Building enveloped that perform poorly reduce energy efficiency, increase ROI times, and increase carbon footprints and utility bills for building owners. A blower door test can help to establish the airtightness of small to medium buildings, measure the flow of air between different areas in a building and test the airtightness of ductwork.
Hardwood can make for a durable and beautiful floor, but small mistakes in the subflooring or installation can wreak havoc and buckling, squeaky, uneven floors can all result from poor installation. While this is not a definitive guide to hardwood installation over OSB panels, there are some important points to ponder.
The best way to design a crawlspace that accentuates your building envelope and does not allow unwanted moisture into the home is to treat them as if they were miniature basement spaces. Crawlspaces should be insulated, sealed and all exposed masonry should be covered to prevent condensation.
Insulation settles over time and older homes may not have enough insulation to make them comfortable or to keep heating and cooling costs within reason, and insulation might block your soffit vents! But the Ol’ Sage has some advice on the matter.
A special guest post that shows there can be a world of difference between what you say and what someone hears.
Vent-free fireplaces expedite installation as they don’t require outside exhausts. While some homeowners and builders promote the use of vent-free fireplaces because of reduced installation and running costs, others see them as a liability. We take a look at both sides of the argument.
