Great questions from our listeners! 

• How do you determine the best insulation levels by climate (with the best being the greatest value)?
• Does adding screws (at some point during construction) make sense when using Advantech floor sheathing, adhesive, and ring shank nails?

Pete's Resource(s): 

1. BSI-081: "Zeroing In" - https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/capture-green-value-over-time-not-short-term-payback-analysis
2. Pete BuildingGreen blog: "Capture Green Value Over Time, Not with Short-Term Payback Analysis" - https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/capture-green-value-over-time-not-short-term-payback-analysis
3.  Huber Advantech Installation Manual - https://www.huberwood.com/uploads/documents/technical/Installation-Manual-AdvanTech-Subflooring.pdf
4. NIST - "Performance Standard for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels" - https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/06/13/ps2-04.pdf

NOTE: This is about as dry a resource as we would ever recommend, but it has great technical info on all manner of structural floor sheathing installation, including bond and mechanical fastener performance.

Client involvement is critical in any building project, but this can be a double-edged sword. We need our clients engaged and to manage their expectations, particularly given how much information/stuff is available online. The boys each give their perspective on the importance and the corralling required for client involvement. 

Pete's Resource(s):

- Custom Builder May 2006 - "Guiding Customer Expectations" - https://www.custombuilderonline.com/guiding-customer-expectations

How do you transform below-grade full foundations (also variously called pits, cellars, or basements and historically meant to be or tolerated as damp and cool and dark) into true living-conditioned spaces? We say add four continuous control layers, access to daylight and egress, thermal comfort, and good acoustics—make it a place to thrive as well as live (and even escape).

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Steven Baczek YouTube: "Dirty Basement" vs Clean Basement....How to Plan for it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB2nD-0eUZs

2. NDSU Extension Service "Foundation Insulation Effectiveness:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwn0Vjw_ji0

3. BSD-103: Understanding Basements - https://buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-103-understanding-basements

4. Hammer & Hand basement details: https://hammerandhand.com/residential/remodeling/basements/

5. Negative Side Waterproofing (GBA blogs): https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/author/peterbilt

It's funny that Steve, a very nuts-n-bolts guy, hosts this largely philosophical episode. But all three of us agree:

1. Separate symptoms from causes—It's easy to get distracted or engrossed in symptoms, but the causes lead to solutions.
2. Solutions come much easier if you first identify the problem(s).
3. Step back to move forward. It's always tempting to jump on the "obvious" solution, but it pays to understand completely before offering solutions.

This episode's strength is how each of us—architect, builder, building investigator—uses the approach above to improve our jobs.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Building Science Insights: https://buildingscience.com/bsc-document-type/building-science-insights
2. Energy Vanguard blog Building Science 101 (but in the context of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) - https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/building-science-101/
3. Stewart Brand's How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built (Brand is one of a rare few building philosophers...and his book also is expressed in a 6-part video series - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Buildings_Learn#Book& https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Buildings_Learn#TV_series

Who would have thought that our buddy Steve would be more than OK with both off-site building and the homeowner acting as their own General Contractor? But combining Superior Walls for the foundation with Harvest Homes for all of the framing means the GC homeowner is dealing with far fewer trade contractors. Steve, Jake, and Pete walk through the advantages and challenges of offsite building.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Offsite framing company Harvest Homes: https://www.harvesthomes.com

2. BUILD Show episode on Pre-fab & Panelized Construction: https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/how-building-professionals-can-incorporate-offsite-prefab-and-panelization-into-their-projects

3. Modular Construction & Affordable Housing: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/increasing-affordable-housing-stock-through-modular-building/

1. What about whole-house ventilation systems (balanced, exhaust only, supply only) and their impact on pressure balance in homes? And do ERVs/HRVs accommodate pressure imbalances created by things like exhaust fans, stack effect, etc.?

2. Per Steve: to butyl or not to butyl...For areas such as door sills, use butyl sealant or maybe acoustical sealant? We know how fond Steve is of Tremco acoustical sealant (a single-component, non-skinning non-hardening synthetic rubber sealant) so this topic gets the big guy on his horse...

Pete's Resource(s):

1. great info on residential ventilation and pressure balancing: https://basc.pnnl.gov/building-components/ventilation & https://basc.pnnl.gov/building-components/pressure-balancing

2. Pete's BuildingGreen blog series called "Sticky Business" (including a couple or so blogs on liquid sealants): https://www.buildinggreen.com/stickybusiness

Tim Hill of Risinger build--Austin homebuilder for over 40 years--teamed up with Matt some 10+ years ago. Tim details his company's approach to architects, customers, and trades, including featuring building science in ALL aspects of their building company. The conversation aptly starts with the job site trailer carrying a Goodman mobile dehumidification unit parked just outside the build studio to the way in which Risinger build embraces remodeling in no small part because it provides such valuable feedback on how their homes perform over time.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Building Science 101 with Matt Risinger & Steve Baczek - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QthBdsyxAN8

2. John Abrams' The Company We Keep - https://www.southmountain.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SoMoCo_Feature_hr.pdf

3. Job Site Dehumidifiers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ladLLd_z1wo

One of the most interesting ways to accomplish a high-performance below-grade wall is with Precast Concrete panels. Both Steve and Pete have worked on projects using Superior Walls, the leading US manufacturer of these panels. Certainly, it is not the least expensive way to do a foundation, but this system has a ton of advantages: it is completely engineered by the manufacturer, no cast footing is needed, and it can be completed in a day (REGARDLESS of the weather…).

Pete's Resource(s):
1. Superior Walls - superiorwalls.com
NOTE: Jake/Steve/Pete are not aware of any other US companies that manufacture precast foundation wall panels.

2. BUILD SHOW Superior Walls - buildshownetwork.com/contents/in-depth-look-superior-walls?page=18

1. Actually 3 questions--can you/how do you/should you vent a pyramidal roof with dormers? (PS - I just had to look up the pronunciation of "pyramidal"--I found both pronunciations...). 

2. How do I configure for adequate air supply and noise control for a heat pump water heater (HPWH) in a 1400 square foot, tight home in Montana?

And then, I would like to apologize for Steve and his: "A polar bear walks into a bar..."

Resource(s):

1. Venting hip roofs - https://inspectapedia.com/ventilation/Hard_to_Vent_Roofs.php

2. HPWH ducting strategies (CZ 2 - 4) - https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/64860.pdf

3. Northwest testing of CO2 HPWH - https://www.energy.wsu.edu/documents/Sanden%20HPWH_FINAL_rev%2011-24-15.pdf

4. BUILD SHOW Aarow Building (Jake) Fujitsu water heater - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIQA-obhpKo

The boys INTEND to tackle TWO submitted questions but only manage one: Are open-joint claddings better moisture-managed better than traditional lap claddings? This episode is quite the mix of banter, building science, and building history. And note that the last resource in the list below is a great short video with Joe Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation on open-joint claddings.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. wikipedia definition of cladding - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladding_(construction)

2. wikipedia definition of lapstrake - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinker_(boat_building)

3. Open joint/rainscreen cladding history - https://www.climate-shield.com/european-climate-shield-history (Note 1st reference: "Rainscreen Cladding: A Guide to Design Principles and Practice."

4. "Cup of Joe - Open-joint cladding systems" - https://buildingscience.com/conversation/cup-joe-open-joint-cladding-systems