Green Homes News

I have a steel building that has a relatively tall (60") stem wall.  I trimmed out the bottom of the building to have a 3" drip edge under which I…

I have a 15 year old Trane XB13 that is too big and too small at the same time. At 35°F, it cycles because it's too big and at 30°F,…

Good afternoon,We recently moved into our new construction home this past August. Unfortunately, the build itself did not go as smooth we had hoped.We have been playing clean-up on many…

Hello, all. Any recommendations on how to plan and hire out exterior insulation installation as part of a whole house re-siding project? Hire an architect to draft details, hire design-build?…

We will be finishing the attic in our 1930 house in Atlanta, GA this year (Climate Zone 3A, winters include multiple days in the 20s and summers include multiple days…

We have an intello vapor barrier that slightly slicks out under the drywall at the bottom, this will ultimately be hidden by molding so not worried about this detail. But,…

What are the advantages of a vented rainscreen cavity?

Planning a cabin build in northern Wisconsin.  Climate zone 7a.  About 830 SF total.  A 16' x 32' portion will be rafter framed with a loft over about half of…

After losing their home in a 2020 wildfire, this Oregon couple rebuilt with Passive House performance and wildfire-resilient detailing

I'm planning to install A/C into a 1920's two story home in NJ.  It has steam radiators so this will be used primarily for cooling, though I may as well…

Hi,I'm building a new home. I had a fair bit of hemp insulation left over so decided to insulate all my interior walls as not only a way to use…

I am in the beginning stages of designing the basement for development.  Calgary, Alberta. The home is 3 years old, per code the basement comes finished rough, which means 2x6…

Hello -We're finishing the attic in our 100-year old colonial. The ancient roof was just replaced and we installed GAF Intake Pro Rooftop Intake Vent (we couldn't do soffits because…

I am getting ready to install the ceiling OSB in my workshop, and have noticed that some of the bottom chords are very crooked. I haven't measured, but by eye…

Hi!I’m Leib, and I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with a chimney that I can’t remove.The house is in New York City (zone 4), and is built…

In rural Missouri, fifty residents are showing how shared infrastructure and ecological building can reshape both housing and community life.

Hi All,I am trying to understand IBC 5.2.9 "Where only air-permeable insulation is installed directly below the structural roof sheathing, air shall be supplied at a flow rate....etc etc.Does this…

Hopefully a quick question:I have a steel building with steel girts and purlins.  I already have 1" continuous XPS on the outside of the wall, but figured I would fill…

Hi All,Does anyone have opinions, experience, or data regarding the pros/cons of putting a cross-batten grid of ~a few inches, vs. a much tighter 'air gap' using a product like…

Our client asked for deeper-than-typical interior window sills so we're adding a 2x4 wall to the interior of the structural 2x6 walls. By code, R-21 batts in the 2x6 wall…