When talking to homeowners or trade contractors about energy-efficient construction this question is inevitable. The answer: Tight houses are good because they lower energy bills and increase comfort. But there's a big BUT

This small video collection covers the basics of installing a roof deck in a place where sideways rain and hurricanes are real. Flashing, taping the seams, and storm-proof shingle starter strips.

Innies, outies, and in-betweenies

Compartmentalizing a boat revolutionized the safety of ocean navigation and saved countless lives.

Wrapping an old house in a blanket of insulation is a no-brainer when you're replacing the roofing and siding anyway

House wraps and weather barriers can play a critical role in a high-performance wall assembly. In fact, some people consider the WRB to be a BFD.

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.

Two WRBs and two rain screen systems accommodate two types of wall cladding

First-time installing stackable sliders, a bifold window, and triple-glazed casement windows are fastened through the frames: OA makes the mistakes, so you don't have to!

Belt, suspenders, rainscreen, and redundancy make this wall awesome.

An instant airtight and watertight roof deck

Water is the enemy of structural integrity. It just is, so you have to design against it.