It’s difficult to achieve a high R-value in a cathedral ceiling while preserving... More
Unvented roofs in northern climates are prone to ice buildup, but how do you ventilate a valley or hip rafter in a cathedral ceiling? And what do you do at a skylight, where the headers block the vent chutes? A snow-country builder describes the venting methods that have worked for him at these and other tricky spots. More
Q: After my electrician finished rough wiring the last house I built, I noticed that the Romex (NM) wire he used seemed to have a thinner profile, and the individual wires seemed smaller in diameter than what I was used to. Is the copper wire (or the insulation) getting smaller, or is it just my imagination? More
Q: The house I’m building has a cathedral ceiling framed with wood I-joists, continuous ventilation at the soffit, and a continuous ridge vent. The ceiling inside will be T&G pine. I plan to use R-38 Kraft-faced fiberglass batts (which will allow a 1 1/2-inch air space between the roof sheathing and the batts), and would like to apply Tyvek housewrap over the Kraft-faced batts. However, I’m concerned that moisture will accumulate between the batts and the Tyvek. If moisture accumulation isn’t a problem, does it matter which face of the Tyvek is exposed to the room? More
Airtight, well-ventilated cathedral ceiling More
