Recent Articles
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Design for Low-Carbon Building
Details from a Pretty Good House provide a roadmap to lowering a building’s carbon emissions
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Is Using Closed-Cell Spray Foam Worth the Trade-Offs?
This insulation material is popular for its high R-value and good air-sealing and vapor-blocking properties, but cost, health, and environmental concerns cause some builders to have second thoughts.
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Climate Change for Builders: The Biggest Opportunity
Faced with consequences equivalent to a giant asteroid set to hit the earth in 10 to 50 years, we designers and builders owe it to the future to do our part—and we need to start right now
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Minimizing Concrete in a Slab-on-Grade Home
Whether your goal is to cut construction costs, minimize environmental impact, or both, there are practical ways to build a home with less concrete
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How to Choose Black Siding
If you want to paint your siding a dark color, select the material carefully
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How to Install Doors in Thick Walls
Super-insulated walls make it challenging to install standard-size doors. Here are a few proven options for making jamb and sill extensions that work.
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Windows in Thick Walls
Thick-wall assemblies offer better comfort and energy efficiency, but installing windows presents a challenge for builders
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In Favor of Wood-Fiber Insulation
Learn about the benefits, properties, and installation methods of this unique insulation developed in Germany by companies like Gutex, STEICO, and Best Wood SCHNEIDER
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Understanding Rainscreens
These construction details can improve the durability of exterior walls by allowing rain and moist air to escape from behind your home's siding
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Pretty Good House 2.0
Designers and builders should pay attention to embodied carbon
