All How-To Topics
tag: green building
Subscribe to RSS feed
What Happens if your Framing Gets Rained on? (Learn to use a Moisture Meter)
15 commentsRain during framing is hard to avoid, so how do you know the house is dry enough to move ahead with construction? We've all experienced "settlement" cracks in new houses. While cracks and gaps may not be completely avoidable, checking your framing with a moisture meter will te you if the house is "dry" and ready for insulation and drywall.
view details
Digital Toolbox: Getting an Education Without Leaving the Job Site
2 commentsNew contributor Sergio Grado provides accessible and practical advice on how to keep growing your knowledge base even when you have no time to spend on furthering your education.
view details
Insulating an Advanced-Framed House - A Hybrid Approach
10 commentsInsulation advertisements would lead you to believe there products are perfect for every situation. In fact a hybrid approach is more likely to yield the high performance home I'm after. See this video to see how I used three types of insulation on this new Advanced Framed House I'm building in Austin Texas. -Matt Risinger
view details
Sorting Out Options for Whole-House Ventilation
3 commentsA couple building a house struggles to choose a fresh-air-circulation system that will keep their home healthful without breaking the bank
view details
Advanced vs Traditional Framing
6 commentsAdvanced Framing isn't all that difficult and the benefits can be tremendous. In this video I'll show you a traditionally framed house and compare that to an Advanced Framed house.
view details
All concrete home, 3 stories ICF block construction
All ICF exterior walls, 3 stories! 10,000 heated sq. ft., six car garage, indoor shooting range! Custom wood windows with 12" jams, ZO6 glass. Hers rating of 52!
view details
Texas Deep-Energy Retrofit Remodel
When you hear about a deep energy retrofit project most people think of the snowy North Eastern US. I can tell you that the strategy for a Northern remodel with energy efficiency in mind is very different that our strategy for Hot/Humid Texas. In this video I'll show you 6 things we are doing to making a dramatic difference in this 1950's slab on grade house's energy bills.
view details
Flashing A Recessed Window using Liquid Tyvek
1 commentFlashing a recessed window is tricky, this new product from DuPont Tyvek called Fluid Applied (Liquid Tyvek!) makes the process much simpler. In this jobsite video we will take you through the steps to form a water tight, air tight, and vapor permeable window install.
view details
Energy-efficient framing practices for hurricane and tornado country
3 commentsBuilders have been slow to adopt 24" OC 2x6 optimum value framing due to concerns about the strength of the structure. We have adopted several framing techniques that work with OVE to improve storm survivability while also maintaining good energy efficiency and stiffness.
view details
Hot Water Without Wasting Cold - Metlund D'Mand Pump
How long does it take for your faucet to get hot water? As you wait for that hot water a typical faucet might dump 1-2 gallons of water down the drain. The solution for this problem is a smart circulation pump. Metlund makes a great system to deliver how water to your faucets without waste.
view details
Sustainable Living Shed in a Midwest Suburb
This shed was built with the intention of serving as many purposes as possible on as small a piece of land as possible. Because we live on a corner lot where it would be very visible, we also...
view details
Design & Daylight
2 commentsThe first of a two-part introduction to a thematic blog on daylighting strategies used in residential design.
view details
Smart Design Advice for Hot & Humid Climates (i.e. The South)
Architect Peter Pfeiffer talks about how to utilize smart design for a house in a hot climate zone. His green building advice is practical and following his advice will result in a house that's well designed for the rigors of a hot climate. If you want a comfortable, efficient, durable house and you live in the South then this video will give you tons to think about.
view details
How To Build a Healthy House
1 commentThe home in this video was built for a person with a severe chemical sensitivity, but the goal of building with healthier materials and details should be important to every homeowner
view details
Self Taught MBA: Strategic Planning, Part 2 - The ABCs of Strategic Planning
2 commentsIt's more critical than ever to have a plan of how you will deal with this tough economy. Strategic planning focuses on redefining high-level priorities and setting a course for the year ahead.
view details
HVAC Ducting: Rigid Metal vs. Flex
5 commentsIn our Texas climate a well installed HVAC system is a must for a new home. I'm surprised by how few builders are using Rigid Metal ducting anymore. Come see how my crew uses both Rigid Metal & Flex for great air distribution in the homes I build.
view details
Off-The-Grid Straw Bale Getaway
1 commentAn architecture firm known for ecologically sensitive design creates an off-the-grid cabin in the woods of California
view details
Exterior Patio
New exterior patio including covered fireplace pit and water features. This was part of a remodel to Geodesic dome origianally built in the 70's
view details
Car Cathedral
1 commentThe "car cathedral" is a 20,000 sq. ft. timber frame structure that will house an amazing collection of muscle cars when completed. This incredible barn, located outside of Houston, TX, is over 53...
view details
The Self Taught MBA: Business and Strategic Planning, Part 1 - Best Laid Plans
4 commentsYou may not have started your business with a formal plan, but writing one now may help you achieve your goals--now that you're old enough to think ahead!
view details
|
|
|
|
-
How to Paint Fiber-Cement Siding
Painter Jim Lacey shares some tips for caulking and painting fiber-cement siding. read more
