Podcasts

Vapor barriers cause a lot more harm than good in many parts of North America. Understanding vapor barriers begins with knowing what it means to be one

In short, mortar is a mixture of some or all of the following materials: Portland cement, sand, lime clay, and more modern additives.

Like an out-of-plumb wall, an insulated and unvented roof can work well—or not.

Drip edge is another water-shedding tool

Moving air keeps unwanted heat and moisture out of your roof system

A three-pronged solution to indoor pollution: Isolate, eliminate, and ventilate

Old Building Details That Work

Thin foil can block massive amounts of heat transfer, but it needs a massive temperature difference to be effective. So, insulation sort of makes radiant barriers irrelevant.

Houses cannot expand and contract with changes in pressure like balloons can. Instead, they need paths for air to balance the pressure