Q&A Spotlight
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Making the Case for Exterior Foam Insulation
In Climate Zone 3, is installing rigid foam on the exterior side of the wall sheathing worth the effort and expense?
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HVAC for a ‘Pretty Good House’
Planning a well-insulated but not over-the-top retirement home in Oregon, a homeowner looks for the best heating and cooling plan
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Why Is This Wood Stove Misbehaving?
A basement wood stove should provide inexpensive supplemental heat, but this homeowner is never sure when it will backdraft and smoke
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Why Is This Sheathing Moldy?
A Seattle homeowner finds damp and moldy stud cavities and wants to correct the problem before re-insulating and adding drywall
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Rescuing a Problem Cathedral Ceiling
Installing spray foam and a new drywall ceiling won’t be cheap, prompting this homeowner to look for alternatives
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Finding the Insulation Sweet Spot
A builder in Montana wonders whether new tests should be conducted to find the point of diminishing returns for insulation
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Pondering an Attic Conversion
Adding spray foam to the underside of the roof sheathing will turn a vented attic into a conditioned space — but will it also create problems?
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Basement-to-Living-Space Moisture Problems
Does humid air come from water problems inside or poor storm water management outside? And what about foundation waterproofing?
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Water Damage in Brick Basement
Seasoned builders and a moisture expert debate whether rising damp or a blocked chimney caused this brick column to crumble.