In this episode, host and managing editor Justin Fink talks with editor-in-chief Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo about Vinyl Siding, Mixing Trim Styles, Flash-and-Batt Insulation, and Apprenticing. The show is driven by our listeners, so please subscribe and rate us on iTunes or Google Play, and if you have any questions you would like us to dig into for a future show, shoot an email our way: [email protected]. Also, be sure to follow Justin Fink, Rob Yagid, and Fine Homebuilding on Instagram, and like the magazine on Facebook.

The Fine Homebuilding Podcast embodies Fine Homebuilding magazine’s commitment to the preservation of craftsmanship and the advancement of home performance in residential construction. The show is an informal but vigorous conversation about the techniques and principles that allow listeners to master their design and building challenges.

SNEAK PREVIEW

Brian returned from British Columbia and mentioned details of this home designed by James Tuer that he shot for the next HOUSES issue:

Making an entrance, personal. Here’s an entry sequence that illustrates how architects design homes—in ways both practical and subtle—to fit the specific needs of their clients. For these outdoor athletes, where the stairs to the second floor would have been in many small bungalows, is a utility closet to store their gear. A barn-style door keeps their things hidden and the entry quiet and inviting. The step down into the great room is like a second entry, signaling a transition from their active life outside to the quiet of their of their home.

• “Downtown Design” by James Tuer
• “Exploiting the Elements of Passive Design” by James Tuer

VINYL SIDING

“Does Vinyl Belong on a Fine Home” by Alex Wilson

• Q: Is Vinyl Siding Green?
• The Counterintuitive Cladding
• In Defense of Inconvenient Truths

INTERIOR TRIM

Get Your House Right by Marianne Cusato

“Signature Trim Details” by Chuck Bickford

“Adding Detail With Built-Up Molding by Rick Arnold

FLASH-AND-BATT INSULATION

“Why Flash and Batt Makes Sense” by Michael Maines

“Flash-and-Batt Insulation” by Martin Holladay

“The Flash-and-Batt Method” by Erik North

APPRENTICING

“Against the Grain: The Next Generation of Builders” by Aaron Fagan

“The Path to Becoming a High-Performance Builder” by Seam Groom

SCHOOLS:

• Building Science at Appalachian State University
• American College of the Building Arts
• North Bennet Street School

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

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Nitrile Work Gloves

Do yourself a favor and protect your hands while you work. These lightweight, breathable work gloves will keep your hands safe while cutting and fitting.

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Disposable Suit

This suit provides full body protection to help you stay clean from head to toe when installing insulation. We recommend wearing sweats underneath for additional coverage.

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Utility Knife

This utility knife is well-made and comes in handy when cutting rigid foam insulation. You can extend the snap blade to cut through a 2-inch foam board.

Buy at Amazon