The BS* + Beer Show

Two of the four control layers in a building envelope, air barriers and vapor retarders are frequently misunderstood by builders, architects and everyone else. Why are they important? Building science experts Steven Baczek and Brian Pontolilo join us to discuss this topic. If you'd like a primer, Brian's Fine Homebuilding article is a great overview of the control layers:  https://www.finehomebuil...

What is there to exterior finishes besides grabbing a can of exterior latex paint and spraying or brushing it on? A lot! This episode, two friends of  BS *+  Beer join us to talk about exterior finishes. Fine Homebuilding senior editor Patrick McCombe shares insights from his experience and research on extending the life of exterior paint. Plus, Justin Fink of Fink & Son discusses his work with tr...

In this episode of the BS* + Beer Show,  we're joined by our pals Michael Anschel and Carl Seville, née The Green Police , for a  lighthearted discussion with on the state of their businesses, the state of the industry and the state of the world. This could be an ominous, spooky or even terrifying topic--just in time for Halloween--but the Green Police have a knack for making potentially serious t...

Once you have been in a home designed for sound control, it may be hard to go back to spaces with echoes and intrusive street noise. Join us and our guest experts to learn about the different ways that sound is transferred and the latest techniques and materials to limit it in your homes and renovations. Tune in to the next show live! Register in advance:  https://rb.gy/u4ug91  

Why is there no "D" in "HVAC?" There should be, and few people are more knowledgeable on the topic (or better at explaining the concepts) than our guest this week, Nikki Krueger.

Few people, if any, know more about hyrdonic heat--John Siegenthaler literally wrote the book(s) on the subject. John will explain how to use air-to-water heat pump technology to heat low-load homes, and the discussion is sure to venture into related areas as well.

For the third year, our spooky pals Michael Anschel and Carl Seville—aka The Green Police—join us for a Halloween special episode. This time they aren't giving us any clues about the topic, only mysteriously that it will be "another wildly entertaining yet substantive discussion." Will it be a treat or a trick?

This traditional northern European approach to heating with wood goes by many names including Russian fireplaces, Finnish fireplaces, and mass wood heaters. No matter the name, the concept remains the same: burn briefly and slow the escape of flue gasses. Our guests this week have decades of experience designing and installing these systems.

The Brew Crew discuss change in the trades industry — from building science and construction best practices to our more recent challenges with material and labor shortages, transportation issues, rises in fuel costs and more. They also share highlights and lessons learned at the 2022 International Builders' Show and how they can be applied to a changing industry moving forward.

The Brew Crew take a deep dive into the four control layers within a building envelope -- water, air, vapor and thermal -- that must be addressed in order to build a durable home. They discuss climate zones and how these layers are affected utilizing different assemblies and products, as well as the construction issues that may arise if the control layers are not recognized.

Mention hot water, and most people immediately think of the water heater.  But water heating is a system, and the piece of equipment that makes hot water is but one part of that system. In this show, we'll discuss the whole water heating system:  the water heater, its inputs, and its outputs.

Have you heard about the new-to-market material that is lightweight, insulating and made from 100% recycled glass? The material is valued for its low unit weight, inertness, high permeability, and insulating properties. Experts from the two major US suppliers join us to discuss the types of products on the market and their various applications.

This week we talk about building successful triple-bottom-line construction, architecture, and design/build businesses with guests Mel Baiser and Kate Stephenson from HELM Construction Solutions, and John Abrams and Deirdre Bohan from South Mountain Company.

GBA contributor Jon Harrod and Bryan Orr of HVAC School join us to discuss refrigerants including what makes a good refrigerant separate from the regulatory environment, how oil types and their properties are a big deal with refrigerants, real life recovery challenges in the age of refrigerant phaseouts, and much more.

Can real estate development be a way to support people and our environment or does it always have to be all about the money? This week we are joined by two experts—an architect/builder/developer, and an energy and sustainability consultant—for a discussion on how development can be a good thing.

As founder of  Building Science Fight Club , Christine Williamson provides technical design consulting services to architects assisting with design development and reviewing details and specifications to improve durability, comfort, and energy efficiency. Join us for an open-ended discussion about the state of the industry, what Christine is doing to improve it and what we should all be doing to h...

What better way to celebrate Halloween this year than with returning pranksters Michael Anschel  and Carl Seville, also known as the Green Police? They will regale us with spooky stories of building science "Conspiracy Theories" which is sure to lead into some dark rabbit holes of conversation.

How do we address the shortage of skilled tradespeople and help them keep up to date on the constantly evolving ways we build? This week the principals of Construction Instruction join us to share their thoughts.

This week the Brew Crew and guests Will Field, Sam Brown, and Joseph Barry have a conversation around harnessing solar energy effectively.

In this episode—with surprise guest Jake Bruton—we tackle the topic of sheet goods as air barriers. The consensus is that, yes, sheet goods can make good air barriers, although there are many different approaches, and some are more reliable than others.

This week we are joined by Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Drawdown, "the world's leading source for climate solutions." Arguably, the richest resource for real-world tactics designed to reverse greenhouse gas emissions, Drawdown breaks its offerings into categories that include buildings, land use, electricity, transportation, and industry, among others. Tune in to learn more.

The first rule of building science is keep bulk water out, which requires good flashing details. As simple as that sounds, if you've ever remodeled a house, you know that it's rarely done as well as it should be. Hear from builders—you might say they're the Big Dogs of the flashing game—who know how to do it right.

This week industry expert Dr. John Straube joins us for the topic, "All About Rainscreens." After defining the water management system, he explains where and when to use a rainscreen before answering questions.

Why do we need to worry about mold and fungus? What can we do to reduce the risk? How do we deal with buildings that are already infested? Special guests and experts Cheryl Ciecko and Bill Robinson discuss how to design and build to minimize microbial growth.

Building science all-stars Allison Bailes, Ed May, Marc Rosenbaum, and John Loecher join us for a discussion about energy modeling and load calculations. What's the difference? Who should perform them? What software should be used? Tune in to find out.