Other stories by Paul Fisette

• Reusing Barnboard

  Q: I was wondering what should be done to old reclaimed barnwood before it can be used inside a home. I plan on using it for wainscot in a basement remodel; should it be treated to kill any bugs or mold?

• Which Window Area Ratio Is Better?

  Q: I've seen window glazing area recommendations for energy-efficient houses stated in two ways: as a percentage of conditioned square footage and as a percentage of exterior wall area. Which is most useful, and why?

• Roof Venting in a Wet Climate

  Q: I'm planning to reroof an expanded Cape Cod on a barrier island off the East Coast, where strong winds and moisture from the ocean are common.

• Q&A: How Should I Finish an Existing Basement Wall?

  Q: I am about to start a basement remodel project in a cold climate. I plan to apply a waterproofing product to the inside of the basement wall, then stick a sheet of polyethylene directly to the basement wall over the waterproof coating. Once that is in place, I'll frame a 2x4 wood-frame wall on...

• Wrong-Side Housewrap

  Q. While preparing for an extensive remodeling project, we discovered that the housewrap was installed underneath the exterior 7/16-inch plywood rather than on top. According to the scope of work, we are supposed to install 1/2-inch foam board with taped seams over the entire exterior. Will the...

• Q&A: Retrofitting a Brick Wall With Insulation

  Q. I'm rehabbing an old brick house in Charleston, W.V. I want to insulate the exterior walls, which are balloon-framed with 2x4s, unsheathed, and finished with brick. There's a 1- to 2-inch air space between the 11/2-story-high frame wall and the brick siding, and a weep system at the base of the...

• Q&A: Finger-Jointed Studs

  Q: Can finger-jointed studs be used for wall plates and short window and door headers?

• Q&A: Connecting Gutter Downspouts to Footing Drains

  Q: Can gutter downspouts be connected to 4-inch pipes that lead to footing drains? The footing drains eventually terminate at daylight, away from the house.

• Q&A: Can a Power Vent Supplement Ridge Venting?

  Q: Would an attic that has a properly sized and installed soffit and ridge venting system benefit from the installation of a power vent?

• Q&A: Does Drenched Insulation Dry Out

  Q: A winter's worth of rain fell on a large hillside home we're building before we could complete the roof. Though we tarped the project, rainwater seeped through the first-floor decking and into the floor framing of a basement wine cellar. I suspect that