Insulation & Air Sealing

Rinse off with cold water before the hot shower.

You can't simply go down to the hardware store and buy a box labeled air barrier

Doubling the square footage of a house while cutting the air leakage in half delivers extraordinary value

Direct the heat toward the feet

Whether using roof trusses or stick framing a roof frame, if you make space above the exterior walls, your energy performance will thank you.

Using theatrical smoke to illustrate air leakage pathways to customers and new employees

Exterior insulation can create transition problems. Here are a few solutions

Vapor barriers cause a lot more harm than good in many parts of North America. Understanding vapor barriers begins with knowing what it means to be one

Glue the rim joist, caulk the gaps, and overhang the wall sheathing to tighten this leaky building assembly

Thin foil can block massive amounts of heat transfer, but it needs a massive temperature difference to be effective. So, insulation sort of makes radiant barriers irrelevant.

For walls with a pre-applied weather barrier, make sure the tape is compatible with the WRB coating—or use a primer

Furring and foam on the INSIDE for better walls in really cold places.

The most effective (and easiest) time to detail the air barrier is during the framing stage. If it isn't specified during design, ain't no way the framers are gonna get it right.

Framing a roof with I-joists over the existing roof makes a ton of room for insulation and offers a short lesson in vapor movement through assemblies

Condensation is when moisture in the air hits a cool enough surface to convert the vapor into water.