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Lapped Outside Walls

Opening context:
Wall Membranes, Roof Vaults

Conflict

The main function of a building’s outside wall is to keep weather out. It can only do this if the materials are joined in such a way that they cooperate to make impervious joints.

Resolution

Build up the exterior wall surface with materials that are lapped against the weather: either “internally lapped”, like exterior plaster, or more literally lapped, like shingles and boards and tiles. In either case, choose a material that is easy to repair in little patches, inexpensively, so that little by little, the wall can be maintained in good condition indefinitely.