The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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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…
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Insulating a Flat Roof
Tom Jordan is a painting contractor in northern New Jersey who's at his wit's end as he tries to figure out a remodeling job at his own home. It seems…
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Should a Roof Have a Rainscreen?
A vented rainscreen is an increasingly common exterior detail on exterior walls. Instead of attaching siding directly to the sheathing, builders add an air space behind the siding, which helps…
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Untangling a Roof Insulation Goof
This Q&A Spotlight begins with a confession of sorts from Ryan Lewis, who thinks he may have botched an insulation job. "Let's suppose you screw up insulating a flat roof…
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Ventilation for a Very Small Home
Houses with very low rates of air leakage and heavily insulated walls and roofs don't allow much natural ventilation. The whole point of building a high-performance house is to control…
