The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Choosing an Air Barrier and a Housewrap
In the midst of framing his new house, Joe Norm has switched gears and opted out of Zip System sheathing in favor of CDX plywood. The question he faces now…
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Sanity Check on an Unvented Roof Assembly
Mapping out the roof assembly for a new house in Climate Zone 6B, Steve Mackay has settled on long I-joists insulated with a mix of closed-cell spray polyurethane foam and…
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The Framers Botched Their Job on ZIP Sheathing
The Zip System R-sheathing that 88Clayton has chosen for his house is structural OSB sheathing with a water- and air-resistive coating applied to one side and a continuous layer of…
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Should We Install a Whole-House Fan?
Writing from St. Paul, Minnesota, W Ramsay wants some feedback on his plan to install whole-house ventilation fans in the house he's building. He likes the idea, the building inspector…
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My Windows Were Installed Incorrectly. Now What?
Brian is building a new house in New Jersey and has selected Andersen 400 Series windows. So far, so good. The problem is how the windows have been installed by…
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How to Wire for LED Lighting
One of the benefits of using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) over conventional light bulbs is that they produce a lot of light without using a lot of electricity. This low current…
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Insulating a Raised Slab
Planning a new house in Pender County, North Carolina, Jason Dennis finds the aesthetics of a crawlspace appealing, but not the potential problems. Instead, he's thinking of pouring a slab…
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Details for Insulating a Double-Stud Wall With Cellulose
Michael Sterner is ready to build a new house in northern Wisconsin: a simple, two-story box of about 2,000 square feet. After studying many possible wall assemblies, he has settled…
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High Humidity in the Attic
Jason Advani thought he was on the right track when he insulated the bottom of the roof deck in his walk-up attic with closed-cell spray foam. As planned, the R-40…
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Efficient Walls on a Budget
Writing from somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, Joe Norm is looking for advice on selecting a wall assembly that will perform well without breaking the bank. "Building in Zone 4C…
