Green Homes News

Flashing Masonry Chimney to WRB

Green Homes 2 - 5 hours 19 min ago
Hello Good People,For context, I'm residing my 1960 Cape in Boston, MA Climate Zone 6A. The house previously had cedar shingles over 1/2" fiberboard and tar paper, with board sheathing…
Categories: Green Homes

The American Home Then and Now: How Size Matters

Green Homes 2 - 9 hours 55 min ago
Rising housing costs, higher interest rates, and changing household demographics are pushing homebuyers to prioritize efficient, flexible living spaces over larger homes
Categories: Green Homes

Headers in Gable Walls

Green Homes 2 - Mon, 2026-07-13 18:29
EDIT:  I meant to reply to Martin’s post in advance framing.  That is the illustration I’m referencing in my question, for clarification.  Anyway, Im in the midst of building a…
Categories: Green Homes

Looking for someone to help me and my architect detail a high performance monopoly build

Green Homes 2 - Mon, 2026-07-13 16:46
Looking for someone experienced in brick monopoly framed details to help or provide construction details for a new build. Project is in the Southeastern US. Thanks.
Categories: Green Homes

Keeping out VOCs from wall assembly

Green Homes 2 - Mon, 2026-07-13 12:13
Is there an effective method to seal out VOCs from Tremco, etc, that is buried in a wall assembly?  Interior drywall and primer/paint, are not a complete barrier as I…
Categories: Green Homes

Sill Plate Detail (Insect/Vapor Barrier) Climate Zone 5A

Green Homes 2 - Mon, 2026-07-13 11:37
Picked up a roll of vintage copper/bronze screen ~4'x100' (over 50 lbs).Looking to put it to use at the Sill Plate, new construction home climate 5A.Originally planning on making a…
Categories: Green Homes

What to consider when wanting to have a MDF panel up against drywall on an exterior wall

Green Homes 2 - Mon, 2026-07-13 10:01
Hello!We are currently planning a closet design/build and I suspect that putting MDF panels (as the closet backer) up against drywall could be potential for a moisture problem (where the…
Categories: Green Homes

Q&A Spotlight: Cathedral Ceiling Insulation Detail

Green Homes 2 - Mon, 2026-07-13 02:00
Vented and unvented roofs have diffferent insulation requirements that aren't always apparent
Categories: Green Homes

Slab-on-grade moisture issue — Mississippi CZ2A, looking for building science input

Green Homes 2 - Sun, 2026-07-12 15:29
Single-story slab-on-grade, brick veneer, Meridian MS (CZ2A). Spray foam attic original to the build (9 years old). Had glue-down LVT fail with moisture and mold at the perimeter.During mold remediation…
Categories: Green Homes

Tyvek tape and poly

Green Homes 2 - Sun, 2026-07-12 12:05
Some poly vapor barrier repairs were accidentally made with tyvek rather than poly tape. Drywall covered now. How big is failure risk from using housewrap tape instead of poly tape?…
Categories: Green Homes

Tyvek tape on poly

Green Homes 2 - Sun, 2026-07-12 11:44
Some poly vapor barrier repairs were accidentally made with tyvek rather than poly tape. Drywall covered now. How big is failure risk from using housewrap tape instead of poly tape?…
Categories: Green Homes

Insulating Basement with Partially Cast-In-Concrete Joists

Green Homes 2 - Sat, 2026-07-11 14:43
Hi GBA Community,My 1960s Calgary bi-level (Zone 7A) has partially cast-in-concrete floor joists. I've read the threads below but want feedback before finalizing my approach. References:- NRCan Fig 6-18/6-19 (air-sealing &…
Categories: Green Homes

Wood or PVC baseboards w/ slab on grade foundation?

Green Homes 2 - Sat, 2026-07-11 06:54
Is it best to use a PVC baseboard for slab on grade or wood? We have created our walls to have drying capability with rockwool, and intello vapor barrier and…
Categories: Green Homes

Extra precautions on low-slope vented roof

Green Homes 2 - Fri, 2026-07-10 23:23
I’m building a shop-over-garage building in climate 6B, with 90 psf ground snow load. Due to some design constraints on height and cost, I’m not doing a fancy hot roof…
Categories: Green Homes

Unavoidable thermal bridge on foundation, exterior vs interior insulation – or a mix of both?

Green Homes 2 - Fri, 2026-07-10 11:12
Hi everyone,I am in the situation of having a poured concrete retaining wall connected to the foundation, causing an unavoidable thermal bridge through the concrete into the conditioned space.  The…
Categories: Green Homes

Mini split sizing verification

Green Homes 2 - Fri, 2026-07-10 10:09
Hi All, Young architect here trying my best to employ some better design principles. Working on a gut renovation of a 1940s detached single family home in northern Queens, NY.…
Categories: Green Homes

Window back dam

Green Homes 2 - Fri, 2026-07-10 09:30
Going to be installing windows in the near future and wondering about back dam detailing. Wondering if people have an efficient method of trimming out the inside window returns to…
Categories: Green Homes

Can a Smart Controller Make an Old Water Heater More Efficient?

Green Homes 2 - Fri, 2026-07-10 02:00
Aftermarket controllers promise remote control, energy tracking, and smarter scheduling for ordinary electric water heaters. I installed one on my own aging water heater to see how well the technology works
Categories: Green Homes

Wi-Fi thermostat for variable speed Bryant heat pump

Green Homes 2 - Thu, 2026-07-09 12:37
Using a existing Honeywell T9 wifi thermostat with Bryant variable speed heat pump, (not Evolution) Installer say Bryant electronics can handle it but doesn't appear to run at lower pump/fan…
Categories: Green Homes

My First Week of Making Solar Electricity

Green Homes 2 - Thu, 2026-07-09 02:00
A new 9.7-kW rooftop solar array is producing electricity, reducing utility bills, and raising new questions about net metering, battery storage, and solar-system sizing.
Categories: Green Homes

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