"The Paradox of Water," by Matthew C. Carlton and Cynthia L. Staats, Walls & Ceilings magazine, May 2010
Water sustains all life on earth. But it is also nature's universal solvent. Water causes more building enclosure failures than any other agent. Whether a failure results from excessive metal corrosion, or the spalling or displacement of masonry or concrete elements, water is often the prime catalyst. Without proper envelope detailing and an active maintenance program, building enclosures are at the mercy of the environment and the destructive force of water.