"The same exact thing can happen inside a wall cavity in a home in a frigid climate if you don't block and stop the water vapor from getting into the wall cavity." Insulation Installation - Simple If You Read Instructions The inspiration for this column happened just two days ago while I was working on […]
Ask the Builder Podcast 14 Highlights: Foundation hole too deep Water leaking into the crawlspace Best garage insulation Tim shares a story about the sun destroying your things Podcast Sponsor: Stain Solver - Certified Organic Oxygen Bleach Home Improvement and Home Construction Podcast Photos, Links and Great Stuff: CALL 1: Foundation Hole Too Deep […]
Heat Loss Photos - I've Got Plenty Heat loss, and heat gain in the summer, are both responsible for costing you money. It's important to realize that you can't stop heat loss, but you can slow it down. In the photo above the purple areas on the sloped ceiling are caused by air flowing through […]
You wake up on a frigid morning or come home from work and your house is cold, yet the heater or furnace is on. You might mumble out loud as you shiver, "Why is house cold with heating on?" This is the column Tim asked in his January 3, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter if you would […]
Window Flashing Tape Installation DEAR TIM: I've been a subscriber of your free newsletter for years and am finally building a new home. I decided to follow your advice and stop by the job site as often as possible and take photos. The contractor just installed my windows and has started to install the vinyl […]
Using R value guidelines to upgrade your insulation is likely a smart move. R values, established by the U.S. Dept. of Energy for walls, ceilings, floors, and other areas of your home, are really minimum requirements. Check insulation R values recommended for your area on the map and table here. Increased insulation R value in your ceilings and wall insulation will bank extra energy dollars saved in no time!
Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets (batt) or blown in insulation. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Blown in insulation requires a professional. Before choosing blown vs. batt insulation, take time to read this column.
How to insulate an older brick home can be a challenge. If furring strips were nailed to the inner masonry, there is only a narrow 3/4-inch space to add insulation. Very old brick homes often have no space to add insulation as the plaster was applied directly to the brick wall.
DEAR TIM: I’m going to build a new home and want to make sure I seal all air leaks in my new house. The new home is close to where I live and I have the time and inclination to do some work on it myself. My current home leaks air around doors, windows, at […]
DEAR TIM: I have a house wrap installed on my house over plywood sheathing. No clapboards are in place yet. I'm getting moisture behind the house wrap that is of concern to me. The product was installed at about 55 F, last October. The moisture appears in varying temperatures and also whether or not exposed […]
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