
Insulation & Air Sealing

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.


Why insulating on top of a house is better than insulating inside

Hands-on training with local pros at the largest construction event in the Northeast

A big problem, for roofs in cold climates, but what causes it and how can you fix it?


A thermal break and solid backing puts the window on the outer face of a thick wall. Now, there's room on the inside window sill for cats and bowling trophies

Stack effect is relentless: it is always working, when you’re awake or asleep, even during blackouts. And it feeds on itself.


"In order to maximize the buildable area on the infill lot, we had to go fairly deep and do some extensive shoring."
—Dan Whitmore of Hammer & Hand

Offset the joints and seal the gaps to keep air leaks out of the thick walls


Windows cannot rest on the foam, so they hang from wood bucks


Letting the brick dry evenly is the key for old masonry walls that want to leak less energy

