Recent Q&A

• Plan for a single minisplit head

  We are in zone 6a. Slab on grade, R20 under the slab, R23+R17 walls, R60 attic. 1400 square foot, our heat load is in the range of 17k BTU +/-…

• Mineral Wool R-value by temperature

  Does anyone know if there is any information available that shows the performance of mineral/rock wool by temperature? Buildingscience.com has this for polyiso: https://buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/info-502-temperature-dependent-r-value I am wondering if there is…

• Do manufactured rafter vents provide adequate ventilation?

  For a simple gable roof, insulated amply with rock wool on the ceiling plane, in a cold snowy climate (upstate NY). Are premanufactured baffles adequate ventilation channels at the eave?…

• WRB behind rigid foam and rain screen – is this risky?

  Location: Central NY, zone ~4b Zip-wall says you don't need a gap between their product and exterior foam (let's pretend it is vapor closed foam board, 3+" of XPS), as…

• Slab on grade with stem wall above grade in a cold snowy climate

  This is something I have seen done in garages, but I can't find much on doing it for a house. Where we live, we have a 4 foot frost depth,…