Insulation That Works
In more than 25 years of consulting with builders on ways to avoid callbacks, Steve Easley has spent his time solving problems related the heat and moisture transfer, because this is where builders — even very good builders who deliver well-appointed homes to the coastal elite — most often get things wrong. With tougher requirements for the Energy Star label substantially raising the bar for thermal and moisture building performance, however, that scenario may be changing. Easley makes a case for using closed-cell spray foam (ccSPF) to correct insulation woes as he highlights some of the most frequent problem areas addressed by the EPA's Thermal Bypass Checklist Guide. Read more
Green Building: Island Solar
At South Mountain, a 100% worker-owned remodeling firm on Martha's Vineyard, employee-owner Phil Forest has discovered that venturing into renewables — including energy audits, solar electric panels, solar water heaters, and wind-turbine generators — fills a niche in the building business that is becoming increasingly important to today's homeowners. Ted Cushman reports on conservation, photovoltaic options, and the economies of solar in this green building update. Read more
Products
Stainless Connectors ~ No Math, No Fuss ~ Cellular-PVC Crown ~ Faux Ipe ~ Gutter Appeal ~ Dormer Kits Read more
Weather Barriers for Coastal Conditions
According to general contractor Bill Robinson, the building industry is going through a renaissance of sorts when it comes to weather protection. He predicts that as the current best practices become standardized, even more detailed requirements will be brought back to the codes. And that's a good thing, Robinson notes, because as is, the basic code is the bare minimum for coastal conditions. He outlines how to go beyond the code and manufacturer's guidelines to install state-of-the art weather barriers that will meet the coastal challenges of high winds and water intrusion. Read more
