ABSTRACT

It has been well documented that there has been a major crisis with the durability of wood framed condominiums in the lower mainland of British Columbia. The extent and severity of problems have been widely publicized and many of the stakeholders have initiated actions aimed at minimizing exposure to past and future problems. It is widely believed that the problems arise because of Vancouver's unique climate, which is deemed to be abnormally wet and warm. Our experience belies this belief.

Rotting wood framed buildings can and do exist across Canada. We have investigated many wood framed buildings in Ontario and Nova Scotia that have required major renovation because of rotting structural members. The design details and level of construction seen in these buildings has many similarities with those exhibited by buildings in Vancouver. Inadequate management of water is the cause of the problem and water leads to rot. In this paper, we will discuss a number of the problem buildings we have investigated and redesigned. The similarities with Vancouver will be reviewed, and the fatal flaws introduced by the design and construction process will be explored. A renewed appreciation of the necessity for adequate design of moisture control will be the goal.