Q&A: A Forum for Green Building Experts and Beginners

[Click map to enlarge]

drawing of climate zone map.gif

Advice can depend on climate -- Please specify in your question.

Please register for a free account or sign in to ask and answer green building questions.

The usual rules of courtesy apply:
1. Be nice.
2. If you can't be nice, be polite.
3. If you can't be nice or polite — well, please be brief.

To attach a photo or illustration:
Under the box labeled "More explanation," look for the words "File attachments."
Click that, and you should be able to attach a photo.

Thanks for joining the conversation!

Ask a Question >
5 Answers
Thermal break/insulate between concrete slab and slate

Hi, looking for a way to add some insulation between slate and a slab. I just did a small area about 2' x 5' used some hardiboard to raise it up a bit, but man is it cold! I might tear it up if i can warm it up somehow.
I also will be doing about 100sqft in addition

I have 1" max that I can add to the thickness of the mortar and slate.

any ideas?

Thanks!

In General questions | Asked By mark kessler | Apr 19 13
8 Answers
Wall design in renovation - with moisture issues

Sorry in advance for the long question. it seems important to establish the full context because i've been unable to match my circumstances to the thousands of articles i've read here and other places.

Zone 5a/6a border (Hudson valley, ny) 1959 slab on grade, standard 2x4 framing single story house.

It's cut deeply into the hill, and the entire back of the house is 2 feet away from a 3-5 ft high retaining wall. ugh.

The house is environmentally almost a walk in basement. high humidity levels, and, no surprise, mold. solving the moisture will hopefully help the mold issues.

In General questions | Asked By kikiyut 555 | Apr 30 13
5 Answers
Spiders, flies, ladybugs, hornets and beetles

I have just installed both range and bath vent fans and 4 passive air inlets. We live in big orchard and farm country where the flying and crawling insect populations are often swarming. When they hatch they can reach infestation levels.

None of the fan and make up air products have adequate protection and none have exterior (intake side) filters. The Panasonic and Aldes products are particularly weak in this area.

In Mechanicals | Asked By Oak Orchard | Apr 30 13
2 Answers
Insulating brick from the exterior

I am renovating an end-of-group brick rowhome in Maryland. The home was built in 1914 and has 8" masonry load bearing walls. The owner is interested in exposing the old masonry walls on all (3) exterior sides of the building. To do this I will have to insulate from the exterior and install new cladding. I am not confident in installing 4" or so of rigid insulation on the old masonry, mostly due to cost/ performance of fasteners that long into the old masonry. The rainscreen and new cladding will also be relying on the same type of fastener.

In Green building techniques | Asked By Charles Chiampou | Apr 27 13
8 Answers
Heat loss calculus: solar heated siding and air space

I would like to discuss about the implications on heat loss calculations of temperature of exterior finish and its different layers (notably air space) and its effect on the delta T .

I have not found much info using the search, rather some mentions about the effect etc.. Maybe I am not using the correct terms to look it up?

So basically, when we are calculating the heat loss of an area using HDD or simply a specific time delta T, how is it affected?

A dark grey finish with a 3/4 air space under it should get pretty hot during day time when the sun is shining high...

In General questions | Asked By Jin Kazama | Apr 24 13
2 Answers
Help! My house has its HVAC ducting outside the envelope

In my area in Central Virginia, it is 'fashion' to install HVAC duct work outside the controlled envelope of living space. First floor ductwork is in the crawlspace; 2nd floor ductwork and the upstairs air handler is in the attic. Everything I've read in FineHomebuilding warns against this, but apparently local builders aren't reading FH. So, what am I as a homeowner to do within reason to remedy this situation? What is the most cost-efficient course of action short of creating new duct chases throughout the house?

Thanks -
MitchellT
owner of a gas guzzler home built in 2003 :(

In Energy efficiency and durability | Asked By Mitchell Teixeira | Apr 24 13
4 Answers
Waterproof tile backer

Is there a waterproof tile backer for a tub surround which can be used for a period of time prior to the application of the finished tile surface?

In General questions | Asked By Morgan L Washburn | Apr 29 13
2 Answers
Polyethylene sheet trapped between gypsum and wood panels: Is that wrong?

Hi everyone,

I am currently restoring an old house in a cold climate. The ceilings on the second floor were previously covered with big fiberboard panels, which I removed because they looked wavy. Under it is a layer of old wood paneling (V-joints), that used to be the finished ceiling before, which are fixed to the attic studs. Directly on top of them, in the attic, is the current insulation (looking like cellulose).

In General questions | Asked By Baril Troplein | Apr 30 13
1 Answer
Do retrofit "air tight" electrical boxes exist?

I read with great interest this article back in Feb http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/building-science/air-leak...

However, what continues to surprise me why they have not come up with a airtight retrofit electrical box. It would seem this market is where they should concentrate? New construction and using this type of box seems like a no brainier. Where help is needed in the old drafty houses!

In Energy efficiency and durability | Asked By M S | Apr 28 13
8 Answers
Frost-Protected Crawl Space Construction

I am planning to construct a frost-protected footing/stemwall for a crawlspace in the northern Illinois region. Based on IRC guidelines, I only need to provide vertical insulation on the foundation wall to a minimum depth of 14 in. (depth to top of footing). Based on this, I have two general questions:

In General questions | Asked By Jon Sfura | Apr 26 13
Register for a free account and join the conversation


Get a free account and join the conversation!
Become a GBA PRO!