Insulation & Air Sealing

Matthias Wandel has a pretty extensive history devising ways to trap mice. The winters are long in Canada, and Matthias seems to have no shortage of mice in his shop.

Low-e coatings screen infrared heat from moving through the glass, either inward, outward, or both

Simple upgrades to steps you take anyway can significantly boost the energy performance of a home

Outside insulation is an effective way to keep heat in. The devil is in the details, such as this one

Like an out-of-plumb wall, an insulated and unvented roof can work well—or not.

Your electrician can make the insulation work better and easier to install

The first layer of foam is mostly an insulation layer; the outer layer is the air barrier and drainage plane. This video is about the first layer.

A retrofit solution that works great for a low-skill workforce—like volunteers

A saw and a knife that cut rockwool insulation like a "laser"

If you can't build to stay dry, build to tolerate wet

Make a route for drainage, protect the structure, and use water-tolerant materials to rebuild

Turns out, ducts buried under insulation actually can work to save energy and eliminate condensation inside the ducts. If you seal and insulate them first

An affordable insulated slab foundation suitable for climate zones 4, 5, and 6

Everything* you need to know about adding insulation to the outside of old homes with cold bones

Stop rot with house wrap​