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Jan 20, 2025 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
The idea of needing to replace your furnace can be cause for a few sleepless nights, given the potential expense. “User-171762” writes in this Q&A post that he wants to move to a dual-fuel heating and cooling system. He lives in a 104-year-old, 1-½-story house in Portland, OR., that has minimal insulation, original double-hung windows, and ducting that was updated in the 1970s. The new system is intended for the 1300-sq.-ft. main floor.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
In the U.S. Craftsman bungalows, long prized for their complex yet elegant detailing and spatial warmth, are no longer valued as a worthy real estate investment. Fewer people want to live in one, let alone own one. Abandoned, they fall into disrepair. Despite the structures’ stunning examples of fine craftsmanship, owners regularly tear them down to make way for new construction, or to make the property more appealing to potential buyers.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
A growing number of designers and builders of high-performance homes are spec’ing double-stud walls. They like the assembly’s higher insulation R-values and ability to control air infiltration. However, double-stud walls are a little trickier to detail than their conventional counterparts. The choice of control layers can affect the wall’s ability to dry, for instance, which can lead to questions such as those posed by “AZVuilt” (AZ) in this Q&A thread.
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
In this Q&A post, a homeowner asks for help after a sewer backup flooded his basement. In response, “RastaCook” had to remove the flooring and the lower portion of the drywall, at which point he decided it was time to renovate the basement. The house was built in 1982 and is located in Climate Zone 6A. On the interior side of the concrete foundation there is 2-in. EPS rigid foam on the upper 4 ft. of wall between light-gauge steel studs installed on the flat, a poly vapor/air barrier, and drywall.
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Nov 11, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
Ideally, home building is a year-round job, but in many places, winter can throw a wrench into the works. In this Q&A post, “Emel” is worried about his upcoming foundation pour. He’s in central Wisconsin (Climate Zone 6), and the pour is scheduled for mid-December, when the daytime temperatures in his area average a high of 27°F. He writes that the 5-ft.
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Nov 2, 2024 | 
thisoldhouse.com | Chuck Bickford
Carpet can develop wrinkles and loose areas because of heavy foot traffic, improper installation, age, or humidity changes. These issues not only create tripping hazards, they also cause uneven wear and reduce the carpet's lifespan. Stretching your carpet addresses these problems, making it easier to clean and maintain. Whether you're dealing with loose spots in older carpeting or installing new carpet altogether, we've got carpet stretching techniques for a professional finish at home.
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Oct 28, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
“Ben87” wants advice on dehumidifiers. He has a 1600-sq.-ft. slab-on-grade duplex under construction in Climate Zone 4A, and he knows it will need some type of dehumidification, but he’s not sure how to spend his money. He lists two options:Option 1: He could buy a portable dehumidifier for about $300. Option 2: He could buy a ducted, whole-house dehumidifier, such as the Santa Fe or Aprilaire e80 , both of which cost about $1500.
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Oct 14, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
There’s nothing better than heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, right? But the HVAC mechanical equipment and its ductwork need space, and in a small home space can be hard to find. Member “Emel” is trying to get ahead of this problem. He has a new one-story, 1400-sq.-ft. house in the works, which he describes in this Q&A thread. There is a main section and a bonus space. Because the location has a high-water table, the house will be slab on grade.
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Oct 2, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
The Edison Electric Institute predicts that by the year 2030, about one-third of cars (and trucks) in the U.S. will be battery powered. Environmentally, it’s an overall win that will help to reduce carbon emissions. Add in fuel cost savings and various federal and state rebates, and electric vehicles (EVs) start to look better and better to more folks. For homeowners and renters with grid-tied solar, having an EV is a no-brainer.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Chuck Bickford |Kiley Jacques
In warmer parts of the country where basements aren’t common, the default location for the HVAC equipment is often the only space available—the attic. And unless the attic is conditioned, hot summers make it especially hard for the equipment to do its job. It’s sort of like trying to make ice in an oven. “BurbankGreenGuy” (BGG, for short) has a 90-year-old home in a sunny part of Climate Zone 3C, and he writes here that he’s updating his attic and the HVAC mechanicals it houses. The 1000-sq.-ft.
