper drainage and run-off at the design stage, not as an afterthought.

Home building science has come a long way in understanding air, heat and moisture movement and the need to manage building components in a systematic way. Using the house-as-a-system approach in renovation and construction provides a valuable opportunity for you to improve home performance, lower operating costs, reduce maintenance costs and for you to create a better, more comfortable living environment.