Blog

I’ve built a large shed on pilings at 5k feet in Southern Arizona. It has plywood sheathing and it’s skirted with metal. I’m preparing to install a stucco wall system and have gotten contradictory advice about venting at the top of the wall. There are 1-2 foot soffits overhanging the walls, all are flashed with […]

I think this is a very complicated topic and is really personalized to each user and their circumstances. For example, the first thing to consider with window selection and the expectations of opening windows is IAQ. Opening windows let’s polluted air in. Where you live can really change the importance of this consideration. For example, […]

This article originally appeared in Fine Homebuilding Magazine, issue 220, June/July 2011, but its message remains as relevant as ever. While energy codes and testing protocols have evolved over the past decade, the fundamentals of duct leakage—how it affects comfort, safety, and energy performance—have not changed. What follows is a practical look at why duct […]

We use cookies and data to Deliver and maintain Google services Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to Develop […]

We use cookies and data to Deliver and maintain Google services Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to Develop […]

We use cookies and data to Deliver and maintain Google services Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to Develop […]

We use cookies and data to Deliver and maintain Google services Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to Develop […]

We use cookies and data to Deliver and maintain Google services Track outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuse Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those services If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to Develop […]

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published over 25,000 standards, but a select few dominate the global business landscape. Based on the most recent ISO Survey data (which tracks the number of active certificates worldwide), three standards consistently top the list. These “Big Three” are popular not just because they are often contractually required, but because […]

Join the leading community of building science experts Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field. Start free trial Replies Expert Member DCcontrarian | Mar 06, 2026 09:56pm | #1 That doesn’t seem risky at all. In 4a, your basement floor […]