UnBuild It Podcast

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...

It's funny that Steve, a very nuts-n-bolts guy, hosts this largely philosophical episode. But all three of us agree: Separate symptoms from causes—It's easy to get distracted or engrossed in symptoms, but the causes lead to solutions. Solutions come much easier if you first identify the problem(s). Step back to move forward. It's always tempting to jump on the "obvious" so...

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...

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 acoustica...

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 st...

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...

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: &q...

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...

Listener Bill B poses this question and the boys run with it for the whole podcast: "Can you share the details and the reasons for installing flangeless windows in different planes of deep wall assemblies?" Lots to consider here in terms of ALL of the control layers and their continuity. Pete's Resource(s): - BSC Window Installation Sequence: https://buildingscience.com/documents/re...

You know the boys get weepy over water pretty easily, but Steve's focus on starting with the site drives this podcast. The site is the context for the building, and broadening to site water management can really take the load off of building assembly water management. This podcast is all about digging deeper into building (sorry, just could not resist...).   Pete's Resource(s):   1. Pete...

We have a big announcement this week as we return to our first time having Matt Risinger on the podcast.

Jake and his builder team--Luke Mann, (Rangeline Homes), Shane Durkin (Patriot High Performance Homes), and Jackson Andrews (Jackson Andrews Building + Design)--work through all sorts of cool, key approaches to consider with your trades: ·      Paying subs in 21 days ·      Scheduling a site visit for a new potential sub ·      Pulling subs into the bidding process  ·      Using suppliers to evalu...

Jake takes his builder team--Luke Man, (Rangeline Homes), Shane Durkin (Patriot High-Performance Homes), and Jackson Andrews (Jackson Andrews Building + Design)--through this final topic with questions like: - Do you want your company to grow? (These guys vary in size from 2 to 16...) - How do you decide when to hire and who to hire?  - Are you working in the business or on the business? - Do you...

Luke Mann (Rangeline Homes), Shane Durkin (Patriot High-Performance Homes), and Jackson Andrews (Jackson Andrews Building + Design) work through this topic with host Jake Bruton. Key concepts include carefully distinguishing punch list vs. additional scope of work; covering closeout in project-starting customer expectations document; an extended comparison of builder closeout process to a new car...

This is Q&A with Adult Supervision: Kohta Ueno. Kohta is so efficient we nailed SIX building enclosure questions: Listener Gagan - reconfiguring existing walls with new control layers; Listener Bill: the need for dedicated vent space with vertical metal siding on ICF walls; Listener Michael - rainscreens for roofs instead of walls; Listener Sean - best detail for using mineral wool (exterior c...

Jake hooks up with the same custom builder team  Luke Mann - Rangeline Homes https://www.rangelinehomes.com Jackson Andrews - Building & Design https://jacksonandrewsbuilding.com Shane Durkin, Patriot High-Performance Homes https://www.buildpatriot.com For a roundtable discussion on the ideal client. Key topics include vetting clients by matching company strengths to client expectations and bu...

Guest Reuben Rudisill is Huber's Research, Development, & Innovation engineer, joining Jake & Pete from the Building Science Corporation Summer Symposium in Westford, MA. Jake & Pete know just enough to get in trouble when it comes to structural details of ZIP, ZIP-R, and Advantech Huber OSB panels, so Reuben quite gently sets these guys straight on how high-performance OSB is man...

Join Jake and Steve as they chat with Ross Trethewey, of TE2 Engineering and This Old House, at Building Science Summer Camp 2023. Check out TE2 Engineering

Steve calls SketchUp his electronic clay model which he can use with his builder, his enclosure consultant, and his clients. Pete gives up the dirt on WebSoilSurvey, the 1st tool he uses on every project design/spec review. Jake heads home for his favorite tool - his new Aarow Building office. Last but not least: Steve returns with his 2nd favorite tool--the field. Getting out to job sites and see...

What should we monitor, and what do we do about elevated levels of indoor pollutants? Air temperature, relative humidity, parts per million CO2, PM 2.5 Pete's Resource(s): - "Measuring (and Understanding) Humidity" - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/measuring-and-understanding-humidity - "Inhalable Particulate Matter and Health" - https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resourc...

The top leading edge of a PSA tape running horizontally is not weather-lapped or mechanically attached, depending solely on the adhesion of that top edge to the substrate to keep water out of the WRB/PSA tape system. Are ALL PSA tapes in WRB systems self-terminating? Is there a way to quantify the top-edge adhesion that makes the tape self-terminating? The boys go at it over this one! Pete's...

Our homes use way more water than you think they need to. The boys dive deep into water efficiency and performance, from toilets to showerheads to hot water recirc systems. Pete's Resource(s): 1. EPA Water Sense: https://www.epa.gov/watersense 2.  2016 AWWA Residential End Uses of Water - https://www.awwa.org/Portals/0/AWWA/ETS/Resources/WaterConservationResidential_End_Uses_of_Water.pdf 3. G...

Despite how consistently and relentlessly the boys have dissed ICFs, this episode takes ICFs seriously and fairly (or as best as Jake, Steve, and Pete are capable of...). Pete's Resource(s) 1. "Costs & Benefits of Insulating Concrete Forms for Residential Construction" ( https://www.huduser.gov/publications/pdf/icfbenefit.pdf ): A bit dated but still useful given that the PATH p...

Four Cool Questions:  1 - Airtight Drywall Approach from Aussie Sean;  2 - Continuous Insulation (moving from below-grade to above-grade walls) from UBIP buddy Ian; 3 - Frost Protected Shallow Foundations (anonymous) ;  4 - Roof penetrations from Jake's IG buddy Jeff Pete's Resource(s): 1. Myron Ferguson ADA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhv9iFE3AY4 2. "A Slick Transition...

This week the UBIP takes on the topic of control. Jake tries to convince Peter and Steve that the hierarchy we address the four control layers is wrong. Can Jake turn Peter or Steve to his dark side of ideas? Probably not, but the conversation is still valid. Where do you land?