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Is R-Value Dead as a Dodo?
The R-value of your insulation is just one number — and it’s not enough to tell you everything you need to know about your wall’s thermal performance
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Finished Foundation and Floor Framing Uh-Ohs
Before framing begins, it’s important to check whether the foundation is level and square
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Ductless Minisplit Performance During Cold Weather
Does it make sense to turn up the thermostat setting when the weather turns cold?
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Blower Doors Have Become Essential
Use one to measure a building’s airtightness, to locate leaks, or to comply with a green building program
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Placing Concrete In Our ICF Foundation Walls
To keep your ICF walls plumb, don’t skimp on the bracing
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Installing Roxul Mineral Wool on Exterior Walls
Semi-rigid panels of mineral wool insulation keep the wall sheathing of this British Columbia home warm and dry
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Spraying Polyurethane Foam Over an Existing Roof
Spray foam isn’t just used for insulation — it can also be used for roofing
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Major Thermal Bypasses
Don’t worry about the cracks around your windows until you’ve sealed all of the big holes in your house
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Construction Begins — and We Encounter a Few Snafus
It turns out that we need high-density XPS rated at 60 psi — and lots more rebar than we had planned on
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Window Installation Tips for a Deep Energy Retrofit
Use ‘Dudley boxes’ for a hassle-free way to install new windows in walls that are being retrofitted with exterior rigid foam