Energy recovery ventilators (ERV) replace kitchen and bath exhaust air with clean and tempered supply air

Math never lies

Closed skirtboards that slip into a pocket

Defensible Space– Controlling Ignition Potential in the Home Ignition Zone

An example of why cheap construction is not so cheap

A machine, a saw, and some patience beats brute force and a sledgehammer every time

Use membranes, drain to an open edge, slope everything, and read the *darned* manual(s)

Coating the corner bead around a cased opening in three passes

Seal the WRB to the wall sheathing and window flashing, and add an apron detail at the bottom

The dark arts of carpentry (and a belt sander) can make a too-short board, not too short anymore (but not longer)

How to fix edge chips where one concrete slab meets another

Brick is a durable and good-looking cladding choice, and with correct construction details, the wall behind it will last as long as the brick

Use SketchUp.com to visually calculate the rise, run, and materials for stair building—or anything else, for that matter

No—and yes. It depends on the exact situation

Why would you double the workload, just to hide it inside a table leg? "Because it's awesome"

This sand-and-water model confirms mathematical predictions about how groundwater moves through soil

With 100 years of fuel on the floor and a hotter climate, wildfire resistance and resilience matters almost everywhere

Everything there is to know (well, almost) about blower door testing with a few engineer-y jokes along the way.

When talking to homeowners or trade contractors about energy-efficient construction this question is inevitable. The answer: Tight houses are good because they lower energy bills and increase comfort. But there's a big BUT

A magnet, "little Thor," a short piece of pipe, and a little patience eliminate a HUGE cleanup

Deep roots in the community has its benefits (#ThrowbackThursday came early this week)

This small video collection covers the basics of installing a roof deck in a place where sideways rain and hurricanes are real. Flashing, taping the seams, and storm-proof shingle starter strips.

A thermal bridge is an area of the building enclosure—whether it be the walls, roof, or foundation—that has significantly higher heat flow than intended.

Veneers represent a huge cantilever for fasteners to bridge

Using lifts and planning to make a miserable job more manageable