At the heart of this issue is the new acronym, TFF--Temporarily Fully Functional. That would be everyone because no one gets around the loss of function as we age. It's not a question of if but when. How well should our homes support the loss of function? Maybe high-performance homes that are just as "UD-ready" as they are "PV-ready" (UD for Universal Design/PV for Photo-Voltaic)? Jake closes out with a pretty cool UD-tip/technique he recently coined.

Pete's Resources:

1. Visitability Housing: Basic Access that is Practical and Cost Effective - https://www.flhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Visitability_Housing.pdf

2. Homes for Everyone: Universal Design Principles - https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/destech/unidesig.html

3. Residential Remodeling and Universal Design - https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/destech/resid.html

In this week’s UBIP Jake Bruton is joined by a small group of builders to discuss Preconstruction Contracts and getting paid for project planning. Follow along as Jackson Andrews, Luke Mann, and Shane Durkin debate the differing ways that each of their firms operates during preconstruction.

To find more about these guys;
https://www.instagram.com/jake.bruton/
https://www.instagram.com/rangelinehomes/
https://www.instagram.com/jacksonandrewsbuilding/
https://www.instagram.com/buildpatriot/

No touchy-feely stuff here--this is a hard-core business discussion. Good business means BOTH building professionals and clients listening not simply hearing. Wait, what is the difference between listening and hearing again? Listening describes an intentional activity; you are actively trying to hear and process something. Hearing is not intentional; hearing is something that just happens, whether you wanted to hear it or not. 

Pete's Resource: 

1. Forbes blog - "Business Tools: The Art of Listening" - https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeslacouncil/2018/05/30/business-tools-the-art-of-listening/

2. University of the People blog - "Hearing vs Listening - Mastering Communication" - https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/hearing-vs-listening/

In this week’s Unbuild It Podcast Jake Bruton is joined by a small group of builders to discuss their Ah Ha moments in their careers. Follow along as Jackson Andrews, Luke Mann, and Shane Durkin chat with this, the first in a multi-part series Jake and the guys filmed. 

Our industry-led improvement of building performance with insulation--completely ass-backward from a building science perspective. Doesn't mean insulation is not important; just means we need to take care of other business first (see the 1st three in this series: water, air, vapor). And just as important as insulation and energy efficiency is thermal comfort, complicating things a bit more. This podcast includes everything from continuous exterior insulation to IR cameras, Big Foot, and Star Trek door technology. Oh, and Pete tells his favorite joke, which of course, Steve hates...

Pete's Resource: Building America Solution Center - best resource for insulation for every US climate, bar none: https://basc.pnnl.gov. Oh, and since we spent so much time on thermal comfort and referenced ASHRAE Standard 55 several times, I can't resist plugging this GBA blog I wrote some time ago: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/understanding-and-measuring-mean-radiant-temperature.

Holy Smokes--Steve and Pete agree that vapor control is not about a single layer! While this may be the most technical discussion in the Love/Hate series, it still includes plenty of Jake and Steve building science band names.

Pete's Resource: GBA's "Vapor Profiles Help Predict Whether a Wall Can Dry"

Pete Townshend - Let My Love Open The Door

The LOVE--from Pete's nearly romantic relationship with blower doors to Steve's fascination with theatrical fog--and then the HATE--from Jake's intolerance for any builder who does not know what a blower door is to Steve's complete frustration with confused spaces ("You are either inside or outside every space in your buildings--there is no in-between"). Three blowhards just can't shut up about airtightness...

Pete's Resource(s): 

• Blog on Blower Doors
•  "Air Barrier Continuity" 

The first in a series of four episodes on the control layers. This approach is trademarked, WTF, Steve Baczek. Expect to hear about flush modern designs, open-joint claddings, and spray testing. We hope you love and not hate this series...

Pete's Resource: Building Science Corporation's Enclosures That Work - https://www.buildingscience.com/document-search?term=&field_doc_topic_tid=All&type%5B%5D=9

Questions all about water, in everything from concrete to paint, to soils and ventilation systems. Steve says bring caramels and a book for this one...

Pete's Resources:

1.  The Manual of Below-Grade Waterproofing (2nd edition, 2016) by Justin Henshell. from this GBA blog

2. ACCA Manual LLH (Low Load Homes)

3. High Performance Dehumidification: Santa Fe Ultra70 YouTube