Water and air leaks in a building shell are difficult enough to detail on simple buildings. Complex structures can cause headaches for builders, remodelers, and architects who don't pick up their pens and trace at the design stage.

Crawlspaces offer all of the headaches of a basement and none of the benefits.

But some buckets are more relative

Why a rain screen wall is important to the energy and durability detailing on a Passive House.

How to detail the foam at corners and connections when tightening the energy efficiency of an old house

The biggest crack in the house, revisited for #ThrowbackThursday

Roofs get wet at night—Heat flows through the easy path—Framing is a bridge.

Electrical outlets, plumbing pipes and bathtubs are underestimated in their importance.

Covering the roof of an old house with a blanket of insulation makes the house more comfortable and it cuts energy use.

The second layer of foam is the air barrier and drainage plane.

New energy codes are coming (very) soon; many states are jumping straight to the most aggressive one

#ÜberRoof: A site-built ventilated SIP roof sandwich.

A faster way to build affordable housing in a tropical climate. It is a quick build when compared to standard block and stucco.

The complete video collection on insulating, air sealing, and installing windows in a superinsulated sunroom addition in Wayland, MA

Furring the inside of masonry walls makes room for wires and can significantly improve the R-value

Rigid foam board and canned foam give an airtight cavity that can be insulated well.

Some do's, don'ts, tips, and tricks on how to deal with obstructions in wall cavities

 

How a blower door works, how to set it up, how to use it to find air leaks in a home's envelope, and how to break down the numbers.