Recent Q&A

• Washer leak: concern about wall moisture.

  Our combo washer/dryer is in an open area on our second floor along the north wall. We have a pan underneath it to catch spills, but the pan isn't plumbed…

• Best practice to caulk clapboard and corner board area?

  It seems that general practice is for the intersection of horizontal clapboards and corner boards to be caulked...a bead of caulk over this intersection after siding installation. But I've also…

• Best backfill material for frost protected shallow foundation?

  We have a frost protected shallow foundation (monolithic slab) at our house in NH (zone 6), there is 4" of XPS for the slab edge (protected by the aluminum flashing)…

• How to best seal well water line in PVC pipe coming up through slab.

  Our foundation is a monolithic slab on grade. The well water line (1.25") and electrical line (1") enter horizontally under the slab and then vertically up within a 4" PVC…

• Finishing concrete floor (slab on grade)

  完成的冷杉t floor of our house will be the slab (8"+ monolithic) and we'll be doing the work ourselves. I'm pretty sure we're going to use EcoProCote products to…

• Advice on passive air inlets with bath fan exhaust ventilation?

  Background: new construction, climate zone 6 (03846), 12" double stud walls w cellulose, heating/cooling is single Mitsubishi 12k btu heat pump, 2 story, very open floor plan downstairs (and up).…

• Spacing and attachment of rain screen materials (specifically Sturdi-Strips)

  Our wall system is double stud, the outer wall is 2x4s 16" OC with 1/2" Advantech sheathing. Siding is quarter sawn spruce clapboards (longest pieces are 6'). We are planning…

• Ductless mini split sizing advice – Mitsubishi specific

  We are going to have a Mitsubishi heat pump installed in our house (in progress) soon and would be interested in some thoughts on sizing. The house is in Jackson,…

• Considering gable vents only for attic ventilation.

  New construction in climate zone 6A, northern NH, r40+ walls, r70 attic. Current stage is that exterior walls and roof are framed and sheathed. Unconditioned attic will be totally sealed…

• Unvented and unconditioned attic, is this to code and is this a good idea?

  New construction in climate zone 6a, north/central New Hampshire. House specs: -r45 walls -approx r70 attic consisting of loose fill cellulose in rafters above drywall (the ceiling air barrier) -goal…