The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Solving a Basement Odor Problem
Henry has completed a basement renovation at his 1950s Toronto bungalow and is now grappling with an unexpected problem: One room of the house smells strongly of old, damp brick.…
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Heading Off Ice Dams Before They Form
Long icicles hanging from the eaves make for great ski country advertising, but ice dams that form along the lower edges of a roof may lead to damage as melting…
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Does This Roof Need More Foam?
A GBA reader named 88Clayton is insulating the attic in his house with spray foam and has run into a problem: the level of insulation recommended by contractors is at…
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What’s the Best Way to Insulate a Basement Slab?
Dave Feldman is building a new house near Boston, Massachusetts, that will have a walkout basement with a tile floor. His goal is to have the floor comfortably warm in…
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Does This Footing Need a Capillary Break?
As he works out the details for a new house, Jason Huffine has become concerned about the potential for trouble in applying a capillary break between the concrete footing and…
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Let’s Solve This Insulation Puzzle
Writing from Long Island, New York, Joe C describes repairs that he's been making to his house to correct water and insect damage. Two of the four walls of the…
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Does My Vent Hood Need Makeup Air?
Dave B plans on installing a range hood in the kitchen of his new house so any evidence of the blackened redfish or pan-seared scallops he might want to cook…
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My House Won’t Cool Down
Not even the most powerful residential air conditioning unit on the market is enough to keep Ryan Welch's Alabama home cool and comfortable. With the HVAC equipment located in what…
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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…
