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Green Building Techniques

  • Question & Answers

    Interior air barriers

    Hi Folks,We are planning a lean-to style addition for our home in climate zone 5b. It’s an adaptive re-use project—former mechanic’s garage into a home. Because it’s a former industrial…

  • Question & Answers

    Makeup air requirements – Energy Star

    I am a beginner at this, building our home. The municipality where we are building a small home (1000 sq ft on 1st floor; 450 sq ft on 2nd floor)…

  • Question & Answers

    SIKA Poly Iso for cut and cobble insulation

    My house is in zone 6 and is 125 years old with old growth true dimension lumber.I followed the recommended retrofit, cut and cobble, insulation recommendations using rigid foam and…

  • Question & Answers

    Basement baseplate

    Just realized I used UC3B, which says for above ground, as my baseplate. Should I go back and use a green treated that is designed or designated for ground contact?

  • Question & Answers

    Help with wall system design for residential project, ideas and critiques welcome!

    Preparing to begin a "pop the top" renovation. Existing house will be reduced to exterior brick and block walls and existing subfloor system over existing basement. New interior first floor wall…

  • Question & Answers

    Renovationing 1950’s walls from the inside out

    My wife and I moved into a 1955 cape that I am looking to renovate bit by bit, room by room in most cases- as budget allows and all work…

  • Question & Answers

    Foam insulation for Sonotubes

    I do not see any reason why insulating around a Sonotube would not allow one to avoid having to excavate below the frost line for a footing.  Am I missing something? Thanks.

  • Question & Answers

    New construction radon mitigation with no attic

    We are initially building a very small (16x24) studio cabin with a single slant shed roof. The plans for the ceiling/roof consist of a layered superstructure somewhat along the lines…

  • Question & Answers

    Timing of exterior grading

    Trying to decipher when exterior grading should be done- I read some are adamant it be done before framing and others after framing is complete. What’s the rationale for the different…

  • Question & Answers

    Crawl space ventilation during construction

    We are building a very very small studio cabin (16x24), with encapsulated conditioned crawl space with no wall vents. This is going to be off grid… and initially, having the…