Walls that can drain and dry last a lot longer than walls that stay wet. An air gap between the siding and sheathing lets both dry independently. Furring strips are one way to make that air gap.

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.

When plumbing lines burst, people notice. Unfortunately, a lot of the moisture damage in houses has nothing to do with bulk water. 

I've been using vinyl on the affordable homes I've built over the last few decades for a couple of simple reasons.

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

Insects can get into the little parts of a wall and muck up water and air movement details

Lead-Safe RRP compliance demonstration video.

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

Vinyl siding needs a drainage plane—just like all other siding types do. You must drain the rain—you must have Plan B

If your local molding shop does not have the right quarter-round, rip some PVC pipe on a tablesaw.

It can come from surprising places

Our friend in Victoria BC, the Samurai Carpenter walks us through the timber frame tiny home that he has crafted—much of it from driftwood.

Pry out, slide down, slip in 

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

Bright and dark colors used to be bad choices for vinyl, but better polymers and manufacturing process have reduced fading, cracking, and expansion.

Historically, shutters were used for protection and light management. These shutters do both at the same time.

I like to see the guts of buildings when the surfaces crumble and reveal what's behind the plaster and paint.

Vertical siding offers easy solutions to some of the problems with horizontal siding