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Sheet Metal Failures

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By Mike Tonsbeek

Many building interior moisture intrusion issues are attributed to sheet metal failures. The primary cause for this condition is failed caulking joints. There are several reasons why these joints fail, such as inadequate attachment to the sheet metal components to adjoining surfaces such as walls, chimneys and other vertical or horizontal [...]

MERV Rating? What is that?

Above: Picture of Josue and a MERV 13 Pleated Filter
Two of the very first steps when trying to improve indoor air quality is to make sure you are using the most efficient filters on your equipment and the second is to make sure your filters are changed regularly.
First you need to find out which filters [...]

Are Dallas Builders Ready for Sustainability?

Last week the Dallas HBA's two-day seminar for "Green Building for Building Professionals" was a packed house of builders, suppliers, city planners, and designers.  It was exciting to have a large turnout to learn about sustainable home construction however, there was resistance to acknowledge the feasibility of making these changes with their customers.  While I [...]

A Solution to Mold and Mildew? Germicidal Lamps

Germicidal lamps work along side other indoor air filtration systems to keep your indoor air quality healthy. The lamp uses intense rays of ultraviolet light to kill and control things like bacteria and mold that grow inside your home.  Research has shown that the air in your home may be up to five times more [...]

How Clean Is The Air In Your Home?

Weather you are living in a newly built home or an older one you and your family are at risk of suffering from poor indooor air qulaity. There are three types of contaminants that can cause the air quality in your home to be poor. First there are particles which include things like pet dander, [...]

The Evils of Ponding Water

What is ponding water?  Ponding water as defined by the NRCA, National Roofing Contractors Association, as water that remains on a roof surface longer than 48 hours after the termination of the most recent rain event.

Long-term ponding water on a roof surface is one of the most destructive conditions that can adversely affect the [...]

Bottled Water is neither Cleaner, nor Greener

As I was looking on the web for some information about bottled water, I stumbled on to this article. I feel that there is a bit more to building a green project, than products or services. I believe its a “Life Style.”  Wanting to do our part as individuals, check out this article below, and [...]

Out With The Old & In With the New! R-22 vs R-410A Refrigerant

For the past 40 years R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice for most residential H.V.A.C. equipment. R-22 is a chlorine based HCFC. An HCFC molecule is made of chlorine, fluorine, carbon and hydrogen atoms. It has been tested and is believed that because of how R-22 is produced, that it plays a part in [...]

Advanced Framing Techniques… or “How to build a better house” – Part2 of 7

Last week’s post on "Thermal Bridging" kicked off a series of articles that I have wanted to share for a long time. These articles cover issues, techniques and solutions related to how we build exterior walls and the impact of some of those decisions. Today’s article is about one of the solutions to minimize "Thermal [...]

Thermal Bridging… and its role in wall assemblies! – Part1 of 7

What is thermal bridging and why is it important that we pay close attention to its effects in the homes we build?
The importance lies in the different materials we use to build our wall systems, how much of these materials we use and what conductivity these materials have. We all know that exterior walls have [...]