Residential Construction Science 101
Part 1: What Is Residential Construction Science? A Beginner’s Guide for Students
A learning series created by the Paul Gray Homes team of residential construction experts.
This series is designed specifically for construction students and early-career professionals who want to understand how modern homes truly function—not just how they are assembled. Whether you’re studying drafting, construction science, project management, or residential design, this resource will help you connect classroom learning to real homebuilding in Wichita and the South-Central Kansas region.
Introduction: Why Residential Construction Science Matters
Most problems in houses don’t start dramatically. They begin with small clues:
- a bonus room that never stays warm,
- windows that fog or sweat during cold mornings,
- a basement or crawl space that feels just a little “off,”
- or a stubborn draft that no one can quite explain.
To the average homeowner, these issues feel mysterious.
To someone who understands residential construction science, they’re predictable patterns.
This series will teach you how to see what professionals see—how heat, air, and moisture move through a home and how construction choices influence comfort, durability, and long-term performance.
What Is Residential Construction Science?
In simple terms:
Residential construction science is the study of how houses work—how structure, materials, heat, air, and moisture interact over time.
It blends:
- Building physics – how energy and moisture travel
- Materials science – how wood, concrete, insulation, drywall, and finishes behave
- Design and detailing – how the parts of a house connect
- Field performance – what happens once the home is lived in
Following a plan builds a house.
Understanding construction science builds a better one.
The House as a System
One of the most important concepts in residential construction science is that:
A house is not a collection of parts—it’s a connected system.
Change one thing, and something else responds.
Examples:
- Add insulation but skip air sealing → the home may still feel drafty.
- Build a tight home but ignore ventilation → moisture and air quality issues rise.
- Size HVAC correctly but leave attic or crawlspace gaps → comfort problems remain.
The three forces that drive how a home behaves are:
1. Heat
Moves naturally from warm to cold.
2. Air
Moves from high pressure to low pressure through any available gap.
3. Moisture
Moves from wet to dry and travels through both materials and air.
Residential construction science focuses on controlling these movements to make homes:
- more comfortable,
- more efficient,
- more durable, and
- healthier for the people living in them.
Common Problems That Construction Science Helps Solve
1. The “Always Cold” Bonus Room
Often located over garages or at remote corners of a floor plan, these rooms struggle because of:
- thermal bridging,
- missing or compressed insulation,
- leaky rim joists,
- undersized or poorly routed ductwork.
Construction science asks:
- Where is heat escaping?
- Is air entering from the garage or attic?
- Was HVAC design based on room-by-room load calculations?
2. Moisture & Musty Basements or Crawl Spaces
Typical causes:
- poor exterior grading,
- inadequate drainage systems,
- open crawl space vents letting in humid air,
- missing vapor barriers.
Construction science focuses on:
- preventing bulk water from entering,
- allowing assemblies to dry,
- managing indoor humidity.
3. Window Condensation & Attic Mold
Contributors:
- high indoor humidity,
- cold interior glass surfaces in winter,
- warm moist air leaking into cold attic spaces.
Construction science examines:
- the source of moisture,
- the quality of ventilation,
- air leakage pathways,
- insulation performance.
When warm, humid indoor air hits a cold glass surface, moisture condenses. Residential construction science looks at both sides of this problem: indoor humidity and how well the home’s envelope and ventilation are designed.
In each of these cases, what looks like a “mystery” problem is usually the predictable result of how heat, air, and moisture are moving through the house.
How the Paul Gray Homes Team Uses Construction Science
At Paul Gray Homes, our construction experts apply these principles daily on residential projects across Wichita and South-Central Kansas.
Examples include:
- addressing thermal bridging in bonus rooms and exposed floor systems,
- designing drainage-first assemblies for basements and foundations,
- integrating air sealing, insulation, and balanced ventilation into every build,
- ensuring mechanical systems align with the actual layout and performance needs of the home.
Our team combines building science knowledge with field experience to create homes that are durable, efficient, and comfortable from day one.
Glossary — Key Terms from This Lesson
Building Envelope
The parts of a home that separate indoors from outdoors—walls, roof, windows, doors, and the floor over unconditioned spaces.
Thermal Bridging
When heat flows through a solid material (like a stud, rim joist, or concrete slab) that cuts through the insulation, creating “shortcuts” for energy loss.
Ventilation
Bringing in fresh outdoor air and removing stale indoor air in a controlled way (fans, HRVs/ERVs, balanced mechanical systems).
Air Sealing
The work of finding and closing gaps, cracks, and joints so unwanted air doesn’t sneak through the building envelope.
Moisture Source
Any place moisture comes from—groundwater, rain, plumbing leaks, humid outdoor air, or normal indoor activities like cooking and showers.
Internship Opportunities with Paul Gray Homes
Students studying construction, drafting, or project management in the Wichita area can gain real experience through internships with Paul Gray Homes.
We offer hands-on roles in:
- Drafting & Residential Plan Design
- Project Management & Field Coordination
Interns work directly with our construction experts, applying residential construction science principles to real project tasks—from plan development to site visits, scheduling, and quality checks.
For information on current openings, students may contact the Paul Gray Homes team directly.
How Students & Instructors Can Use This Series
- Students: Pair these articles with your construction or drafting coursework. Compare what you read here to what you see on jobsite tours or internships.
- Instructors: You are welcome to reference or link to this series when teaching residential building science concepts.
What’s Next in This Series?
Residential Construction Science 101 Series
- Part 1 – What Is Residential Construction Science? (you are here)
- Part 2 – The House as a System: How Heat, Air, and Moisture Move Through Homes (coming soon)
About Paul Gray Homes
Paul Gray Homes is a leading residential builder in Wichita and the South-Central Kansas region, known for high-performance, energy-efficient homes and a science-first approach to modern homebuilding.
Our team of construction experts combines decades of field experience with innovative design, advanced building practices, and a commitment to long-term home performance. We believe that understanding how homes actually work—how heat, air, and moisture move through a structure—is essential to building houses that last.
As part of our dedication to developing the next generation of industry professionals, Paul Gray Homes offers internship opportunities in drafting and project management. These roles give students hands-on experience with real residential projects, allowing them to apply classroom concepts to on-site construction, plan development, and day-to-day project coordination.
Students and early-career professionals interested in internships or future career opportunities are encouraged to contact the Paul Gray Homes team for more information.
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