For a mere 162 words, why is there so much confusion on just how much Ice & Water Barrier / Shield (herein called IWS) that needs to be installed? You distill it down to the root and it simply states that said IWS, when required by the … “shall be used in place of normal […]
FAQ: Should I always use the Bathroom Fan when taking a Shower?
I am sure you have heard it all before; start the bathroom exhaust fan before your shower or bath, use a timer, run it for 10/20/30 minutes after… The question though is do I really need to always use the bathroom fan; does anything change based on it being summer or wintertime? Heh, does this […]
FAQ Insulation Values & Comparisons – Metric and Imperial
Have you ever wondered what the insulation requirements are like in other countries? Shoot, are we as behind as some might have you believe? Well before we can start to figure that out, did you know that there are also differing ratings? As one gentleman from down under said “We use metric (SI) units. Not […]
2021 IECC Insulation vrs PHIUS 2.0 & other programs
In our last post we looked at the newest insulation requirements found in the 2021 version of the IECC. Curious how that stacks up to say an ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Home, or maybe even Passive House (PHIUS)? Well lets do that, but first a quick recap with the full chart showing how the […]
Insulation Requirements & 2021 IECC First Look
One common question many people ask is, just how much insulation should I have or use for XY or Z? This generally gets followed up by what type, is more better, how about diminishing returns, and the list goes on… On the flip side, most of those that have building homes for quite a while […]
FAQ: Bifold door knob location
Why is it so hard to open or close my bi-fold’s? I just bought new, or am replacing my bifold door, where should I place the knob(s) & how high? Heh, should I measure from the top of the door like others or the bottom? Well let’s dig into this, but first make sure your […]
Electrical FAQ: Off the wall questions…
In some past articles we have talked about swapping out outlets in your house with newer Tamper Resistant ones especially if you wish to child/baby-proof your home or if you wish to give your house a facelift. Last week we also posted a question – just what is wrong with these pictures? If you haven’t […]
FAQ on Duct Cleaning: All Hype or Worthy Expense?
It must be spring time… I got the following in the mail just the other day: 5 different ads all for duct cleaning. With allergy season starting along with my favorite ad asking just “How often are you dusting?” one has to wonder, is it worth it? Along those lines, looking at the pricing and […]
FAQ: Humidifiers – To humidify or not…
It’s that time of year again when the air is drier which can lead frizzy hair, static shock &/or for those in older homes, the doors to finally shut properly. It is also cold & flu season with many doctors recommending humidifiers be run at night for kids who get sick. For many the questions […]
BS4D: Envelope Leakage Testing 101
Lately there have been some questions on just when should I or how early can I do a Blower Door Test. This is also referred to as an air leakage or envelope leakage test (aka as the second part of the DET code mandated testing). This is quickly followed up by what do I need […]