Growing up, I often remember my grandmother marveling at all the “newfangled appliances” that were available to make household chores easier. She would tell tales of using a ringer washing machine where she fed clothes through rollers one piece at a time. Appliance designs were simpler and many times a homeowner would handle their own … Read More
Ridge Vents on Top of Your Roof
You want your home to be well-insulated to reduce the cost of heating and air conditioning. Equally important is the need for proper ventilation to ensure that moisture and heat can escape from your attic to avoid problems with mold and/or ice dams. Ridge vents (also called roof vent systems), working in combination with soffit vents, are … Read More
What is a Fascia Board on a House
We all love watching birds and get excited when they visit us at home. One instance where homeowners would rather not have birds is when woodpeckers look for bugs in their fascia boards, leaving ugly holes in the wood. What I can’t tell you is whether bird houses will prevent this damage (but I love … Read More
Roof Decking, Shingles and Roofing Nails
When picking a builder in Florida, I had the opportunity to ask the building supervisor questions. One of the most important questions was “… tell me the three best ways to make the house more energy efficient”. Based on this discussion, I agreed to pay a surcharge for a radiant barrier on the roof. While … Read More
Wall Insulation Tips: What Kind & Installation
Our houses are becoming more energy efficient thanks to building codes focused on driving down US energy consumption. Similar to Energy Star appliances you see at the store, building materials like wall insulation must also meet more stringent building codes. In Florida, there are different codes based on the type of construction and where the … Read More
Difference Between HVAC Registers and Grilles
If you’re hungry you’ll want to cook up some burgers on a grill (no e) in the backyard. You definitely won’t find much success trying to cook anything on the wooden grille shown below (right). This is a good example of how confusing home related words like registers and grilles that mean almost the same … Read More
Stack Effect & Home Ventilation
Your home’s indoor air isn’t as clean as outdoor air. Home ventilation using the stack effect insures the air inside your home is exchanged with outside air. Here’s an example of the stack effect that’s easier to understand. You know when you light a fireplace smoke is created. The smoke goes up the chimney based … Read More
What is Drip Edge & Why It’s Important
Drip edge is the flashing that protects the edges of your roof, both the eaves and the gable ends. It is required by the 2012 International Building Codes (IBS) for shingle roofs, and you should make sure that it’s properly installed with any new roof you get. Optional for years, drip edge is now required by the International … Read More
Roof Repairs vs New Roof, a Big Decision
Roof repairs versus a new roof is a big decision. We’re all so busy and unlike our cars that we listen to every day we drive, we seldom look at our roof — we’re running late when we leave the house and coming home, we’re focused on what’s next like making dinner. That means most homeowners … Read More
6 House Siding Options: Cost to Install & Maintain
If you’re building a new home, or thinking about new house siding for an older one, you’ve got lots of choices. There are natural and synthetic materials, and you may even replace what you’ve got with something that looks altogether different. Some are very high-end and custom while other siding materials allow you to achieve … Read More
