Recent Q&A

• how to do airsealing around these penetrations (pix included)

  As much as we try to ask different contractors to only put a big enough hole that they need for their pipes and rafters and other things, at the end…

• do i need a third-party HVAC designer to review the calculations done by my HVAC contractor?

  Hi. We are building a one-story all-brick home in CZ 2 that we are hoping to be a "tight home". We chose Zip R3 sheathing and Zip roof deck, with…

• Air-Sealing Bottom Plate-to-Slab Transition

  Been following Matt Risinger (Build Show) for tips on better building since we started our house build project since we are in the same climate zone 2. Was planning to…

• Zip vs. OSB Sheathing for Roof Deck

  Roof deck: Grace Ice & Water Shield + Regular OSB OR Regular Zip 7/16 sheathing? CZ2 We have decided to do ZipR3 on the wall sheathing for our one-story all-brick…

• best nontoxic (to humans) termite tx for slab-on-grade foundation

  What type of termite treatment/system is best for a new build (especially for slab on grade foundation)? There are bait stations, the spray on the dirt before slab, the trench…

• Roof sheathing material – Zip or not

  我有一种预感at you guys will probably say go with Zip for the roof sheathing but for good measure I am going to put this out anyway since…

• Process of exhaust vent size selection and quantity

  HVAC guy says with our master bathroom that is approximately 11.5ft x 17ft that we would only need one bathroom exhaust vent since our toilet is not enclosed in a…

• best path for dryer vent exhaust pipe

  While discussing with our HVAC guy regarding where the dryer exhaust pipe will go out to (roof vs side of house) he says he mostly vents it to the side. …

• Insulation for Exterior Brick Wall

  Climate zone 2 - all brick, one-story 2400+ sq house. We are to choose between 2x6 studs with full fill open cell spray foam insulation on the inside part of…

• ideal weep hole placements in brick exterior wall

  I see weep holes pretty common at the bottom of brick walled house here in TX. I can also vaguely remember with building science articles about the need for weep…