PATH - A Public Private Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology

Quality and Durability Web Resources

Affordable Comfort, Inc.
Nonprofit educational service organization that promotes energy and resource efficiency, comfort, health, safety, affordability, and durability in buildings.

The Adhesive and Sealant Council, Inc.
Provide information and training on industry products.

Assessing Housing Durability: A Pilot Study November 2001
In response to the lack of information, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development commissioned a pilot study of the durability performance of a representative sample of homes in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This report presents the findings of facts from this pilot study and provides useful criticisms of the study methodology.

Baseline Measures for Improving Housing Durability
This document compiles data on the service life of selected building elements, including roofing, windows and plumbing; durability-related costs, including major replacements, maintenance and repair, and alterations; and energy expenditures.

Building America
Building America is a Department of Energy program dedicated to improving the energy-efficiency of new and existing homes. They have built more than 30,000 homes, and frequently publish practical lessons from their hands-on experience.

• Hot-Humid Climate Best Practices Guide
  This Building America guide details the best building practices for durable and energy-efficient construction that can save 30% on energy bills in the hot and humid climates of the south and southwestern United States.
• Hot-Dry and Mixed-Dry Climates Best Practices Guide
  This Building America guide details the best building practices for durable and energy-efficient construction that can save 30% on energy bills in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates of the southeast.
• Cold and Very-Cold Climates Best Practices Guide(pdf)
  This Building America guide details the best building practices for durable and energy-efficient construction that can save 30% on energy bills in the cold and very-cold climates of the northern United States.
• Mixed-Climate Best Practices Guide(pdf)
  This Building America guide details the best building practices for durable and energy-efficient construction that can save 30% on energy bills in the mixed-climate of the mid-atlantic and lower midwest.
  
• Building America Information Resources Search
  This online library disseminates technical information, including guidebooks, fact sheets, and case studies, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy Building America program and its associated buildings projects. The publications in this database are presented as PDF files and can be searched according to subject categories or document type.

A Builder's Guide to Marketable, Affordable, and Durable Entry-Level Homes (MADE) To Last March 1999
Illustrates how developers can construct high-quality, energy-efficient, durable, and affordable housing.

Building Moisture and Durability October 2004
This document provides recommendations for future research on moisture problems in housing that will help to prevent such problems or resolve them once they have occurred. Recommended research topics are organized under three overarching goals: building improved knowledge about the nature, extent and implications of moisture problems, pursuing a variety of methods for preventing and detecting moisture problems, and taking greater advantage of the potential offered by moisture modeling tools.

Durability By Design: A Guide for Residential Builders and Designers May 2002
This manual is intended to raise the awareness and understanding of building durability as a design consideration in housing. The Guide covers basic concepts of durability, and presents recommended practices - including numerous construction details and design data - for matters such as moisture management, ultraviolet (UV) protection, insects, decay, corrosion, and natural hazards.

Forest Products Laboratory - Advanced Housing Research Center
Research at the Advanced Housing Research Center evaluates technology for new and existing housing and encompasses all types of residential structures in which wood and/or wood-based products are used as building components. Read about PATH projects with FPL.

Improving Durability in Housing Background Paper March 1999
This paper was prepared for the National Forum on Durability Research to stimulate the thinking of the forum participants about the current state of durability of housing materials and components and about various approaches to improving durability.

Life Cycle Assessment Tools to Measure Environmental Impacts December 2001
Given the potential importance of these tools for America's homebuilders, HUD commissioned the NAHB Research Center to convene a meeting of experts to critique LCAs and offer suggestions on making the tools more useful.

Moisture Control Handbook (PDF 23MB) (1991)
Comprehensive resource for avoiding moisture problems when designing and constructing low-rise residential buildings.

National Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHB RC)
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the NAHB and a research and development leader in the home building industry.

NES Protocol for Durability Assessment of Building Products and Systems
Guide for the conduct of durability assessments on building materials, products, systems, and subsystems.

NIST- National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life.

NEST: National Economic Service-life Tools
NEST is a set of tools and resources designed to help homeowners choose the right amount of durability for their homes. By examining factors such as the structure, location, materials, and age of a house, NEST can find the durable materials that will help to maintain a home at the lowest cost.

Technology Inventory
The Technology Inventory lists over 150 new technologies that demonstrate great potential for improving housing performance, but that have not been widely used or accepted.

Tech Practices
Learn how builders and remodelers across the nation have integrated proven technologies into their construction practices. Tech Practices highlight the use of PATH technologies in a variety of projects.

ToolBase
ToolBase is the housing industry's resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems.

Water Intrusion Evaluation for Caulkless Siding, Window, And Door Systems January 2002
The purpose of this research is to design, evaluate, install, and monitor wall siding systems that do not require caulk, either initially or during routine maintenance.

Disclaimer: The information on the system, product or material presented herein is provided for informational purposes only. The descriptions, details, and resources expressed do not constitute an endorsement, approval, or acceptance of the subject matter by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD/FHA), The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), or any PATH-affiliated Federal agency or private company. There are no warranties, either expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information.

Content updated on 11/5/2007

 |  |  |  |  |  

Builders Remodelers Manufacturers Design Professionals Affordable Housing Providers Realtors, Appraisers Insurance Industry Financial Services Researchers HOMEOWNERS

Home |  Search PATHnet |  Contact Us |  Privacy Policy

Graphical Version