The HTRC

The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center

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4 New Advanced Framing Options?

14/01/2014 by SLS 14 Comments

Recently the NAHB Research Center (now known as Home Innovation Research Labs) in conjunction with DOE’s Challenge America Program released a new paper touting three new “Advanced Framing Techniques”. As you may recall I have pointed out multiple issues with OVE / Advanced Framing & actually promote using OFT or Optimized Framing Techniques. With that, I was interested in what […]

Common Sense Building Tagged: Advanced Framing, CSB

Getting the details right: Bathroom Exhaust Venting

12/04/2013 by SLS 111 Comments

For numerous years the codes have required that all bathrooms either had a window OR a light & mechanical exhaust system be installed (see legal section below). The thought process was the homeowner could either open the window to remove certain obnoxious gasses &/or the excessive moisture or turn at least turn on a fan […]

Common Sense Building Tagged: CSB

Common Sense Building: Exterior Wall Sheathing 101

05/03/2013 by SLS 4 Comments

For most builders & crews the biggest question when it comes to sheathing a wall is “should we do it while the wall is being framed on the ground, or after we have stood it up?” For others that have to add foam on the exterior, some start to wonder, “if I need to add […]

Common Sense Building Tagged: Advanced Framing, CSB, OFT

Common Sense Building: OFT – Optimized Framing Techniques

29/11/2012 by SLS 8 Comments

OFT or Optimized Framing Techniques is taking the best framing techniques that fit the house you are building & utilizing them to not only save resources but to also have a strong, durable structure that uses a minimal amount of connectors. Ah, but isn’t that what one might call OVE or Advanced Framing? Well before […]

Common Sense Building Tagged: Advanced Framing, CSB, OFT

Common Sense Building: Making Sense of Radiant Heat (FAQ)

26/10/2012 by SLS Leave a Comment

We originally started this series on Radiant Heat with an article entitled “Don’t just jump on the bandwagon” & followed it up by a guest post from Todd Vendituoli on his installation of an under the slab system & the benefits of a Radiant Hydronic System. As promised we are into our third article on […]

Common Sense Building, FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged: CSB, Radiant Heat(ing)

Common Sense Building: Designing for Everyone (Interior Checklist)

14/09/2012 by SLS Leave a Comment

Last week we focused on this simple question; do we keep with the status quo of basically designing houses with a 30 year shelf life, or design them to last & be used for generations? While the question might appear “simple,” just how do you design for multi-generations where everyone is comfortable, and one is […]

Universal Design Tagged: CSB

Common Sense Building: Designing for Everyone (Exterior Checklist)

06/09/2012 by SLS Leave a Comment

When you design something, you look at its intended purpose, ease of use, durability, and who will be using it (target market). When you start dealing with houses the purpose is simple; to provide a healthy, safe, and comfortable place to live so that people will be glad to get home. While the purpose might […]

Universal Design Tagged: CSB

Common Sense Building: Radiant Hydronic Heating

30/08/2012 by SLS 2 Comments

Heating ones house via radiant heat has been around for over 5000 years & is generally credited to the Koreans with their “ondol” system and is still in use today. The genius of this system & the later “hypocaust” systems developed by the Romans is that one heated one’s whole house from under the floor […]

Common Sense Building Tagged: CSB, Guest Article's, Radiant Heat(ing)

Common Sense Building: Don’t just jump on the bandwagon

28/08/2012 by SLS Leave a Comment

Contractors rightfully get a bad rap sometimes for not wanting to change or embrace new technologies. “I have been doing it this way for years & never had an issue.” Some that do embrace change have learned the hard way that it is best to tread carefully after being bitten by some new product that […]

Common Sense Building Tagged: CSB

Common Sense Building: The Cool Roof Concept

16/08/2012 by SLS Leave a Comment

When one starts talking about roofs you will quickly run into a whole bunch of jargon; hot roof’s, cool roof’s, vented, unvented, green, flat, hybrid & the list goes on & on & on. Needless to say this can & does cause quite a bit of confusion especially when regional differences in naming conventions pop […]

Common Sense Building Tagged: CSB, Roofing

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Random Glossary term

  • Diffuser

    A diffuser is meant to diffuse or scatter an object. For a forced-air heating &/or cooling system, the diffuser is a register or grille attached to the ducts to spread the conditioned air around. For tubular skylights or light fixtures, the diffuser is a cover plate or panel that scatters the light.

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