Building Science

For a boat hull, it is best to essentially eliminate wetting potential with the use of a highly water- and vapor- resistive hull, or at least outer coating on the hull, right?

I’m a second-generation home builder working in northeastern Connecticut, and I’ve been building net-zero energy homes for about 10 years. In my early years doing this, I experimented with structural insulated panels (SIPs) and other methods, but these days, I have settled down to a formula based on a cellulose-insulated double stud wall sheathed with plywood on the outside, and a flat attic with deep blown cellulose.

In the U.S., our understanding of air leakage through building envelopes has evolved over the course of 100 years or more.

Thermal bridges in walls can reduce the overall performance of a building. In addition, ignoring thermal bridges can result in significantly over-estimated building performance and moisture condensation ultimately leading to corrosion, mold, rot and more.