#673: Energy Codes, Air-Sealing Between Floors, and Evaporative Cooling
Release Date: 02/21/2025
#701: Basement Waterproofing, Wet Floors and Indoor Humidity
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Patrick, Ian and Grant talk about 700 FHB Podcast episodes, before diving into discussions on the importance of basement waterproofing, how water gets in basements, solving problems with indoor humidity, and figuring out why Chris’ cotton baseball caps feel damp. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Keeping basements dry in wet places How water gets through basement floors and walls Controlling indoor humidity for comfort and durability Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at . ...
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#700: Best of FHB Podcast, Volume 9
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
In this best-of show the crew talks about bulkhead doors, metal roofing over SIPS, rebuilding Notre Dame, sealing mudsills, and insulating sloped ceilings. Tune in to Episode 700 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Improving the efficiency of basement bulkheads Details to get right when building with SIP panels Effectivly insulating a new drywall ceiling with sloped and flat sections Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at . Check Out the Full Show Notes: ➡️ Learn...
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#699: Electrify Everything, Big Interior Doors, and Straw Bale Construction
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Patrick, Randy and Ian have a heated discussion about fire safety, including how to wire heat detectors. Scott wonders if an all-electric home is less resilient than one heated with fossil fuels or wood. Pia asks about using big doors to separate living spaces in a new build. Scott might be timber-framing a strawbale house and he wonders what the Podcast thinks about strawbale construction. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Heat detectors and how to wire them for greater safety Using large sliding doors to separate large interior...
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#698: Price Volatility, Carbon Accounting, and Building Off-Grid
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Marc says it’s tough to bid electrical work when copper wire prices change daily. Dan thinks we need to consider the carbon costs of every build. Andy asks for advice on building an energy efficient off-grid cabin. Jenna asks about finding conscientious contractors. Grant, Mike and Patrick discuss listener feedback and questions about price volatility, finding a good roofer, and how to lower the energy demands on an off-grid house. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Estimating the costs of construction when prices change...
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#697: Sound Control, Insulating Shed Roofs, and Low-Yield Wells
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Ian and Randy help Patrick answer listener questions about building a quiet house and sound-control strategies for new and existing homes and then the Podcast revisits its roots discussing roof venting of low-slope shed roofs. Finally they talk about how to get more water from a low-yield well. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Residential sound control challenges and solutions How to insulate and ventilate shed roofs and What’s a low-yield well and strategies for increasing available water Have a question or topic you...
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#696: Fire Prevention, Heat Pumps and Extreme Temperatures, and Rain in Gable Vents
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Will ICF foundations burn? Do modern materials destroy old houses? Do heat pumps peter out in hot temperatures? Can you prevent rain from coming in gable vents? Grant and Mike help Patrick address FHB Podcast feedback and answer listener questions. Tune in to The FHB Podcast 696 to learn about these and other topics. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Preventing house fires through smart design Is there a drop in heat pump performance in very hot conditions Is there a way to prevent rain from coming in gable vents Have a question or...
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#695: Saving Bricks, Cut and Cobble Insulation, and Waterproofing Foundations
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Ian, Brian, and producer Cari Delahanty join Patrick in talking about Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: What to do with the bricks from a demolished chimney Is it okay to cut and cobble rigid insulation in roof assemblies Foundation waterproofing and its effect on concrete Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at . ➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: ➡️ Learn about the ➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media: ...
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#694: Bath Fans, Too Many Minisplits, and Second-Story Additions
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Ian and Randy join Patrick in talking about how a lack of makeup air limits ventilation effectiveness and why a builder might install seven minisplits in a typically-sized home. They talk about the challenges of add-a-level additions and how to keep the water out during construction. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Effective ventilation using bath fans The pros and cons of using minisplits for heating and cooling Off-site panels and modules for add-a-level additions Have a question or topic you want us to talk...
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#693: Hazards in Houses, Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Jerry says to look for hazardous materials when considering fixer-uppers. Ryan asks about building Larsen trusses. Daniel asks if there’s a place for AI in construction. Ian, Brian and Patrick help listeners with their building questions and talk about what’s new in the world of residential construction and Fine Homebuilding. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: What are Larsen trusses and how to build them Hazardous materials that might be found in a fixer-upper Figuring out how AI can help build better buildings Have a question...
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#692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Brian, Grant and Patrick hear about a renewed interest in trade education and consider carbon accounting in the Canadian Building Code before discussing envelope improvements for an old houses. Tune in to of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Does green accounting belong in building codes What are the risks of insulating a roof with rigid insulation The right way to approach envelope improvements in an old house Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at . ➡️ Check Out the...
info_outlineDoug wonders if the drywall sanders in the upcoming FHB feature reach tall ceilings. Jason thinks Vermont’s legislature is making a mistake on exterior insulation requirements. James shares a good reason why internet-provider cable should be in conduit. Larry asks how to insulate and air-seal between his first and second floor. Cory is weighing whether to fix his swamp cooler or abandon it.
Tune in to Episode 673 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:
- Risks and benefits of exterior insulation
- The right way to insulate and air-seal floor trusses
- Evaporative cooling and how it works
Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at [email protected].
➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 673
➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Homes, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding
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