Recent Q&A

• Air filter MERV “sweet spot”?

  I'm looking at air filters for my new house and was wondering if anyone had found a "sweet spot" in the tradeoff between filtration efficiency and cost, or some way…

• Increasing R-Value with Zip R System

  Apparently my original plan to put polyiso on the outside of ZIP R isn’t recommended by Huber. http://www.huberwood.com/technical-library/2/89?alias=zipsystem-zip-r-sheathing “CAN I INSTALL EXTERIOR FOAM INSULATION ON TOP OF R-SHEATHING? No. An…

• Tape life expectancy ( air sealing & flashing tapes)

  Maybe I'm not asking Mr Google the right question, but I'm not finding anything on the life expectancy of air sealing tapes & flashing tapes. I've seen the backyard tape…

• Rockboard [mineral wool] or polyiso?

  I'm planning a new house. I've been thinking in terms of 2 3/4" of polyiso on the exterior of the walls. However, I'm now thinking that dense rockwool board *might*…

• Small ducted heat pump?

  My wife and I are 69. We're in the process of designing a house for our retirement with our architect. It's going to be a "pretty good house" with a…

• Rain screen really necessary with vinyl siding ?

  Climate zone 4 ( Western NC mountains ) Prospective wall -- 2x6 24" OC, 7/16" - 1/2" sheeting only as required for bracing. Thermoply or similar with taped seams for…

• Thermal bridging — dryer & other vent materials

  Normally the ducting for dryer vents is aluminum or galvanized steel as are many other types of vents like range hoods. Is the thermal bridging caused by the use of…