Air Barriers vs Vapor Barriers
Learn more about air control in our buildings while examining the differences between air barriers and vapor barriers.
An Outdated Detail to Avoid
Learn about a very common but outdated approach to how the base of walls are sealed to the slabs, and review some higher performing modern alternatives.
Confusion about Rainscreens
Learn more about what that space behind our cladding system is really doing and how large it ought to be.
Do Buildings Need to Breathe?
Learn more about the nuances of the expression “buildings need to breathe” and explore the differences between enclosure design and mechanical system design.
Do Overdriven Fasteners Cause Buildings to Leak
Learn more about overdriven fasteners and other unsealed cladding attachment fasteners and their impact on water management.
Five Things Every Custom Home Ought to Have
Learn about the five elements of the enclosure and mechanical system that merit serious consideration for every custom home, and how they contribute to energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and durability.
Helpful Things to Know about Thermal Comfort
Learn more about the concept of mean radiant temperature and how it applies to enclosure design and thermal comfort.
How to Detail Drainage Mat with Stucco
Learn why the building code has long required two layers of water resistive barrier (WRB) behind stucco claddings, and how to improve drainage and drying using a drainage mat.
How Windows Manage Water
Learn more about the general approach to drained joints in the context of a typical residential window installed in a framed wall
Hydrostatic Pressure
Learn about the physics of hydrostatic pressure and how it applies to common architectural details.
Is It Time to Retire the Metal Sill Pan?
Learn more about what both approaches to detailing windows at the sill (metal and membrane), and why membrane sill pans are typically the more reliable choice.
Mechanical Conditioning vs. Mechanical Ventilation
Learn more about the most common approaches to mechanical conditioning and mechanical ventilation in residential design.
Obvious and Not-So-Obvious Reasons to Love Air Barriers
Learn more about the advantages of air tightness, how it is measured, and the most critical design details to achieve the best results.
The Controversy about Residential Ventilation Rates
Learn more about the most common current approach to ventilation (exhaust-only ventilation) and the main differences between the recommended code rates and the ASHRAE rates.
The Controversy Over Stucco Explained
Learn more about the recent improvements to code provisions related to drainage and drying and why the codes still fall short.
The Four Elements of a Leak
Learn more about the four components of a building leak to understand important missed opportunities for controlling water.
The Myth About Spray Foam & Leaking Roofs
Learn more about the general approaches to managing moisture in attics, why a designer might want to consider spray foam insulation, and alternative approaches to insulating roofs.
The Perfect Wall
Learn about the elements of the Perfect Wall and why it works in every climate.
The Three Categories of WRBs
Let’s explore the three categories of water-resistive barriers in drained walls and learn more about the constraints associated with each.
The Three Fundamental Ways Walls Manage Water
Let’s explore the three approaches to water management in walls and see how water management is a system rather than a feature of a component or building material.
The Advantages of Treated Engineered Wood Siding
(1 LU) Learn about TEWS’ durability, sustainability, and design flexibility.
The Three Most Important Design Considerations for Energy Efficiency
Learn more about what the three most important enclosure-related factors influencing how much energy a building will consume.
What Blower Door Tests Really Tell Us About Performance
Learn more about the relationship between blower door test results and in-service performance, and how building’s climate might affect the interpretation of test results.
Why Exterior Insulation is the MVP of Insulations
Learn more about the physics behind the additional benefits to exterior insulation.
Why Glazing Matters So Much More Than Insulation
Let’s explore some hypothetical scenarios to put glazing and insulation in context so that we can better understand how each relate to overall energy performance.
Why Unvented Roofs are Best for Custom Homes
Learn the most common design approach to venting and the conditions under which venting roofs might not be appropriate.
Why We Vent Roofs
Learn more about the physics behind venting roofs, which is a common approach to moisture management in every climate.
Why You Should Think Twice About Attached Garages
Learn more about pollutants and indoor air quality, and the design strategies that can minimize risk.