Recent Articles
-
Foam Shrinks, and Other Lessons
What we learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit
-
Lstiburek’s Rules for Venting Roofs
You need an airtight ceiling, lots of air flow, plenty of soffit vents, and deep insulation at the attic perimeter
-
Efflorescence = Water Damage — Building Science Podcast
The white powder on the surface of brick, block, and mortar between rocks is water and salt attacking these porous materials. In new construction you can prevent it — in old houses, you can only control it.
-
Air Barrier or Vapor Barrier? – Building Science Podcast
Air leaks are a big source of moisture problems that lead to bugs, mold, and rot in homes
-
Understanding Indoor Air Quality (2) — Building Science Podcast
Your eyes, nose, and the back of your hand are surprisingly accurate IAQ diagnostic tools
-
Understanding Indoor Air Quality (1) – Building Science Podcast
People, Pollutant, Path, Pressure
-
Insulation Retrofits on Old Masonry Buildings – Building Science Podcast
This week, Dr. Joe Lstiburek talks about retrofitting old masonry buildings with insulation and the water problems that it can cause.
-
Rain Control in Energy Efficient Buildings – Building Science Podcast
This week, Dr. Joe Lstiburek talks about rain control in well-insulated buildings; specifically, how brick is affected by water, how it used to be installed, how it's installed today, how it should be installed, and why. Part 1 of a 2-part series on water management.
-
The Perfect Wall, Roof, and Slab — Building Science Podcast
Dr. Joe Lstiburek talks about enclosure design principles for energy-efficient houses. Insulation, air conditioning, heating, and forced-air delivery systems have all changed the physics of how houses work. Houses didn’t used to rot, but too many of them do now.