I am honored once again to have Christopher G. Hill, LEED AP to post again. He is a Virginia Supreme Court certified mediator, construction lawyer and owner of the Richmond, VA firm, The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill, PC. Chris authors the Construction Law Musings blog where he discusses legal and policy issues relevant […]
FAQ: Why are my windows always so drafty during the winter?
I had new home builder once ranting — it is negative 30 degrees outside & I have an individual standing in front of a huge picture window in a robe, complaining to me over the phone about how cold it is… You know how I know this? Well I was driving by at the time, […]
FAQ: Exterior HVAC units – Should I cover my unit, or… fall & wintertime questions
When it comes to the exterior HVAC unit most people wonder about hiding them and reducing the amount of noise. We delved into that topic in our Spring & Summer HVAC FAQ but now that fall & winter has arrived… Yep now the leaves &/or snow starts falling the some start to wonder; should I […]
FAQ – Do I need storm doors or windows?
As the weather starts turning colder many start wondering – should I replace my windows, get a storm door, install storm windows, or??? Shoot I live in an area governed by an HOA and they won’t allow them, are there other options? For others, I replaced my windows last year & I still have condensation […]
Getting the details right: Door & window openings (interior)
When buying new doors & windows (for either new or remodeling) most manufacturers generally require a rough opening size 1/2″ larger than the actual unit size. This requirement is just in case things are not perfectly square or plumb. So how should one finish it off after the unit is installed (fiberglass / foam/ who […]
FAQ: Soffit Venting
I am air-sealing & insulating my attic trying to help prevent ice dams which included adding baffles in each bay. Well while looking outside I see that I only have one vented panel every 4′. Do I need to change out / use ventilated soffits outside only? Hmm, how about the eaves, would it hurt to use ventilated […]
FAQ: Exterior HVAC units – Shading, Misting & other summertime questions
It seems there are numerous questions regarding the outside HVAC unit – from how can I hide it, can I build a deck over it, to does shading it really help save me money? Well lets see if we can help answer some of these typical spring & summertime questions and look at some of the reasons behind […]
FAQ: To remove or not to remove… (WRB’s aka Tyvek & tar paper)
The guy I have installing my vinyl siding just placed the foam over the old “Tyvek”, is that ok or should he have removed it first? The house has tar paper &/or XYZ on it, can I just go over it / will that cause moisture issues? I had a few delays and am now ready […]
FAQ: How quickly will my water heater…
I just drained my tank, how long will it take to heat up? How much hot water can I expect with my shower running? Will I have enough hot water with three teenage girls… These are just a few questions that revolve around just how well a water heater will actually perform based on your needs. In order […]
FAQ: Does my freezer really need to be kept at 0º?
What is the ideal temperature I should keep my freezer & refrigerator at; is it really 0º & 40º? Doesn’t “freezing” always mean things are frozen? I turn my thermostat up during the summer & down during the winter to save electricity, hmm can I raise the temperature of my freezer likewise to save? Recently I ran across this tidbit […]