In the world of residential construction, some problems just won’t go away—attic rain, sweating windows, cold rooms, and frost in all the wrong places. Sound familiar? You’ve probably fixed these before. And yet… they keep coming back.
So, what’s really going on?
The issue isn’t always poor craftsmanship or cheap materials. More often, the root cause is something deeper: we’re treating symptoms, not systems. In our efforts to solve individual problems, we sometimes overlook how each decision affects the entire home.
That’s exactly what this year’s seminar is here to address.
Systems Thinking: The Missing Link in Modern Construction
Today’s building codes are stricter, more technical, and layered with performance requirements. While the code often tells us what to do—and sometimes even why—it doesn’t always connect the dots. It’s not a building science document, so critical context can be missing, leaving builders to repeat old mistakes in new forms, in different locations. We’re not just building houses anymore. We’re assembling complex systems—where insulation affects ventilation, air barriers impact moisture movement and one poorly designed detail can throw off an entire envelope.
This seminar is about connecting the dots and asking smarter questions:
- If we tighten the envelope, can it still breathe?
- If this material gets wet (because it might), can it dry before damage sets in?
- If we change one element, what else does it affect?
What You’ll Learn: 10 Recurring Failures—and How to Fix Them for Good
Led by industry expert Darrell Paul, this full-day, in-person seminar walks through the Top 10 Building Science Failures seen repeatedly across projects in Alberta—and explains not just how they happen, but how to permanently break the cycle.
Topics include:
- Frost walls and attic rain—why they’re still happening and how they’re linked
- Flat roof drainage—sloped-to-drain strategies and the myth of “inspectable” torch-on
- Cladding failures—why stucco and panel systems continue to trap moisture
- Window and door leaks—how to get transitions and flashing right the first time
- HVAC commissioning—because tight homes need breathing plans
- Steel stud and fire-rated assemblies—where code compliance meets real-world complexity
Backed by visuals, thermal imaging, case studies, and hands-on examples, this session equips you with both the science and the solutions.
Whether you’re leading teams, reviewing plans, or climbing into attic spaces, this seminar helps you shift from checklist thinking to systems thinking—so you can build smarter, fix faster, and prevent failures before they start.
Let’s Stop Repeating the Same Mistakes.
If you’re tired of solving the same issues on new job sites, this in-person seminar is for you. Learn how to see the bigger picture, connect the dots, and finally put an end to the “back like a bad cold” failures that cost time, money, and credibility.
