• CoriolisSTORM88@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    I’m genuinely curious. I am in the southern US, Alabama specifically with the heat and humidity that entails. There are cinder block homes here, but they’re mostly looked down upon and almost always have mold and mildew problems. How is that handled with brick and mortar or concrete construction?

    • qyron@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      1 year ago

      Double walls, with thermal insulation, external vapor barrier and built in ventilation ducts. Special additives for the mortars prevent moisture from seeping into the walls. Double or even triple pane windows and good quality, properly applied exterior paint reinforces the insulation.

    • yata@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      I don’t see why brick and mortar houses should be extra susceptible to those problems if build well. But of course Europe didn’t use to see the same extremes of heat and humidity as the US does, perhaps it will become a problem in the future.

      • CoriolisSTORM88@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        You got it right I suspect. Most of these that I’ve seen are a single course of blocks with no discernible vapor barrier or anything. And maybe a thin layer of paint.