"Glad to hear my paranoia paid off for once... moisture issues sound like a nightmare."
Yeah, moisture can definitely turn into a headache fast. Small gaps are usually a safe bet, but it's worth mentioning that airflow matters just as much as spacing. If you haven't already, consider checking your local climate data—humidity levels, rainfall patterns, etc.—and factor that into your gap sizing. A little extra prep upfront can save you from dealing with mold or rot down the line... trust me, learned that one the hard way.
Good points about airflow—it's often overlooked. I've seen people obsess over gap sizing but completely ignore ventilation, and then wonder why they're still getting mold. Climate data definitely helps, but I'd also suggest looking at your site's specific microclimate. Even within the same town, shade from trees or proximity to water can drastically change moisture levels. Learned this after a client had persistent dampness issues despite following all the standard guidelines... turned out their lot was basically a moisture trap.
Yeah, microclimates can really throw you off. I had a similar issue—thought I'd nailed everything down, but turns out my lot was getting way more shade than I realized. Ended up tweaking the house orientation slightly and adding some extra drainage channels. Made a huge difference. Makes me wonder how many other little things I'm overlooking...
Yeah, microclimates are sneaky like that. I've had projects where everything looked perfect on paper, but once we got on-site, things shifted pretty quickly. Good call adjusting the orientation—sometimes even a slight tweak can totally change the feel and function of a space. Honestly, it's impossible to catch every little detail upfront. The trick is staying flexible and adapting as you go...sounds like you're already doing that pretty well.
Totally agree—flexibility is key, but honestly, sometimes it's also about knowing when to push back a bit. I've seen neighbors bend over backwards adjusting their plans for every little quirk, only to end up with a layout that feels awkward or compromised. You gotta trust your gut at some point and accept that perfection isn't realistic. A few years back, I ignored advice to rotate my deck slightly...turned out to be the best decision I made. Sometimes those "imperfections" actually add character.
