The advice starts with "don't ever do this" and then dives into the details for doing it right: slope, overhangs, pedestal systems, step-down from house to deck, and truck liners. Wait, what? Jake describes a long-past project involving a spray-on truck bed liner protective coating (and there actually ARE spray-on residential roof systems for decks—who knew?).

RESOURCES:

- Linex residential protective coating

- "The Importance of Cover Boards in Roofing Assemblies:"

- BSI-051: "Decks--Roofs You Can Walk On:" 

- (Somewhat related) BSI-093 "All Decked Out:" 

Different water sources lead to different water quality issues. Eric walks us through: sources of tap water; testing water; appropriate water treatment systems responding to the testing results; and a new water frontier: PFAS in our tap water (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances). Yikes!

PETE'S RESOURCES:
- Eric Aune Mechanical Hub
- Water testing
- CDC Home Water Treatment Systems
- USGS PFAS in Tap Water

Eric Aune would make the perfect Marvel Superhero Plumber. With tank versus Tankless water heaters, multiple small tanks, and on-demand recirc systems, Eric brings real-world insight to all sorts of plumbing technologies and techniques. And of course, Steve closes the episode with a special look to his future.

Pete's Resources:

• Eric Aune
• Gary Klein - Saving Hot Water
• Demand Hot Water Recirculation System
• US EPA Water Sense

Eric provides Steve and Jake with a plumber's perspective on almost every residential, domestic hot water system available in the US. Stick around for terms like "cold water sandwich," "air-to-water," "CO2 refrigerant," and "recirc." It's absolutely gripping!

Pete's Resources:

• Eric Aune - Mechanical Hub
• Energy Star Heat Pump Water Heater
• Demand Hot Water Recirculation System

Jake spends time at Virginia Tech with Christine Williamson, a leading building professional who integrates building science and architecture. In her first year as an Assistant Professor of Architecture, Christine applies building science to architecture courses such as Environment and Building Systems I and II. In her own words about her new position,  Christine says, "Architecture education is, I think, a lot closer to more of a fine art program than maybe a lot of people realize. That is something I would like to change." 

Jake springs a pair of UnBuild It questions on Christine: how does ZIP-R work in terms of moisture control and the best way to configure a crawlspace. 

PETE'S RESOURCES

- Virginia Tech School of Architecture

- Christine Williamson - https://www.christine-williamson.com & https://www.buildingsciencefightclub.com

- "14 Things About ZIP-R Sheathing You Need to Know:"

- BSC Condition Crawlspace Construction & Conditioned Crawlspace Detail 

You say Post-Frame, I say Pole Barn or Barndominium...Yikes. The boys beat up on this topic when we move utility-grade agricultural weather-sheltering buildings (pole barns) to fully-conditioned homes. Aesthetic questions aside, there is solid building science to consider here. And speaking of building science, how do we insulate and air seal rim joists in a way that keeps them dry and durable? This topic takes us from spray foam and capillary breaks to ZIP-R and six-sided containment of interior air-permeable cavity insulation. Oh my. And once again, Steve manages to make us giggle with his closing wordplay.

Pete's Resources:
1. Wikipedia: Barndominium (Who knew?) 

2. "When a Barndominium Won't Do, Try a Shouse:"

3. EERE "Insulate Rim Joist:"

4. BSI-128: Designing for Floods

5. BSC Information Sheet 408

From metal worker to Director of Architecture Risinger Build to home remodeler, Chelsea is all about working on buildings. Instead of a working-man's Architect like our buddy Steve, Chelsea is the quintessential working-woman's Architect. And get this: Steve & Chelsea are about to team-up on a Risinger Build project!

Pete's Resources:

- GBA Retrofit Case Study: "How to Get the Eichler Look Without the Energy Price Tag" - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-to-get-the-eichler-look-without-the-energy-pricetag

- Chelsea's IG: https://www.instagram.com/chelsea_scharbach/

- GBA Cold Climate TimberFrame "Monopoly" House:

     - Part 1 - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/a-timber-frame-house-for-a-cold-climate-part-1

     - Part 2 - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/a-timber-frame-house-for-a-cold-climate-part-2

- READY-FRAME (Precision Packages by  Builder's First Source): https://www.bldr.com/ready-frame

- John Straube's "Building Science for Building Enclosures:" - https://go.okstate.edu/undergraduate-academics/majors/architectural-engineering.html

- Representative Architectural Engineering programs:

     - University of Waterloo - https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/programs/architectural-engineering

     - Penn State - https://www.ae.psu.edu

     - OK State - https://go.okstate.edu/undergraduate-academics/majors/architectural-engineering.html

Since the internet makes us all so cozy from LA to Louisiana, it comes as a surprise to even hard-core building pros that many materials and systems simply don't translate from region to region. Local context simply interferes: price, local expertise, local building codes, availability of materials, even just "no one has done it that way here..." BUT, the internet and social media are shaking things up, in some cool but also disruptive ways.

Pete's Resource: 

- "A Study of the Characteristics of Regional Building Construction Process:" - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372447144_A_Study_of_the_Characteristics_of_Regional_Building_Construction_Process/link/64b77ec4b9ed6874a52d94d6/download

- "The Impact of Digital Distribution on Building Materials:" - https://hubspoke.nafcd.org/Full-Article/the-impact-of-digital-distribution-on-building-materials

- "Top 10 Online Sources for Building Materials in the US:" - https://constructestimates.com/online-sources-for-building-materials-in-the-us/

When Steve doesn't show up on time for the podcast, Jake and Pete jump all over the idea of roasting him. But the podcast is mainly about why we love working with the "jamoke." It is about a half-hour of stories about the consummate job-site architect, Steve Baczek, the guy we "can't live with; can't live without him."

NOTE: Pete incorrectly calls out Steve's height as 6 - 8; he is actually 6 - 6... But a great opportunity for us to bring him down a notch...

Pete's Resources:

1. GreenBuildingAdvisor Detail Library: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/detail-library

2. GBA Green Basics Integrated Design: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/green-basics/integrated-design (scroll down to Steve's framing/duct layout details)

3. Ton of Steve's Details in this BuildingGreen's High-Performance Building Assemblies In-Depth course: https://www.buildinggreen.com/continuing-education/hpba

4. Steve's "How I Do It:" - https://stevenbaczekarchitect.com/info/the-approach/

Jake & Pete get schooled again on dehumidification by Nikki. 

- Nikki introduces the acronym HVACD to make dehumidification in equal standing with heating, air conditioning and ventilation.

- Great discussion of the differences between portable ("big box") and whole house dehumidifiers.

- Importance of the change in measurement standards for DEHUs from "80/60" (80 degrees F & 60% RH) to "65/60" for portable units & "73/60" for whole house units (more real conditions).

- Jake closes out by "dibbing" "Dehumidifier Graveyard" as a rock band name...

Pete's Resources:

1. "WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould:" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143947/

2. Santa-Fe Performance Data over different test conditions: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.santa-fe-products.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TS-2076-Ultra-Series-RNC-Trifold-A2L-1.pdf 

3. Santa-Fe Dehumidifier Calculator App - https://www.santa-fe-products.com/resources/calc-app/

4. Munters PsychroApp - https://www.munters.com/en-us/knowledge-bank/apps-and-calculators/psychroapp-psychrometric-calculations-tool/