The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

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The Fine Homebuilding Podcast is all about answering YOUR construction, design, and building science questions. From foundation waterproofing to roof flashing, we take on your building, remodeling and design challenges with the know-how of North America's most-trusted home building brand. -- Every Friday, we discuss listener questions and offer advice following best-practice building techniques and principles. We love hearing from you, so if you have a question or project you want us to dig into, please send an email to FHBpodcast@finehomebuilding.com or ask your question on social media. -- Want more from Fine Homebuilding? Check out our website, finehomebuilding.com. -- Instagram: @FineHomebuilding Facebook: @FineHomebuildingMagazine YouTube: @FineHomebuildingMagazine TikTok: @FineHomebuilding Pinterest: @FineHomebuilding -- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.
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Grant, Ian and Patrick address listener feedback about felt WRBs and building your own interior doors. Then they tackle questions about affordable entry doors and installing and living with Ikea kitchen cabinets.

Tune in to Episode 737 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Building your own interior doors for odd-sized openings
  • Options for affordable entry doors
  • Pros and cons to Ikea and other ready-to-assemble cabinets

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 737

➡️ Submit a project to be considered for FHB's 2026 Houses Awards

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Brian and Ian help Patrick address listener feedback and answer their questions. Brian talks about interesting things happening at FHB and Ian describes what he'll be covering at his class during the fine Homebuilding Summit.

Tune in to Episode 736 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Tool theft in the US, UK, and Canada and its effect on trade workers
  • The pros and cons to clear finishes
  • Cracks in a concrete foundation and who fixes them

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 736

➡️ Submit a project to be considered for FHB's 2026 Houses Awards

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Brian, Ian and Patrick talk about plans for the 2026 Fine Homebuilding Summit. James shares his advice for insulating and air-sealing attic knee walls. Chris wonders if window manufacturers should be teaching installers how to flash windows. Heather asks how to detail a slab on grade foundation with interior stem wall insulation. Ian seeks advice on addressing a previous owners questionable upgrades.

Tune in to Episode 735 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Barrier versus drainage methods of flashing windows
  • Insulating a slab on grade foundation
  • Sizing up and undoing a previous owners questionable repairs

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 735

➡️ Join us for the 2026 Fine Homebuilding Summit

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Ian and Grant help Patrick Adress listener feedback and answer their questions about ventilation for a small apartment building and the best way to fit doors when the floor slopes around them. David discusses bath tub drains in Japan and Taiwan. Will shares tips for airtight windows with tight fitting extension jambs. Greg asks about ventilation for his four-unit apartment building. Jim wonders if he should scribe door bottoms to match sloping floors.

Tune in to Episode 734 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Adjusting windows so extension jambs are tight-fitting and uniform width
  • Providing exhaust and makeup air for multi-family ventilation
  • Fitting new doors to existing openings that aren't plumb or level

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 734

➡️ Submit a project to be considered for FHB's 2026 Houses Awards

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Grant and Randy help Patrick address listener feedback and answer their questions. Grant gives an update on current editorial assignments and travel. Randy shares what's going on at Green Building Advisor and current building investigations.

Tune in to Episode 733 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Theoretical and real seasonal moisture accumulation in double-stud walls
  • Starting a second career in residential construction
  • The best way to install hardwood flooring on concrete slabs

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 733

➡️ Become an FHB All-Access Member

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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Vince and Chris share thoughts on maintaining comfortable indoor humidity. Benoît considers strengthening his outbuilding with spreading kneewalls. Anna wonders what interior air barrier is right when drywall is off the table.

Tune in to Episode 732 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Humidifying interior spaces without creating condensation
  • Fixing a 1 1/2 story building with a sagging ridge and spreading walls
  • Creating an interior air barrier behind wood paneling without drywall

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 732

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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Marc describes the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Jim thinks that complex heating and cooling systems require coordination between trades. Corey asks about the right order to paint new walls and trim. Mike and Andrew ask for more discussion of asphalt felt water resistive barriers. Randy and Ian help Patrick address listener feedback and answer their questions.

Tune in to Episode 731 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

· The real risks of malfunctioning combustion appliances

· The most-efficient way for pros and DIYers to paint interior spaces

· eyword in this sentence)

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 731

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

Instagram • Facebook • TikTok • Pinterest • YouTube

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Paul shares an update on his septic system saga. Mike Guertin asks Ian about impact drivers. John asks about insulating the knee walls and roof of his Cincinnati-area Cape. Jim is building a ranch-style house and asks about using plenum trusses to hide heating and air conditioning ducts. Ian and Randy help Patrick address listener feedback and answer their questions. The crew shares updates on current projects.

Tune in to Episode 730 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • A simple upgrade to make septic system maintenance easier
  • The pros and cons of spray-foaming a 50's era Cape-style house
  • Getting contractors on board with HVAC in plenum trusses

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 730

➡️ Check out our latest eLearning course: Expert Guide to Installing Double, Pocket, and Flush-Concealed Doors with Casey Knips

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Matt doesn't think robots and AI will make us live like the Jetsons. Mike updates us on his owner/builder house and making a career change to construction. Miranda is looking for advice on air-sealing and insulating the floor of a house partially built on piers. Ian and Randy help Patrick address listener feedback and answer the construction building science questions.

Tune in to Episode 729 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Technology and its effect on the construction industry
  • Making a career change to residential construction
  • Warm and dry floor system for houses and additions built on piers

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 729

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Ian and Randy help Patrick address listener feedback about storing tools and stuff. Brett is designing a whole house ventilation system and asks about the right way to duct his system. A Fine Homebuilding web member inquires about closed-cell foam insulation installed behind walls covered with nickel-gap paneling.

Tune in to Episode 728 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • How much storage and stuff is enough
  • The options for fully ducted balanced ventilation systems
  • The best insulation and vapor control for wood-paneled wall

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 728

➡️ Learn about Expert Guide to Installing Double, Pocket, and Flush-Concealed Doors with Casey Knips, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Scott shares his thoughts on whole-house dehumidification. Ian asks about light fixtures and tile waterproofing for a Euro-style bathroom. Sean wonders if a crawlspace vapor barrier will make his mudsills wet.

Tune in to Episode 727 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Using an ERV to help distribute dehumidified air
  • Waterproofing Euro-style bathrooms
  • Crawlspace vapor barriers and water management

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 727

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

This week on the Fine Hombuilding Podcast, listeners write in about heat-pump performance and ask questions about using asphalt felt for a WRB and maintaining comfortable indoor humidity. FHB senior editor Patrick McCombe is joined by Green Building Advisor editor Randy Williams, Fine Homebuilding technical editor Mark Peterson, and producer Cari Delahanty.

Tune in to Episode 726 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Heat-pump performance during cold snaps
  • Using tar paper as a WRB
  • Raising indoor relative humidity during winter months

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 726

➡️ Sign up for an FHB All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

This week we're excited to bring you a very special episode from the floor of the 2026 International Builders' Show in Orlando, FL! FHB editorial director Brian Pontolilo, GBA editor Randy Williams, and FHB technical editor Mark Petersen are joined by Daniel Sutton from VERSATEX Building Products to discuss strategies for low-maintenance exteriors.

Tune in to Episode 725 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Realistic expectations for low-maintenance exteriors
  • The pros and cons of PVC siding and trim materials
  • Common siding mistakes and how to avoid them

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 725

➡️ Sign up for an FHB All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Chris says home heating and cooling systems should be simple. Colin's friend is wondering how to know if he needs his furnace flue relined. Tom says that building planners and designers should be doing more to make houses resilient in a warming climate.

Tune in to Episode 724 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The benefits of keeping HVAC systems simple
  • Furnace flues and masonry chimneys
  • Strategies for passive cooling and keeping houses cool in hot conditions
  • DIY descaling of boilers and on-demand water heaters

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 724

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Kerry shares his thoughts on spray foaming old houses with advice for getting it right. A Fine Homebuilding Forum poster wonders about framing walls and attaching sheathing with construction screws. Andrew asks about the best way to build a lakefront cabin accessible only by boat.

Tune in to Episode 723 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Using closed-cell spray foam insulation successfully in old houses
  • Safe and code-compliant framing connections
  • Building on ecologically sensitive and hard-to-access building sites

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 723

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Richard describes inexpensive data loggers for monitoring indoor air quality. Kerry asks about adding casing and extension jambs to fiberglass windows. Martin wonders about improving the comfort and safety of his internal garage and the living space above it. Grant and Ian help Patrick address listener feedback and answer their questions.

Tune in to Episode 722 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Low-cost humidity and temperature data loggers sold on Amazon
  • The right way to trim out fiberglass windows
  • Fire separation requirements between a garage and living space

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 722

➡️ Check out the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Magazine Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Chris shares a news story about recently-introduced window-mounted heat pumps. Mason describes the joy that comes from using top shelf tools, even if it's once or twice a year. Alex asks about installing spray foam under roof sheathing and exterior roof insulation.

Tune in to Episode 721 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Window-mounted retrofit heat pumps for rooms and apartments
  • Finding space and spending money for good tools
  • The right way to combine interior and exterior roof insulation

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 721

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

InstagramFacebookTikTokPinterestYouTube

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

In this special water and humidity control episode, Evan and Austin describes their whole house dehumidification strategies. Jake asks about insulating his bath fan ductwork to prevent water from dripping through the grill. Stephen wonders why the walls in his Upstate NY cabin are wet.

Tune in to Episode 720 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • How to integrate a whole house dehumidifier into existing ductwork
  • Why is a newly installed bath fan dripping water from the grill
  • Heating and construction methods to lower indoor humidity

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 720

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Archive

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Ian, Randy and Patrick discuss home projects and address listener emails about attracting young trade workers, the best cordless oscillating multitools and improving the comfort and energy efficiency of an old house in a mixed climate.

Tune in to Episode 719 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The future role of robots and AI in house building and renovation
  • The utility of oscillating multitools and the best cordless multi-tools
  • The benefits and risks of insulating old houses with spray foam

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 719

➡️ Learn about Fine Homebuilding's All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Ian and Randy help Patrick respond to listener feedback about the best way to help clients and home electrification before taking questions about window construction and improving the comfort of a badly-built bonus room above a garage.

Tune in to Episode 718 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Improving envelopes before new heating and cooling systems
  • The right window for a pretty good house
  • Fixing comfort problems in above-garage living space

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 718

➡️ Sign Up for Gary Striegler's eLearning Course 'Mastering Essential Jobsite Tools'

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Published 2025-12-26

#717: Best of FHB Podcast, Volume 10

50 min
Open

In this best-of show the crew talks about cantilever decks, peel bond primers, the model Existing Building Code, post-frame buildings and effective collaboration between designers and builders.

Tune in to Episode 717 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Rebuilding cantilevered decks with rotten joists
  • Evectively controlling peeling paint without full removal
  • The model Existing Building Code
  • The best way to build a post-frame building
  • Effective collaboration between buiders and architects

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 717

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Ian, Randy, and Patrick discuss home projects before addressing listener feedback about embodied carbon in new builds and Saddam Hussein's palaces before they taking questions about building steam showers and the right way to seal and insulate a brick crawlspace.

Tune in to Episode 716 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Reducing the use of concrete in new builds for lower embodied carbon
  • The right way to build and detail a steam shower to control water vapor
  • Sealing and insulating a crawlspace in an old house

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 716

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

An anonymous listener outlines their company's strategy for attracting and retaining new hires. Josh reminds fellow FHB Podcast listeners about tool-lending libraries. Dan asks about the need for smart vapor retarders. Tim shares his experience dehumidifying his house with a simple system. Randy and Ian describe home projects and help Patrick address listener feedback and answer their questions.

Tune in to Episode 715 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Advancement and incremental raises for new trade workers
  • The utility and cost of smart vapor retarders
  • Where to put a whole-house dehumidifier

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 715

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

InstagramFacebookTikTokPinterestYouTube

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Dan Kolbert raises a lead paint red flag. Jeff wonders if a Bonfig wall is better for inexperienced crews. Andrew wonders if an insulated band joist behind a flashed ledger can dry. Grant and Mike Guertin help Patrick talk about editorial and home projects before addressing listener feedback and questions.

Tune in to Episode 714 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Lead paint risks with architectural salvage
  • Introducing exterior insulation to inexperienced crews
  • Does an insulated band joist dry behind properly-flashed deck ledgers

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 714

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Ian, Grant and Patrick address reader comments and inquires. They first hear about extensive problems with foam insulation in the UK. Then they ponder why septic systems haven't kept up with the times. Finally they talk about the newest and previous versions of studs meant to reduce thermal bridging

Tune in to Episode 713 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Poor workmanship causing problems with efficiency upgrades in the UK
  • Why septic systems are poorly marked and lack monitoring technology
  • The newest stud meant to slow thermal bridging

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 713

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Doug says homeowners and home buyers worrying about the wrong things isn't new. Chris asks if reducing carbon in houses makes sense with AI's voracious energy consumption. Spenser wonders about ways to temporarily heat his job sites. Zach describes his comprehensive plan to redo his house's building envelope.

Tune in to Episode 712 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Why clients having trouble caring about what they can't see
  • Pros and cons of common temporary job site heating
  • Rebuilding the shell of a house you're living in

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 712

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Grant learns about military veterans joining the local construction workforce with help from the Department of Defense. Josh Salinger and Grant help Brian address listener feedback and questions. They also talk about Josh's new Fine Homebuilding course called A Homeowner's Guide to a Durable, Efficient, Comfortable Home.

Tune in to Episode 711 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The Department of Defense's Skill Bridge Program
  • Decarbonizing houses and the proliferation of data centers and AI
  • Boosting the energy performance of houses without sheathing

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 711

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Responding to an attendee who wants to share his experience at the Summit, Brian asks Ian and Randy what they liked about the event, and what they didn't. The crew shares their preferred details for installing windows in walls with continuous exterior insulation and opinions on insulating double-stud walls. We try to help a listener who is refinishing a basement that's been refinished before.

Tune in to Episode 710 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The best of the 2025 FHB Summit
  • Installing windows in thick walls
  • Strategies for finishing basements

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 710

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Accountant Austin shares thoughts on trade work. Ian's smoke detectors are waking him up at night. Will wonders if his windows are detailed correctly. Brian and Grant help Patrick share listener feedback, answer their questions and talk about housing affordability. Grant discusses an editorial assignment that looks at affordable windows. Brian describes his trip to Austin to learn about 3D printed homes made from concrete. Patrick talks about introducing people to trade work through SPARK.

Tune in to Episode 709 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Controlling indoor humidity for comfort and building longevity
  • Why new hardwood flooring interferes with an entry door
  • How to choose the right ventilation appliance for your climate

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 709

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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Patrick, Ian and Randy talk about humidity control and whole house ventilation in this HVAC-themed episode. Guy, Doug, and Josh share experiences with maintaining comfortable and house-friendly humidity levels. Matt asks about his tenting hardwood floor. Home moisture consultant Guy share insights on humidity control in low-load houses. Doug's Colorado house is too dry. Matt's floor is hitting his door. Chris is trading his HRV for an ERV.

Tune in to Episode 708 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The joy and satisfaction of heating with wood
  • Why smoke detectors always go off at night
  • Detailing windows in brick walls

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 708

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Steve provides an update on his planned Arizona home. David shares his tale of basement flooding. Kit asks what's good to get at architectural salvage yards and what isn't. Rob asks about water management and window placement in a lime-plaster wall. Ian, Grant and Patrick help Patrick address listener comments and questions.

Tune in to Episode 707 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Owner-building an off-grid house in Arizona
  • Smart shopping at architectural salvage yards
  • Wall assemblies with natural materials and lime plaster

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 707

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The FHB crew is coming at you LIVE from the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit with a special episode of the podcast! Summit attendees emailed us their questions, and they didn't dissappoint. One asks how to explain the importance of the building envelope to clients while another wonders if we need to do away with one-off design choices in new builds.

Tune in to Episode 706 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The best tools for measuring indoor air quality
  • The future of the standard wall assembly
  • Engaging younger generations with the building industry

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 706

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Pia and Stephen have thoughts on flexible floor plans. Mae asks about mainstream housing. Kevin asks about controlling humidity in an attached greenhouse. Austin asks if a sheathing with an integral WRB is worth the extra cost. Ian and Randy discuss home projects and help Patrick answer listener questions about flexible floor plans, building a home greenhouse and the pros and cons of sheathing with integral WRB.

Tune in to Episode 705 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Making the switch from strawbale to conventional building
  • How to control humidity in an attached greenhouse
  • The cost and benefit of using sheathing with a built-in WRB

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 705

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Doug says that ground water is regional. Hunter asks about the effectiveness of two radiant barriers. Michael inquires about insulating a 200 -year old stone farmhouse. Chris is considering a ceiling update in his family's' A-frame.

Grant and Mike help Patrick help listeners address updating old houses dating from the 1700's to the 1980's. Insulation, water management and maintaining the historic fabric of old buildings is considered.

Tune in to Episode 704 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • If one radiant barrier is effective, is two better
  • Insulating masonry building without risking future problems
  • Improving the thermal performance of a former seasonal home

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 704

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Will says a heat pump water heater was a no-brainer investment. David shares a story about attracting workers to the skilled trades. Evan has been thinking about the challenges of running wires behind baseboard. Jim wonders why the Podcast is suggesting propane for off-grid second homes.

Ian and Randy help Patrick respond to listener feedback and answer their questions about home building, design and remodeling.

Tune in to Episode 703 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Installation and payback of heat pump water heaters
  • The best ways to attract new trade workers
  • Can you live a modern lifestyle off-grid without propane

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 703

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Doug describes the science behind soundproofing in theater spaces. Will gives Ian a timely "told-you-so". Kevin wonders what's causing his basement stairway to be wet. Dan asks about the future of forest products.

Grant, Brian, and producer Cari address reader feedback on sound-control in buildings and the importance of dedicated dehumidification in low-load houses. They answer listener questions about wet block walls and what building houses will look like in the future.

Tune in to Episode 702 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Central ducted dehumidification systems
  • Why is an enclosed basement stairway damp
  • How we will we build houses in the future

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 702

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Patrick, Ian and Grant talk about 700 FHB Podcast episodes, before diving into discussions on the importance of basement waterproofing, how water gets in basements, solving problems with indoor humidity, and figuring out why Chris' cotton baseball caps feel damp.

Tune in to Episode 701 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Keeping basements dry in wet places
  • How water gets through basement floors and walls
  • Controlling indoor humidity for comfort and durability

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 701

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Published 2025-08-29

#700: Best of FHB Podcast, Volume 9

44 min
Open

In this best-of show the crew talks about bulkhead doors, metal roofing over SIPS, rebuilding Notre Dame, sealing mudsills, and insulating sloped ceilings.

Tune in to Episode 700 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Improving the efficiency of basement bulkheads
  • Details to get right when building with SIP panels
  • Effectivly insulating a new drywall ceiling with sloped and flat sections

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 700

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Houses by Dan Kolbert, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

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Patrick, Randy and Ian have a heated discussion about fire safety, including how to wire heat detectors. Scott wonders if an all-electric home is less resilient than one heated with fossil fuels or wood. Pia asks about using big doors to separate living spaces in a new build. Scott might be timber-framing a strawbale house and he wonders what the Podcast thinks about strawbale construction.

Tune in to Episode 699 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Heat detectors and how to wire them for greater safety
  • Using large sliding doors to separate large interior spaces.
  • The pros, cons and cos of strawbale buildings

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 699

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Marc says it's tough to bid electrical work when copper wire prices change daily. Dan thinks we need to consider the carbon costs of every build. Andy asks for advice on building an energy efficient off-grid cabin. Jenna asks about finding conscientious contractors.

Grant, Mike and Patrick discuss listener feedback and questions about price volatility, finding a good roofer, and how to lower the energy demands on an off-grid house.

Tune in to Episode 698 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Estimating the costs of construction when prices change near daily
  • Is it time to consider carbon accounting for every build
  • How do you find a good roofer or GC in a sea of mediocrity

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 698

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Ian and Randy help Patrick answer listener questions about building a quiet house and sound-control strategies for new and existing homes and then the Podcast revisits its roots discussing roof venting of low-slope shed roofs. Finally they talk about how to get more water from a low-yield well.

Tune in to Episode 697 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Residential sound control challenges and solutions
  • How to insulate and ventilate shed roofs and
  • What's a low-yield well and strategies for increasing available water

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 697

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Will ICF foundations burn? Do modern materials destroy old houses? Do heat pumps peter out in hot temperatures? Can you prevent rain from coming in gable vents? Grant and Mike help Patrick address FHB Podcast feedback and answer listener questions. Tune in to The FHB Podcast 696 to learn about these and other topics.

Tune in to Episode 696 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Preventing house fires through smart design
  • Is there a drop in heat pump performance in very hot conditions
  • Is there a way to prevent rain from coming in gable vents

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 696

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Ian, Brian, and producer Cari Delahanty join Patrick in talking about

Tune in to Episode 695 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • What to do with the bricks from a demolished chimney
  • Is it okay to cut and cobble rigid insulation in roof assemblies
  • Foundation waterproofing and its effect on concrete

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 695

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Ian and Randy join Patrick in talking about how a lack of makeup air limits ventilation effectiveness and why a builder might install seven minisplits in a typically-sized home. They talk about the challenges of add-a-level additions and how to keep the water out during construction.

Tune in to Episode 694 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Effective ventilation using bath fans
  • The pros and cons of using minisplits for heating and cooling
  • Off-site panels and modules for add-a-level additions

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 694

➡️ Learn about the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Jerry says to look for hazardous materials when considering fixer-uppers. Ryan asks about building Larsen trusses. Daniel asks if there's a place for AI in construction. Ian, Brian and Patrick help listeners with their building questions and talk about what's new in the world of residential construction and Fine Homebuilding.

Tune in to Episode 693 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • What are Larsen trusses and how to build them
  • Hazardous materials that might be found in a fixer-upper
  • Figuring out how AI can help build better buildings

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 693

➡️ Learn about the Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Brian, Grant and Patrick hear about a renewed interest in trade education and consider carbon accounting in the Canadian Building Code before discussing envelope improvements for an old houses.

Tune in to Episode 692 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Does green accounting belong in building codes
  • What are the risks of insulating a roof with rigid insulation
  • The right way to approach envelope improvements in an old house

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 692

➡️ Learn about the Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Ryan describes living with a ground-source heat pump. Zack says there are better options than bronze for weatherstripping. David asks about replacing his vinyl siding and fixing a slab that slopes the wrong way. Jeff wonders why house have pitched roof and commercial building have flat roofs.

Ian, Brian and Patrick discuss what's new in Fine Homebuilding and Podcast feedback before answering listener questions.

Tune in to Episode 691 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Ground source heat pumps and their operation
  • What's a good-looking and durable siding to replace tired vinyl
  • Why don't more houses have flat roofs

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 691

➡️ Learn about the Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Dack says build a fireplace and enjoy it. Chip asks about the best ways to sharpen chisels. Kit wonders if there's a way to easily change and upgrade wiring using existing baseboard. The crew talks about the pluses and drawbacks of cedar shingle panels

Mike and Grant help Patrick answer listener questions and talk about the challenges to building and remodeling houses.

Tune in to Episode 690 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Sharpening methods for planes and chisels
  • Planning for future line- and low-voltage wiring
  • Cedar shingles mounted on panels for fast installation

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 690

➡️ Learn about the Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Greg describes radon control system for a stone foundation. Ground water and radon expert Guy describes a typical radon-control system. Matt asks how to improve the airtightness of his basement garage. Alec asks about spot ERVs. The crew talks about recent changes to paint stripper formulas.

Tune in to Episode 689 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Controlling radon in new and old houses
  • Effective air-sealing and insulation for tuck-under garages
  • Are safer paint strippers as effective as methylene chloride

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 689

➡️ Learn about the Fine Homebuilding Summit

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Steve describes the problems and fixes for masonry chimneys. Alex thinks his ridge vent is mistakenly blocked. Jordan and Katherine ask about buying fixer-uppers. Kerry wonders if he should flash a deck ledger with a drainage space.

Brain and Ian help Patrick answer listener questions about vapor retarders under ridge vents, potential profits and pitfalls from fixer-uppers, and best practice for flashing ledgers spaced from the wall for drainage.

Tune in to Episode 688 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Should there be a vapor- or air-control material under ridge vents
  • Buying a new home far from your current home
  • Do you need flashing when deck ledgers have drainage spaces

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 688

➡️ Sign up for an All Access Membership or the 2024 Fine Homebuilding Archive

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Connor shares his final blower door numbers. Ryan has an FHB Project Guide idea. Josh wonders about the right roof for his Queen's row house. Jim says prospective contractors all want to use spray foam. Patrick asks about building your own cabinets.

Grant, Ian and Patrick talk about the challenges of roof work in a busy city, choosing the right insulation for new builds and the challenges and payoff of building your own kitchen cabinets and built-ins.

Tune in to Episode 687 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The materials and methods for replacing a flat roof in an urban setting
  • The merits and pitfalls of spray foam insulation
  • Building your own frameless and face-frame cabinets

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 687

➡️ Sign up for an All Access Membership or the 2024 Fine Homebuilding Archive

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John reminds the Podcast that not too long ago FHB magazine commonly had fireplace ads. Michael thinks bionic arms can help with drywall sanding. Austin asks for advice on building brick steps. Alex wonders if a ground-source heat pump is right for his new house. George asks about a foundation for a greenhouse.

Tune in to Episode 686 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Will forgoing a fireplace sacrifice marital bliss
  • Where you can learn more about brick steps in FHB
  • The pros and cons of ground-source heat pumps
  • Shallow foundations for outbuildings

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 686

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Pel says shares a NY Times story describing the challenges of being a legit contractor.

Eric asks how to fix the drywall above his shower unit. Chris wonders if there's an easy way to add an air barrier above his tongue-and-groove ceiling. Mike is trying to fix a wall rotted by a patio poured against it.

Tune in to Episode 685 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • How to patch drywall subject to wetting
  • Stopping air movement through a paneled ceiling
  • Hot to fix a wall that with concrete poured against it

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 685

➡️ Sign up for Fine Homebuilding All Access

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Home ventilation systems and respect for old houses is the focus of conversation in this information-packed episode. The team talks about masonry heaters, ductwork for an ERV, and the absence of the perfect porch flooring.

Tune in to Episode 684 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • What is a masonry heater and why you'd want one
  • Whole-house ventilation and the risk of poor indoor air-quality
  • The right material for porch flooring

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 684

➡️ Sign up for Fine Homebuilding All Access

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Adam says scouting is introducing young people to trade work. Ian, Grant, and Patrick talk about cooling and preventing radon in a barndominum. Spenser asks if he needs an ERV.

Tune in to Episode 683 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Making a big building comfortable and radon-free
  • The challenges of hydronic cooling
  • When do you need an ERV and HVAC planning

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 683

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Steve has photos of tree roots that broke up a concrete slab. Ian, Grant and Patrick talk about Nate's basement flooring and vapor control. Zachary shows the architectural treasures he found at salvage shops. Nick asks if a well-sealed crawlspace can distribute conditioned air.

Tune in to Episode 682 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Sensible options for basement flooring
  • Treasures found at architectural salvage shops
  • Effective HVAC distribution and efficient heating and cooling

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 682

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Rob tells new builders not to fall for tool marketing from retailers. Charles describes rebuilding after wildfire. Matt asks about fixing rot and oddly-placed WRBs. Kurt's garage roof is leaking. Scott is replacing his basement slab and adding in-floor heat.

Tune in to Episode 681 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Fixing a house with a missing water-resistive barrier (WRB)
  • Domed concrete roofs and how to make them waterproof
  • Replacing a concrete floor in an existing basement

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 681

➡️ Sign up for Fine Homebuilding All Access

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Derek shares thoughts on waterproofing shower panels. Kerry has favorite corded and cordless tools. Matt asks if knob and tube wiring is safe. Neils is wrapping his head around air leaks and vapor diffusion. Dale asks why Grant hates gutter covers.

Tune in to Episode 680 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Making custom shower panels watertight
  • What to do when you find knob and tube wiring
  • Do gutter covers cause more problems than they solve

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 680

➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership.

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Matthew says Vermont is like the Wild West. Jerry has photos of the greediest dormer ever. Kevin shares a story about schools bringing back shop class. Russell asks about his wet storm doors. Alex and Jeff ponder fireplaces in their new builds. Jason wonders if he should remove the insulation in his basement ceiling.

Tune in to Episode 679 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Why condensation occurs on door and window glass
  • Why fireplaces are a bad idea for heating
  • The right place to put basement insulation

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 679

➡️ Learn about Building Custom Cabinets with Gary Streigler, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Published 2025-03-28

#678: Live from the Builders' Show-Part 2

55 min
Open

Experience the best of the International Builders' Show with the FHB Podcast. Recorded live at the Construction Performance Zone with the BS and Beer crew, the Podcast discusses new products and trends, how to get the most out of the show and fun things to see and do at the nation's biggest residential construction show.

Tune in to Episode 678 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Cool things to see at the Builders' Show
  • The importance of effectively managing air and water
  • Making high-performance building mainstream

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 678

➡️ Learn about Building Custom Cabinets with Gary Streigler, the new eLearning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Published 2025-03-21

#677: Live from the Builders' Show-Part 1

62 min
Open

Experience the best of the International Builders' Show with the FHB Podcast. Recorded live at the Construction Performance Zone with the BS and Beer crew, the Podcast discusses new products and trends, how to get the most out of the show and fun things to see and do at the nation's biggest residential construction show.

Tune in to Episode 677 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Cool things to see at the Builders' Show
  • How to stay infomed of building best-practice
  • New design trends including giant doors

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 677

➡️ Learn about Building Custom Cabinets with Gary Streigler, the new eLearning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Special guests Randy Williams and Travis Brungardt answer listener questions and talk about their construction business and new projects with FHB and GBA.

Tune in to Episode 676 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Why you might want a drywall sander
  • How to fix a failed foundation in an Adirondack cabin
  • The best way to detail posts for a post-frame building

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 676

➡️ Learn about Building Custom Cabinets with Gary Streigler, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Published 2025-03-07

#675: Tools, Tools, Tools

47 min
Open

The FHB Podcast dedicates an entire episode to tools. The crew talks about the pluses and downsides of cordless nailers, buying cordless versions of corded tools you already have and problem-solving and must-have hand tools.

Tune in to Episode 675 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The best and most-useful cordless nailers
  • Buying cordless tools to replace corded versions
  • Secret-weapon hand tools for better and faster work

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 675

➡️ Learn about Building Custom Cabinets with Gary Streigler, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

John's stairs lack a skirt. Ben has questions about switching to ground gutters. Wyatt wonders what new tools he needs. Listener input makes for lively discussions on load calcs and jamb extensions.

Tune in to Episode 674 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Adding a stair skirt board after the treads and risers are in place
  • The best way to install extension jambs on windows
  • Eliminating gutters on roofs and details for ground gutters

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 674

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Homes, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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Doug wonders if the drywall sanders in the upcoming FHB feature reach tall ceilings. Jason thinks Vermont's legislature is making a mistake on exterior insulation requirements. James shares a good reason why internet-provider cable should be in conduit. Larry asks how to insulate and air-seal between his first and second floor. Cory is weighing whether to fix his swamp cooler or abandon it.

Tune in to Episode 673 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Risks and benefits of exterior insulation
  • The right way to insulate and air-seal floor trusses
  • Evaporative cooling and how it works

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 673

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Homes, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Ian and Grant share photos of rotted walls found during remodeling. Patrick asks for good building news. Anne wonders who can install the custom shower panels in her new bath. The crew talks about preventing people problems when building houses.

Tune in to Episode 672 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Fixing found rot when remodeling
  • Installing composite shower panels
  • Preventing problems when 80 people are involved in a build

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 672

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Homes, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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Kerry has a cautionary tale. Patrick asks listeners about tamper-resistant electrical receptacles. Alex inquires about best-practice basement finishing. Ryan's chimney keeps popping off plaster.

Tune in to Episode 671 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Avoiding a moldy mess behind stucco
  • The right way to finish basement walls for vapor control
  • Water movement through masonry chimneys and plaster

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 671

➡️ Learn about Framing for High-Performance Houses, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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Rebecca wonders if her window flashing is correct and how homeowners know they're getting good trade work. New FHB editor Grant asks about how to get post-frame posts out of the ground.

Tune in to Episode 670 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Starting a SPARK event in your community
  • What is the right way to flash windows and does anyone bother?
  • Building a long-lasting post-frame building.

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 670

➡️ Learn about Framing for High-Performance Houses, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Mike Guertin, Grant and Patrick hear about replacing windows in brick veneer and the virtues of palm nailers before taking questions on insulation behind masonry without a WRB and how to insulate the roof of a three-season room.

Tune in to Episode 669 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Using a thermal cameras to track down air and water leaks
  • How to insulate a board-sheathed wall without a WRB
  • A rot-proof cathedral ceiling

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@finehomebuilding.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 669

➡️ Learn about Framing for High-Performance Houses, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

The crew bats about ideas on insulating attic living space and offer opinions on fastening extension jambs. Kieth has a good suggestion for getting into the construction business and doing good work.

Tune in to Episode 668 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Getting a good trade job
  • Insulation in attic living spaces
  • The best ways to fasten custom extension jambs

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 668

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Carol Ann says most contractors don't understand old houses. Mike, Brian and Patrick talk about moving collar ties and making an efficient home shop.

Tune in to Episode 667 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Finding a contractor who knows about old houses
  • Adding headroom in attic living spaces
  • Creating an effcient and useful home shop

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 667

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Homes by Dan Kolbert, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

The crew hears a tale of hand-digging a deeper foundation and toss out ideas for fixing rough concrete, before discussing the perfect workwear.

Tune in to Episode 665 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Solutions for a rough concrete slab
  • The best for workwear in all seasons
  • Framing energy- and resource-efficient buildings

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 665

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Homes by Dan Kolbert, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

Podcast Episode 668: Attic Insulation, DIY Manual J, and Attaching Extension Jambs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Published 2024-12-27

#664: Best of FHB Podcast, Volume 8

40 min
Open

In this best-of show the crew talks about pier foundations, shingle lifespan, training new carpenters, brick sidewalks, and rooftop decks.

Tune in to Episode 665 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Foundations for a rustic cabin
  • How to train apprentices
  • The right way to waterproof a rooftop deck

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 665

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Houses by Dan Kolbert, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Listeners write in about HVAC company consolidation and stains from supply lines and ask questions about Larsen trusses and insulating stucco houses.

The crew talks about the benefits and challenges of Larsen trusses and gets an update on stains from copper water lines. How to safely insulate stucco houses.

Tune in to Episode 663 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • What causes green stains from supply piping
  • Can you use Larsen trusses to add racking resistance
  • Is it safe to insulate behind old stucco in a mixed climate

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 663

➡️ Learn about Framing High-Performance Houses by Dan Kolbert, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Listeners offer theories explaining Brian's possessed shower and suggest a book for Keeping Craft Alive. Brian, Mark, and Patrick discuss roof insulation and roof leaks.

Tune in to Episode 662 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Why Brian's showerhead drips when he fills the tub
  • Venting cathedral ceilings with foam insulation
  • Roof leaks where an addition meets the main house

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 662

➡️ Checkout Fine Homebuilding's online course offerings and use coupon code FLASH50 for 50% off when you sign up during our flash sale!

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Richard shares his amazing home shop and break-down work bench. The crew talks about ways to accurately bend flashing without a brake and how to buy a used metal brake. Fireman and owner/builder Mike is considering a construction career. An anonymous listener thinks metal connectors often have the wrong nails. Mike, Ian and Patrick talk about decorative shingling, home internet services, and good reasons for an energy audit.

Tune in to Episode 661 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Ways to make your home shop work harder for your business
  • How to get into construction without 9-5 experience
  • Using the right nails in metal connectors

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 661

➡️ Checkout Fine Homebuilding's online course offerings and use coupon code FLASH50 for 50% off when you sign up during our flash sale!

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Senior editor Patrick McCombe is joined by Fine Homebuilding senior editor Brian Pontolilo, Fine Homebuilding contributing editor and production manager for TDS Custom Construction Ian Schwandt, and producer Andres Samaniego to discuss building, remodeling, design, and more.

Tune in to Episode 660 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Deciding if fascia and rake trim need coil stock
  • Insulating a basement ceiling
  • When to seal pipe and electrical penetrations

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 660

➡️ Checkout Fine Homebuilding's online course offerings and use coupon code FLASH50 for 50% off when you sign up during our flash sale!

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Architect Ian wonders what Mike thinks about Rhode Island's continuing education for building professionals. Tim says heat pumps have evolved. Tom describes his shop for making custom storm doors and window sash. Carson asks if building science is a real discipline.

Tune in to Episode 659 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Continuing education requirements for builders and designers
  • Wall-mounted versus ceiling mounted minisplits
  • Building science as a scientific discipline

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 659

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

The FHB crew talks about hunting down noisy insect, the pros and cons of rubber and PVC roofs and insulating them without creating problems. They also discuss insulating and waterproofing stone foundations.

Tune in to Episode 658 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • A simple method for catching indoor crickets
  • Insulation strategies for EPDM and PVC membrane roofs
  • How to install insulation on a stone foundation

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 658

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Builders Mike Guertin and Ian Schwandt help the FHB Podcast answer complex questions about affordable new construction, proper compaction around new foundations, and how to deal with peeling paint on a mountainside masonry wall.

Tune in to Episode 657 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Strategies for making new homes affordable
  • Properly compacting backfill around a new foundation for a patio
  • Water movement through masonry and controlling peeling paint

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 657

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Listeners share their home shop ideas. The crew answers questions about insulating above-grade basement walls and how to form and insulate the edges of a building slab.

Tune in to Episode 656 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Tips and tricks for a productive home shop
  • How to insulate basement walls with rigid insulation
  • Edge insulation and form work for a thickened-edge slab

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: Episode 656

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Brian, Ian and Patrick hear from listeners and answer building questions. Does it make sense to dehumidify under a basement subfloor? Do basement windows need a header?

Tune in to Episode 655 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • How engineers test structures
  • Does active dehumidification of a basement subfloor make sense
  • Do basement windows need a header

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes:

*insert link to podcast episode page*

➡️ E-Learning Sketchup for Builders by Jon Beer

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

The Podcast crew talk about the beauty and benefits of functional shutters. Matt shows us how to save wildlife from window wells. Richard explains how to improve attic air handlers and ductwork. Matt Millham shares his favorite lime wash recipe.

Tune in to Episode 654 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Mike talks about how shutters protect homes from sun and storms
  • Richard talks about the best way to run HVAC in unconditioned attics
  • Matt explains how Ann Arbor is requiring home energy ratings at resale
  • Mixing your own lime wash for masonry

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 654

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

InstagramFacebookTikTokPinterestYouTube

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Peri, who is having a disagreement with a coworker, asks the Podcast about insulating structural columns for an elevated deck.

The FHB Podcast crew talks about getting kitchen design help from multiple designers. Peri asks if there's any reason to insulate hollow porch columns and address walls. Robert has been house shopping in the Bay Area and every real estate inspection indicates problem vapor barriers.

Tune in to Episode 653 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Kitchen design rules for tight budgets
  • Decks structure and Canadian stair design
  • Where to put vapor retarders in mixed climates

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@finehomebulding.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 653

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

This week's favorite question comes from Jim who asks on Fine Homebuilding's forum if he can replace rotted pressure-treated decking or does he have to rebuild the whole deck.

The FHB Podcast crew talks about cross-compatibility of power tool batteries. Contractor Evan in Dallas is asking how to replace moldy sheathing behind brick without removing the brick. The crew offers their best suggestions and discuss the importance of managing vapor drive behind brick or other reservoir claddings.

Tune in to Episode 652 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • Power tool battery pack construction and cross-compatibility
  • Deck construction and durability of pressure-treated lumber
  • Brick veneer vapor control and moldy framing and sheathing

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 652

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer, the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

The Podcast question of the week comes from Chris, who asks about the best way to install inset windows so they're easy to replace when the time comes.

We also hear from Superspeeder on YouTube who wants more details on Ian's Pretty Good House. Finally, Matthew asks if you need an air barrier behind board ceilings and wall paneling.

Tune in to Episode 651 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • What makes a Pretty Good House
  • The basics on inset window installations
  • Cool ideas for a home shop and shop techniques for the job site

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 651

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer,the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen

The Podcast question of the week comes from Tyler, who is building a bridge from native lumber over his hogs.

We also hear from Dan Kolbert of Kolbert Building and coauthor of Pretty Good House. Dan shares thoughts on sustainable building. Finally, Matthew asks if you need an air barrier behind board ceiling and wall paneling.

Tune in to Episode 650 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

  • The importance of drywall or another air barrier behind tongue-and-groove boards
  • How to build a boardwalk using native, locally sawn lumber
  • The advantages and challenges of installing exterior insulation

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 650

➡️ Learn about SketchUp for Builders by Jon Beer,the new E-learning course from Fine Homebuilding

➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:

InstagramFacebookTikTokPinterestYouTube

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

Dan Kolbert shares his thoughts on cordless power tools and batteries. Jeff suggests curbside pickup. Chris shows us a good-looking drop ceiling. Bill is contemplating a roof and insulation upgrade. Evan is considering an attic-to-living-space conversion. Felix asks about pocket screws for framing. Wade wants to know which construction trade shows he should visit.

A part time gig as a bookkeeper at an insulation company lead to a passion for building science and eventually, becoming the owner of Insulation Unlimited in Chattanooga, TN. Nathan Shirai is passionate about using insulation to help buildings perform better, and he's also a founder of Chattanooga's BS and Beer chapter.

Head to bsandbeerkc.org to register for the Southeast Building Science Symposium, October 12-13, at The Bode, in beautiful downtown Chattanooga, TN. And keep up with Nathan on Instagram @insulation_unlimited.

After 11 years as a middle school and high school teacher, Carly Carey wanted to do something new. Fond of HGTV and This Old House, her partner encouraged her to think about the trades. She contacted a bunch of plumbers in the Twin Cities, and one emailed her back. Three years later, she's on the way to becoming a journey-level plumber with Eric Nelson Plumbing.

Ian Schwandt found the trades after deciding college wasn't for him. Trained by the carpenter's union, he's worked on all kinds of projects both in the midwest and on the east coast. At the start of the pandemic, he and his wife moved back to his family farmstead in Wisconsin to build their own home. Today, he's working on being a leader and manager, keeping a tab on costs TDS Custom Construction and helping folks find their footing in the trades.

In this episode, Rob talks to the Truewerk team about the goal of providing modern versions of the technical gear that's been worn for 100+ years in the trades. CEO Brian Ciciora describes his career building and fabricating metal in the wintry mountains, and how it both brought him closer to the community while showing him that technical apparel is important for those working in specific positions.

In this episode, Rob talks to Garland about building using 18th-century techniques and processes. Few carpenters have had the opportunity to spend their life continuing a construction legacy as old as America itself. Garland has, and he has helped keep the fabric of our nation's trade history firmly intact by instructing fellow tradespeople and the public throughout every project.

In this episode, Rob talks to Justin Fink about leaving his reliable office job—with its steady paycheck—and forging out on his own to start a remodeling company that works on historic homes in and around central Connecticut. Justin never stopped swinging the hammer during all his years as an editor, and this move was a long time coming. Justin and Rob talk about how Justin first got into the trades, and how he ended up where he is today.

Published 2021-02-12

#328: IBSx Show Highlights, Day 4

65 min
Open

Bryan Uhler, Mike Guertin, Rob Wotzak, and Patrick McCombe talk about the first virtual Builders' Show. Huber product application specialist Nick Robertson and Huber senior product application engineer Mike Dye talk about Huber's new products, answering customer questions, and their IBSx experience.

Published 2021-02-09

#324: IBSx Preview

54 min
Open

This episode kicks off podcast coverage of IBSx 2021. The FHB Crew talk to Huber Engineered Woods and what they have in store for the show. Mike Guertin and Bryan Uhler share what they hope to get from IBSx and what is different about a virtual versus in-person event.

Published 2020-11-24

#302: PRO TALK With Corey Claunch

30 min
Open

In this Pro-Talk podcast, Patrick talks to Corey Claunch, Vice President of Sales and Operations at Rehme Steel Windows & Doors, about the evolution of steel windows, what homes are like in Texas, and the complications of running a factory during COVID-19.

Published 2020-10-27

#294: PRO TALK With Tara Murray

42 min
Open

In this Pro-Talk Podcast, Patrick talks to Tara Murray, director of marketing for Benjamin Obdyke, about the challenges facing the building-products industry and what manufacturers of building products can do to help trade professionals.

Published 2020-07-21

#266: PRO TALK with Rob Delaney

27 min
Open

In the second part of this two-part Pro-Talk podcast Patrick talks to Rob Delaney, an Assessor/Quality Control Inspector for MCS Community Services in Jacksonville, Illinois, a weatherization firm improving the efficiency of housing for low income people.

Published 2020-07-07

#262: PRO TALK with Dejah Leger

31 min
Open

In this Fine Homebuilding PRO-TALK podcast Patrick talks to lead carpenter Dejah Leger about making the transition from graphic arts to carpentry, what it's like to work construction in the rainy Pacific Northwest and how to increase diversity in the construction workforce.

The Fine Homebuilding podcast is now recording a second weekly show focusing on the issues facing contractors and professional tradespeople. In this first installment, Patrick talks to Mike Guertin about the industry's ups and downs, how to diversify your income, and the realities of owning rental properties. Mike's carpenter, Addison Oliveira weighs in on the same issues and offers advice for those seeking work in residential construction.

The crew hears from Ben Bogie about his experience using foam glass. Several listeners weigh in on the ethics and sensibility of a 9000-sq. ft. deep-energy retrofit. Jeff talks about who inspects structural steel in Seattle. Jeff wants to know what he should do about his cobbled-together basement slab. Michael asks how to fix a stucco-clad wall built partially below grade. Andy from Indy wants to know the best way to insulate a concrete floor that was once part of a porch. And anonymous wants to know what to do about the Insulbrick on an old home he's rehabbing.

The crew hears from Rob about a very cool training lab for weatherization work. Cooper shows off his newly-completed garage air sealing and insulating project. Jeff describes how industrial gas bottles are safety tested and he talks about some very interesting bottles dating from the earliest days of rocketry. Cole gives his secrets for installing dog doors meant for entry doors. Daniel wants to know who makes the best outdoor caulk. Kevin wants to know the best plan for an efficient house in South Carolina. Brandon asks how to take apart his tub drain so he can replace the tub. Finally Byron wants to know how to safely insulate his walls which have fiberboard sheathing on the outside and a foil vapor barrier (FSK) on the inside.

Matt, Rob and Patrick here from listeners about bartering for home projects and using salvaged bowling alleys for tap dancing. The crew then reveals the list of favorite problem-solving tools compiled from Fine Homebuilding's Facebook page. Robert asks how to keep his wood shop from baking in the warm California sun. Spence wants to know if he should replace his water heater when he replaces his furnace. Dave wonders about the reparability of modern housing while he rebuilds a badly detailed straw bale house in Vermont. Finally, Matthew asks about mixing WRB's on a remodel that includes a new addition.

Matt, Rob and Patrick get an awesome new Fine Homebuilding Podcast logo from Matt. Adam writes in to describe his attempt at starting a handyman business in the suburbs of Washington DC. Nicolas asks if there are any good reference books that describe how to take care of seasonal and second homes. Larry asks how to make his home woodshop more comfortable and Chris wants to know if his sister's house should have its dryer vent outlet in the garage.

Patrick, Kiley, and Matt start the show with more feedback about cool stuff people find in old walls before getting schooled by an infrared-camera expert on the phenomenon of emissivity and how it skewed their beer-koozie experiment. Then it's on to questions about building gable-end roof extensions for an insulation retrofit, why there's a separate code for old buildings (and whether or not anyone even uses it), how to make an attached garage part of a home's conditioned space, and options for attractive gutters when there's a tight budget.

Justin, Matt, and Rob kick off the show by reminding everyone that there are only a couple weeks until the Fine Homebuilding Summit and there are still a few tickets available for this educational event focused on the fundamentals of high-performance, high-quality home building. After reading some listener feedback, the crew discusses possible solutions for five separate questions from the Fine Homebuilding Forum and the FHB Podcast inbox, including how to replace floor joists, how to cut a hollow-core door, how to finish a wooden basement door, how to insulate around an electrical panel, and whether or not primer filler is a substitute for filling and sanding old siding.

The crew hears from listeners about New Zealand-grown wool insulation and about repairing homes after serious storms. Tim from Maine writes in to ask about the science and art of contractor estimating and how to make a living doing small jobs nobody else wants to do. Joshua from Cincinnati writes in asking for advice on how to keep gutters free of leaves and other debris. Kathryn from Seattle asks about solar panels, specifically how to improve their aesthetics. AJ from Washington wants to know how to repair the cantilevered decks common to his area that are an extension of the home's floor joists and lack proper flashing.

In this episode of the podcast Patrick and Kiley pick Steve's brain on how architects and builders can have a better partnership and what the real role of an architect should be. He also gives us a taste of his upcoming presentation at the Fine Homebuilding Summit. Patrick and Kiley talk about fitting drawers and building cabinet doors.

In this episode of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Justin, Kiley, and Patrick hear from listeners about Zip-R sheathing, blower doors, and reinforcing buildings with spray foam before taking listener questions on using plywood as porch flooring, creating comfortable spaces with good flow, and how to pull of good-looking trim details that can be made in a home shop.

This week the regular podcast crew hears from listeners about insulating brick row houses and the limitations of the Bonfiglioli wall system. Then they take questions about heating a whole house with a pellet stove, the limited options for affordable shower valves, and how to strengthen the foundation of a rustic cabin. The crew also discusses how to keep the height of an auxiliary dwelling unit to a minimum.

This week's installment revisits Tony's planned grade-level deck and we hear from a listener who's married to a carpenter bee researcher. The crew explores the best way to remove ceiling stalactites and how to convince a carpenter to take on a small rot-repair job. Then they hear from a home-performance contractor irritated by the lack of airtightness testing in Northern New York and discuss how to keep a brick walkway looking good.

Listener feedback discusses adding Kiley to the regular lineup, another line of defense against biting insects, and more on the environmental impact of work trucks. Then Matt, Kiley, and Patrick take listener questions on lowering radon levels in a basement that already has a radon system, the validity of roof shingle warranties, the pros and cons of thermally-broken T-studs, and how to treat a crawlspace that shares a floor system with a conditioned basement.

Listener feedback discusses moss on roofs and keeping the fires burning in an old school house before Matt, Kiley, and Patrick talk about a listener's suggestions for making a deal in a red-hot real estate market like Washington D.C., what's the minimum square foot cost for building a new house, and how best to build a deck that's too low for its own good.

One year after handing off the podcast to the new hosts, Justin Fink, Brian Pontolilo, and Rob Yagid sit down for a reunion to discuss Green Building Advisor, FHB's new Summit seminar, the change in message of Keep Craft Alive. The gang also recaps past and current projects, plans for future projects, and takes a trip down podcast memory lane.

This week on the Fine Homebuilding Podcast the gang talks about adding a 2nd floor on a brick bungalow, pros and cons of adding spray-foam to an existing vaulted ceiling, details for a flat porch roof, and more.

Patrick shares some feedback from a timber framer in Maine about what it takes to build a true timber-frame house, before he, Matt, and Kiley address a bunch of remodeling questions. Among the issues covered are: how to attach a wood-framed second-floor addition to solid masonry walls; efficient solutions for ventilating two adjacent bathrooms; whether or not to worry about roof leaks when installing spray foam; the pros and cons of pin footings; and how to install leak-proof, attractive gutters around a low-pitch rubber roof.

The Fine Homebuilding editors talk about doing right by your clients, opening up a kitchen to the outdoors, following EPA guidelines when removing asbestos siding, and more.

Patrick, Matt, and Kiley start the episode with updates on several personal projects before attempting to help a few listeners with their own remodeling questions. Plus they dig into the topic of contractor ethics and the reputation the construction industry has for shifty business practices––an issue that conscientious builders have to overcome on a regular basis.

The Fine Homebuilding editors discuss some upcoming articles about building sheds and installing custom metal stairs before addressing listener questions about insulation upgrades, environmentally responsible transportation, and more.

Patrick, Matt, and Kiley start today's conversation with details about two recent photo shoots for the magazine–one in Cooperstown, NY, where Matt captured a steel-framed, walnut-treaded modern staircase installation; and another in Kiley's own backyard, where fellow FHB staffer Rob Wotzak built a small but elegant woodshed of his own design. Then it was on to several questions from the Fine Homebuilding inbox, including one from a listener who wonders how we can constantly talk about building energy efficient homes without mentioning the gas-guzzling trucks we travel to the job site in every day.

The Fine Homebuilding editors offer their opinions on adding two layers of Typar, suggest affordable alternatives to a building a full timber-frame house, and wonder why anyone thinks it's OK to build house on top of a mold farm.

Patrick, Matt, and Rob start of the episode by digging into the details of their own projects, including a custom metal project, a modest garden shed, and cabinet choices for a closet. Then it's on to some constructive feedback about educational and business resources for tradespeople before tackling the typical assortment of construction questions.

Mike and his apprentice Addison Oliveira stop by the Fine Homebuilding studio for a chat with Patrick about getting started in the trades, advancements in construction over the past few decades, job-site safety, and more.

We are very fortunate this week to have one of our favorite people, Mike Guertin, in town to join in on the podcast. Many of you may know that Mike is one of Fine Homebuilding's most prolific contributors, and with good reason: he is extremely dedicated to advancing construction methods, and equally determined to share his knowledge and experience with as many people as possible. Among other things, you will hear about how he got his start in home building; what it was like writing articles in the early days of Fine Homebuilding Magazine; and, in an interesting aside, his experience with transplanting rhubarb.

Fine Homebuilding design editor Kiley Jacques joins the podcast this week to talk about the bathroom-design challenge she tasked three architects with for an upcoming magazine article.

Patrick, Matt, and Kiley talk about their own kitchen and bathroom remodeling plans before digging into listener questions about unvented bath fans, custom-milled interior trim, whole-house designs, and strange dormer layouts.

The Fine Homebuilding editors swap stories about some of their own spring projects before–among other things–debating the pros and cons of affordable alternatives to fine-homebuilding products.

In this week's podcast, one listener asks if he should break the budget if he really wants to do a top-notch remodeling job; plus, a non-builder listener confirms that builders and remodelers are clearly not the only professionals who give free estimates; and another listener send us photos of some brilliant job-site furniture that a bunch of contractors cobbled together.

The Fine Homebuilding editors offer advice about framing new stairs for a deck, choosing the right level for a whole-house construction project, and figuring out how to upgrade an old HVAC system for efficiency and comfort.

Patrick kicks off this week's conversation with an update on his trial of Spray & Forget mold remover to clean up the grungy siding on his house, then Rob contemplates some interesting architectural follies he saw on a local country road. Matt gets us into a more technical topic–one contractor's peculiar way of insulating the underside of a house built on piers–before the crew jumps into answering a few listeners' emails.

Published 2019-04-05

#174: How to Level a Sagging Floor

68 min
Open

One podcast listener wonders if he should jack up his drooping joists or if he can just create a flat floor using tapered sleepers over the old subfloor.

On this week's show, Patrick, Matt, and Rob talk about rigid fiberglass insulation, saving energy with low-flow shower heads, and siding details on houses with garrison-style overhangs, before answering listeners' questions about leveling floor framing, bringing the grade up for an accessible entrance, and what books to read to become a better builder.

Published 2019-03-29

#170: Is There Really a Skilled-Trade Gap?

67 min
Open

One listener wonders why he's not seeing much demand for experienced carpenters in his part of the country.

Inspired by details unearthed during the renovation of a local 19th-century home, Patrick, Justin, and Rob dig into the history of high-quality house design and discuss Jonathan Hale's book, The Old Way of Seeing. Then it's on to listener emails, starting with feedback about the trade gap, where one builder asks why the work everyone is talking about is not materializing where he lives. Another listener tells the story of his company's experience losing money by overdoing a big job estimate, and he suggests devising a clear job-estimating plan that strikes a balance between efficiency and due diligence. Of course there are also listener questions to answer, including how to tell stucco lathe from skip sheathing, whether or not to make an addition more airtight and watertight than the original house, and how to safely detail an at-grade entryway.

The FHB crew recaps details of a job-site video shoot they just wrapped up, and then address some listener questions about a variety of construction and remodeling projects.

Patrick, Matt, bring in video director Colin Russel to discuss the history, construction details, and benefits of the Rumford fireplace before answering questions about the pros and cons of interior footing drains, the best way to soundproof an in-law apartment, providing make-up air for fireplaces, and more.

Today's building pros are more willing to swap stories about their crafts than their predecessors were. Is that good or bad for business?

Justin Fink joins Patrick and Rob this week and starts off the show with discussions about learning from other tradespeople and about what it would take to get started in blacksmithing. Then the crew dives into several listener questions about insulating without removing siding; avoiding moisture build-up under mats in a basement rec room; keeping cold air out of a walk-up attic; and building a tornado-proof house with ICFs.

The Fine Homebuilding editors discuss questions about running a remodeling business, maintaining access to buried plumbing, dealing with leaky soffits, and more.

After celebrating Rob's viral success with an online video of his pedal-powered snow plow in action, Rob, Patrick, and Matt try to find answers to listeners' problems with leaky pipes, leaky walls, and leaky attic vents. Maybe we can nail down some solutions for the ever-present old-house moisture issues once and for all.

This week the editors attempt to answer several unique questions including "What's the best sealer for end cuts on decking?" and "Is there a reliable way to flash a masonry chimney to a standing-seam roof?"

Patrick and Matt kick off the podcast by grilling Rob about his messy metal shop–but they all agree that (most) craftspeople need to have a ready supply of scrap materials at hand to feed their creative projects. Then it's on to an assortment of listeners' emails, with questions about ventilation requirements for a metal-clad, slab-on-grade home; the ideal product for protecting end grain on cedar and hemlock that will be exposed to the elements; and options for keeping water out of the gap between a chimney and a metal roof.

The editors chat with Debbie Hernandez of The Home Depot about it's pro services and former Fine Homebuilding editor Chris Ermides about tools.

Justin Fink and Rob Wotzak talk with Home Depot's Debbie Hernandez about Professional and Contractor Services and with former Fine Homebuilding editor Chris Ermides about tool tests, keeping up with tool technology, and how job sites are increasingly going 100% cordless.

The Fine Homebuilding editors sit down with Caleb Klein of Pella Windows and Doors and Janice and Kelly Stitzer of CIG Construction in Colorado about new windows and window trends, and building a business and business culture in a time when fewer people are interested in joining the building trades.

Patrick and Matt talk with a window and door manufacturer about window trends and a push toward putting higher-end features on mid-line windows, and chat with the owners of a Colorado roofing company about the dangers of being the lowest bidder, keeping good employees, and building a business culture that attracts and retains top talent.

We sit down with Terry Alsberg founder of Warmboard Radiant and Mike Guertin Fine Homebuilding editorial advisor. First on Patrick and Rob's docket is a comprehensive discussion about radiant heat in conventional and low-load houses. Then the guys talk about the right way to acclimate wood flooring. Here's a hint: you've been doing it the wrong way.

The Fine Homebuilding editors chat with Jim Edgeworth of The Bilco Company and Connor Crook of Diamondback Toolbelts about what it takes to build high quality tools and materials in the US.

Patrick and Rob talk with a couple of manufacturers attending the International Builders' Show about how keeping in touch with folks in the trades plays a major role in producing gear and construction materials that perform well and are in demand. The guys also compare notes on the builder-show experience, and touch on the current state of skilled trades in our country.

The Fine Homebuilding editors attack several building and remodeling dilemmas, including the correct way to install asphalt shingles at roof edges.

This week's podcast starts with a deep dive into electrical consumption as Rob Wotzak describes how his Sense monitor is helping him find energy hogs in his home. Then it's on to mold removal, contractor relations, insulation choices, furnace makeup air, and best-practices for wind-proof roofing.

The Fine Homebuilding editors offer advice for several old-home upgrades, compare notes on their favorite home-building books, and invite listeners to stop by our mobile podcast studio at the International Builders' Show.

Patrick, Matt, and Rob share some great listener feedback about questions from previous shows (keep that feedback coming, folks!) before they discussed attic and staircase remodels in Maine, a garage-workshop in New Jersey, and a possible door replacement project in who knows where. There are a few special details to report this week: IBS 2019 is just around the corner, and we're looking for folks to chat with on the podcast while we're at the show; there's also a sweepstakes going on where anyone can enter to win a $500 shopping spree in the Taunton Bookstore.

This week's podcast starts off with Matt's insights into residential construction methods in the many places he's lived around the world while writing for the newspaper Stars and Stripes.

Because the Fine Homebuilding editors have nothing to report on their personal home-remodeling projects, Patrick asks Matt to recount experiences he's had living in unique homes in Europe and the Middle East. Then it's on to the advice portion of the show, where the guys offer solutions for improving attic insulation, avoiding het loss through leaky recessed lighting, and repairing crumbling plaster or stucco on old masonry foundation walls.

The Fine Homebuilding editors discuss the dangers of remodeling a house without informing the local building department.

Patrick, Matt, and Rob share some great listener feedback about home-workshop air quality before tackling questions about legally renovating a home, the pros and cons of radiant floor heating, and solutions for air trapped in a hydronic heating system.

Several frustrated homeowners ask the Fine Homebuilding editors to suggest the best course of action for some common DIY dilemmas.

Rob, Matt, and Patrick–plus podcast producer Jeff–talk about their own experiences with homemade workbenches, plugged sewer pipes, and basement remodels before doing their best to solve a bunch of listeners' old-house problems.

One listener wonders which modern tools and materials are better and which ones are worse than the ones available to previous generations of home builders.

This week, Patrick, Matt, and Rob field listener questions about tool-manufacturing quality, crown-molding best practices, building a foundation for a covered breezeway, and designing an accessible home, after rambling on about several of their own remodeling projects.

Patrick, Matt, and Justin share stories about storm windows, energy-efficient homes, and drywall tape before tackling a few listener questions.

Justin Fink is back in the studio this week with an update on his custom storm-window project. After chatting about Justin's windows, Matt's trip to an informal building-science conference, and Patrick's new affection for fiberglass drywall tape, the crew discuss heating options for small buildings, closet-cabinet material choices, and why anyone still bothers to use Phillips screws.

Are battery-powered miter saws tough enough? Can you glue solid oak to concrete? How can you install an outlet in a garage slab? Find answers to these questions and more.

In this week's show, Patrick, Matt, and Rob mull over questions from several readers, including one contractor who is stuck on how to replace some water-damaged flooring that's installed directly over crumbling gypcrete. The guys also discuss how to protect a flush-mounted plug in a shop floor, how to get fresh air into a well-insulated backyard workshop, and whether it's time to forget about corded power tools and go fully cordless.

This week the Fine Homebuilding editors discuss winter condensation, straw-bale homes, punky floor joists, rental-property remodels and more. After getting feedback from a few listeners, Patrick, Matt, and Rob find themselves again discussing the pros and cons of whole-house fans and the process of finding a good contractor. They move on to helping some other folks determine how far to go when fixing up a rental house; how to deal with rotted joists in a drafty crawlspace; if wet windows means there is a serious ventilation problem; and what materials make suitable moisture barriers for sills in a straw-bale house.

The Fine Homebuilding staff gives their best advice for improving leaky board-and-batten walls, buying old houses, keeping HVAC systems within conditioned space, and safely venting gas appliances.

In addition to addressing several listeners' questions Patrick, Matt, and Rob, check in on a roof repair from a previous podcast where the owner of a hunting cabin in Vermont ignored their advice and decided to take the easy way out. The crew cut him some slack, acknowledging that sometimes you just have to get the job done and move on.

The Fine Homebuilding editors contemplate listener questions about cladding choices, sheathing layout, and wall-framing techniques.

After chatting about some of their own roofing and cabinetry projects, Patrick, Matt, and Rob compare their lists of tools they can't live without, discuss the best options for replacing old wood siding, and advise a future home builder on framing and sheathing best practices. Patrick also recounts his visit to a jobsite where the homebuilders were using an impressive new automated whole-house air-sealing system.

The Fine Homebuilding editors debate the pros and cons of stem walls, monolithic slabs, and pole barns to help a listener design a new outbuilding.

As usual, there are plenty of home-building and remodeling topics to cover in this week's podcast. After chatting about their own cabinetry and roofing projects, Patrick, Matt, and Rob do their best to help a few listeners find solutions for framing a garage, insulating and air sealing a cold bay window, and painting moldy exterior trim. Plus, Patrick alerts listeners to a recall of some dangerous water heaters.

Published 2018-11-09

#144: Why Won't My Wood Floors Stay Flat?

61 min
Open

Justin Fink is back after a few weeks' hiatus, and he teams up with Patrick and Matt to talk about cool new tools Patrick spied at the STAFDA tool-dealers show in Phoenix, to revisit the topic of building storm-resistant homes, and to investigate why a listener's red-oak flooring is cupping. The crew also digs into more listeners' emails about replacing rotting sheathing under a porch and stopping condensation near a concrete door sill.

The Fine Homebuilding editors discuss what to do if your house has an ancient electrical system, whether or not shoring up a steep hillside is a DIY project, and and how much of a gap you really need to leave when nailing up cedar shingles. Plus, they sneak in yet another wet-basement question. As usual, they also share stories about their own home-remodeling projects.

After following up with a professional inspector's response to last week's discussion on home inspections, Patrick, Matt, and Rob share their findings on what makes some houses more stormproof than others, and where homeowners can go for help when rebuilding after a hurricane. They also take a stab at suggesting the best practices for insulating and air-sealing a floor that separates living space above from an unheated garage below.

Patrick McCombe, Rob Wotzak, and Colin Russel kick off the podcast with a discussion about water-resistive barriers (the materials under your siding that protect the walls from moisture intrusion) before answering listener questions about prolonging the life of a water heater, dealing with humidity and rot in an old stone basement, providing makeup air for a fireplace, and finishing clear-cedar wainscoting.

Editors Patrick McCombe and Matt Millham welcome Fine Homebuilding's new Digital Brand Manager, Rob Wotzak, to the podcast this week. The team discusses topics ranging from how far to dig into an old wall to get the weatherproofing details right when re-siding, what steps are essential when tying in a new roof to an old one, and what types of replacement windows make the most sense.

Published 2018-10-05

#139: Matt's Walls are Weeping

50 min
Open

Justin and Patrick roll up their sleeves and wade into the flood waters to help Matt figure out what to do about his wet basement. This, plus code interpretations when it comes to deck footings, and some help for a listener with rotten walls.

Published 2018-09-28

#137: Rethinking I-joist Rafters

51 min
Open

Justin and Matt welcome video director Colin Russell to the podcast round table, where the day's discussions range from Justin regretting his advice on I-joist roof rafters, the perks and scary downsides of DIY spray foam, sheathing replacement, and what to do with cupped floor boards.

Published 2018-09-21

#135: Rotunda, Revisited

45 min
Open

Justin, Matt, and Patrick field a follow up question on a particularly frightening rotunda framing job, and discuss options for building a round structure from straight joists. Other topics include preferred shower waterproofing systems and strategies for widening a concrete stoop to support the columns of a new portico roof.

Published 2018-09-07

#133: Martin is Back!

55 min
Open

GreenBuildingAdvisor.com editor Martin Holladay returns to the show to tackle tough building science questions like heat-pump efficiency at different altitudes, radiant barriers and heat transfer through a roof, and ways to retrofit insulation.

Published 2018-08-17

#130: Where New Meets Old

42 min
Open

The guys work through the best way to tie new construction into old, out-of-whack structures. Other topics include roof rafters, job-site tool transport and storage, and whether to paint trim before installation or after.

Published 2018-08-10

#129: Don't Be a Heat Freak

51 min
Open

Justin, Matt, and Patrick dive right into some listener questions about a worst-case repair situation (termite damage to an inaccessible rim joist), radon pumps and their affect on sump pumps, high-efficiency vs. standard boilers (are the fancy ones worth the cost?), and insulating an unconditioned space.

Published 2018-08-03

#128: Worst. Photo Shoot. Ever.

50 min
Open

Justin, Rob, and Brian discuss the "drastic" changes to the cover of Fine Homebuilding magazine, and tease some new future magazine content. Rob follows up on the fit of the face frame for his bathroom vanity (spoiler: he only scraped up the wall a little). The guys debate: Should bathroom vanities have a full back? They answer listener questions, and tell some "Stories From the Road" about the worst photo shoots they've ever been on.

Published 2018-07-27

#127: A Flipbook of Houses Coming Together

52 min
Open

Siding, patios, load-bearing walls, and beams are on the menu for this episode of the FHB Podcast, with our regulars Justin Fink, Rob Yagid, and Brian Pontolilo. The guys talk about the state of residential construction in California, and specifically San Francisco. Also in this episode ... gable roofs, painting, scribing, Victorian homes, and Shaker style.

Published 2018-07-20

#126: Wave Goodby to Plywood?

40 min
Open

FHB editor Justin Fink interviews two LBM experts from Louisiana-Pacific. They are Brian St.Germain, director of quality and tech for engineered wood, and Scott Lockyear, national sales manager for specified markets. The conversation ranges over OSB, siding, sheds, studs, and other structural building products.

Published 2018-07-06

#124: An Interview with Shawn Van Dyke

69 min
Open

Shawn has a lot to say about closing the skills gap. He suggests that one part of the solution is to "solve your own skills gap" — that is, run your business right, use the right hiring process, and train the right people. Shawn also takes an interesting look at the financials of going into the trades vs going to college.

Published 2018-06-08

#118: Inches and Feet

47 min
Open

Justin Fink, Brian Pontolilo, and Rob Yagid tackle the metric vs. imperial debate again. They answer reader questions on paint, humidity, sheds, and foundation work. Plus, reader tips and when is it okay to work on your roof without shoes?

Published 2018-05-18

#115: Martin Holladay Redux!

55 min
Open

The guys have the week off for this episode, so we're taking a second listen to Podcast Episode #37, an interview with Green Building Advisor editor Martin Holladay. This episode features a frank discussion of what makes for a truly green home [hint: it's not solar panels and new construction]. This lively conversation covers the ways that the building trades can — and can't — contribute to the fight against global warming.

Published 2018-05-11

#114: Anthony Vitale Interview

60 min
Open

In this episode, Justin, Rob, and Brian are joined by a guest; carpenter Anthony Vitale, owner of ProBuilt Woodworking, is participating via Skype. The four guys have a wide-ranging discussion that centers on the passion for the craft that drives quality. The conversation includes fine carpentry, keeping craft alive, apprentice programs, running a business, and training enthusiastic workers.

Published 2018-05-04

#113: Bringing Back Oakum

57 min
Open

Our regular podcasters, Justin Fink, Rob Yagid, and Brian Pontolilo, talk about using oakum as a modern-day building material. Plus radiator covers, mantels, brick walls, trimwork, whole house design, and the Solar Decathalon.

Published 2018-04-27

#112: How to Hire a Contractor

65 min
Open

Our regular podcasters, Justin, Rob, and Brian, cover a range of topics that includes primers, sealers, paints, sprayers, and rollers; soapstone and concrete countertops; greenwashing and the true costs of net-zero homes; and woodworking and rocking chairs. Check out the show notes, links, and more at www.finehomebuilding.com/podcast.

Published 2018-04-20

#111: Justin After Dentist

52 min
Open

Just back from the dentist, Justin compares a dental crown to mortise and tenon carpentry. And he thinks novocaine has a lot in common with air-sealing. Also on this episode, Justin, Brian, and Matt talk about caulks, stucco, old house repairs, and lally columns.

Published 2018-03-23

#107: Live from the JLC show in Providence

29 min
Open

Rob and Justin broadcast from the JLC Live trade show. Come check out the product and tool manufacturers, the demonstrations, and more at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI. Justin's favorite new product is a track saw from Bosch. Rob talked about a new adhesive, twice as strong as PL Premium, called Loctite PL Max. Finally, the guys also chat with Alan Seelock from Huber about the company's Zip R sheathing.

Published 2018-02-02

#99: Working with Wood

45 min
Open

Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink, design editor Brian Pontolilo, and senior editor Patrick McCombe tackle minisplits, Hoosier cabinets, additions, glue-size, floor joists, shingles, and rot-resistant lumber.

This is the fifth and final live-from-the-show episode of the Fine Homebuilding podcast. In the first half of this show, Justin is joined by AdvanTech product director Mike Pyle of Huber, the sponsor of this episode, and by FHB tool guru Patrick McCombe. In the second half, Justin, Patrick, Rob, and "Toolaholic" Kiefer Limeback pick the best new products that they saw at the show this year.

This is the fourth FHB episode that Rob and Justin are podcasting live from the 2018 Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. This one features sponsor Thomas Hackett, technical support manager at Rockwool -- the company, formerly known as Roxul, just changed its name in North America a couple days ago. In addition, FHB ambassador Nick Schiffer is on board for this episode as well. Nick is one of the hosts at the Modern Craftsman podcast. In this episode, the guys discuss Rockwool's new name, scribing stairs against a brick wall, using social media in your business, and coping with mistakes on the job.

Published 2018-01-10

#94: Bathroom Tile and Trends in Trim

29 min
Open

This is the third FHB episode that Rob and Justin are podcasting live from the 2018 Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. This Wednesday morning show features sponsor Andrew Acker, director of education at Schluter Systems, as well as FHB ambassador Jason Mollak of JPM Construction. In addition to the usual product chat and tech-geek stuff, the guys talk with Andy about encouraging young people to work in the trades, and with Jason about how some manufacturers are addressing the skills gap with a race-to-the-bottom trend in making "easy-install" products.

This is the second FHB episode that Rob and Justin are podcasting live from the 2018 Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. For this show, recorded late on Tuesday, Jan. 9, the guys have two guests: podcast sponsor Frank Windsor, the chief operating officer at gas appliance manufacturer Rinnai, and FHB ambassador and finish carpenter Aaron Butt. The guys also talked about the Keep Craft Alive movement and ways to support scholarships for new builders and artisans.

Published 2017-12-29

#90: Metal Roofs and Thermal Bridges

53 min
Open

In this episode, Rob, Justin, and Brian take long looks at metal roofs and thermal bridges. The guys also tackle whistling hot water bathroom fixtures, closet flanges, replacing open-cell insulation, shed construction, and the paradox of caulking around the bottom of a toilet.

Published 2017-12-08

#87: A Whole-House Remodel

53 min
Open

In this episode, show regulars Justin Fink, Brian Pontolilo, and Rob Yagid talk about the priorities they would put on a complete home remodel of a typical 1980s dwelling. The guys discuss buying a house, ventilation, carpeting, paint, remodeling, built-ins, garages, humidity, attics, basements, and windows.

Published 2017-11-17

#84: Gifts and Tools and Tools and Gifts!

43 min
Open

This holiday gift-giving edition features a podcast takeover by Fine Homebuilding associate editors Patrick McCombe and Matthew Millham; Matt Kenney, the special projects editor at Fine Woodworking; and FHB Ambassador Kiefer Limeback. The guys talked about tool gifts, including tool bags, work lights, 18-gauge nailers, bench chisels, bench planes, pry bars, circular saws, sanders, tape measures, and more.

In this special episode, the fifth recorded live at the 2017 Remodeling Show and Deck Expo, Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink and editorial director Rob Yagid talk with three home construction experts about trends in the Nashville area. Also, the guys talked with Rich Citro from Schluter systems. He has some interesting things to explain about heating tile systems.

In this special episode, the fourth recorded live at the 2017 Remodeling Show and Deck Expo, Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink and editorial director Rob Yagid talk with FHB Ambassador Shawn Van Dyke. But first, the guys talked with Larry from Moisture Shield, the director of marketing at the company that makes synthetic and composite decking materials. Shawn Van Dyke is an FHB ambassador and a specialist in business coaching and consulting. He talked with the guys about customer fear and how to make your clients feel confident. Plus, estimates vs. proposals.

In this special episode, the third recorded live at the 2017 Remodeling Show and Deck Expo, Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink and editorial director Rob Yagid talk with FHB Ambassador John Hourihan as well as Chris Clark from Huber.

John Hourihan is an FHB ambassador and the Director of Operations at RiverStone Custom Builders in Wellesley, Mass.

In this episode, the guys talk about Matt's reasons and plans for building a cabin, or maybe a cottage. Justin leads a discussion on steel framing, and what happens to a steel-framed house in a fire. Exterior insulation and commercial building influences on steel framing are also a part of the conversation. Plus, metal plates in Rob's basement remodel, and Rob hijacks the podcast to talk about fixing the cracks in his chimney.

Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink returns to the podcast after a week off. He reports on his "staycation," in which he worked on his garage/workshop. He strapped batts to the hip-roof and then air-sealed it all with rigid-foam insulation. Then he used a lift to put up drywal and used compounds to fill the gaps. He used a drywall texture tool to add texture to the walls and ceiling, and then painted.Plus listener questions on flooding and more.

Fine Homebuilding associate editor Matthew Millham joins FHB editor Justin Fink and editorial director Rob Yagid in this podcast episode. Matt's a new editor at FHB, as well as an Army veteran and a recent grad from the State University of New York's residential construction program. Plus, straw-bale construction, DIY rim-joist insulation, and OSB vs plywood.

In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. Brian talks about his recent visit with South-Dakota-based master carpenter Ben Brunick. They discuss Ben's honest, do-it-the-hard-way technique, including how he softens window glazes, but not old paint. Plus, more on Rob's roof renovation. The guys also talk about roofing from the top down; working alone; and a range of building materials.

Fine Homebuilding associate editor Patrick McCombe joins FHB editor Justin Fink and editorial director Rob Yagid in this podcast episode. After a bit of an absence from the show, Rob gets grilled on his 1940's Cape remodel, taking a deep dive into removing his old three-layer roof, and the home-made scaffolding he used for the job. Plus, copper wiring vs. aluminum -- and new basement supports in a 280-year-old farmhouse.

In this podcast episode, another Texan joins host and editor Justin Fink and design editor Brian Pontolilo — Jeremy Martin, a builder in Austin, Texas. Jeremy has done everything from finish carpentry to managing on-site construction, interfacing with architects and designers, and running sales, marketing and financial operations. He's a realtor. He holds the highest level of certification from the National Homebuilders Association, and is on the association board of directors. He was listed by Professional Remodeler Magazine as one of the 40 under 40, and was named custom builder of the year in Austin in 2015.

Published 2017-06-30

#59: Misadventures in roofing

48 min
Open

In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. Topics for this show include modern cabins, small homes, roof vents, and building a foundation on piers.

In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. Rob shares his plans and progress as he works on the unfinished attic space of his Cape-Cod-style home. A listener asks about the real value of energy efficiency, which turns out to be ... well ... complicated. Also, another listener asks about vermiculite, and whether it is the huge and expensive problem that abatement experts describe, or just something to deal with, no worries. Short answer: Worry!

Published 2017-06-16

#57: Remodeling a Snowy Mountain Home

53 min
Open

In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. They have advice for a listener who is remodeling a mountain home in California where it snows — but HARD! Listeners also ask about sheathing and wall technology, garage foundations, and more.

Published 2017-06-09

#56: Lights and Shades, Stone and Metal

52 min
Open

In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. Brian talks about his visit to a house in Austin, Texas, that uses an automated, app-activated system to control lights and shades. He explains how a remodeling firm keeps their jobs on budget, with four project managers juggling one or two projects at a time. Plus architectural metalwork, HGTV, stone walls, outdoor wood boilers, and window flashing.

In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. The guys respond to a listener who takes them to task over their lead paint stripping advice. Another listener asks about Rob's dormer build, sizing his dormers to look appropriate given the design of his house, but also having a large enough clearing to meet code for egress requirements. Other topics covered in this podcast: blown-in fiberglass insulation vs. cellulose, building a deck over a concrete patio, and using smart membrane with insulation.

Published 2017-05-19

#53: Basements, Porches, and Architecture

61 min
Open

In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. They talk about their own projects: Justin's porch, Brian's involvement with the American Institute of Architects, and Rob's basement. Other topics covered in this podcast: countertops, oil finishes, lightning strikes, fence posts, roofing, grouting, and building a house in phases.

Published 2017-05-05

#51: Why Don't We Build Better Houses?

55 min
Open

In this podcast episode, Fine Homebuilding editor-at-large Kevin Ireton joins editor Justin Fink and design editor Brian Pontolilo for conversation that explores a key question: "We know how to build better, so why aren't we?" After 20-plus years of advancing building science, Energy Star for homes, and green research, we have the know-how to make homes more energy efficient, comfortable, durable, and even healthier. but there are going to be a million and a half homes built in America this year, and the vast majority will only made to code minimum. Why?

Other topics covered in this podcast: Renovating old houses, a poorly made staircase in an old basement, wrapping copper pipes with insulation, and the difference between a jig and a fixture.

In this podcast episode, FHB editor Justin Fink, design editor Brian Pontolilo, and editorial director Rob Yagid discuss tankless water heater tech, including propane gas lines needed to supply them. Also on the slate for this episode: porches, excavation, crawlspace insulation, window flashing, and building trades business resources. Plus, a scammer tries to convince Brian that there is a warrant out for his arrest for tax violations.

In this podcast episode, FHB editor Justin Fink, design editor Brian Pontolilo, and editorial director Rob Yagid discuss cabinet and drawer hardware, window sheathing and flashing, and DIY roof replacement. Also, latex paint is better than oil paint, plus the odd things Justin has in his personal shop. And please, let's step back from the discussion of the advantages of lead-based paint.

In this podcast episode, FHB editor Justin Fink, associate editor Patrick McCombe, and editorial director Rob Yagid discuss paint expiration, discount tools, dust collection options, shopping at Harbor Freight, reconditioned (CPO) power tools, and HGTV. Plus, the podcast has a new musical intro, and why you should not let Justin borrow your tools.

In this podcast extra, FHB editor Justin Fink, design editor Brian Pontolilo, and editorial director Rob Yagid are joined by ProHOME designer Mike Maines in an episode that looks at the 2016 ProHOME project as a case study in building a progressive, low-energy home. They tackle the project from foundation to mechanicals to insulation to finished interiors.

In this podcast episode, host and FHB editor Justin Fink talks with design editor Brian Pontolilo and associate editor Patrick McCombe about TPO valves for water heaters, General Electric, making your own concrete patio pavers, and deck refinishing. The guys talk about the Taunton workshop (used by Fine Homebuilding and sister magazine Fine Woodworking). A reader question on slat-wall systems as an alternative to pegboard gets some expert consideration from Patrick and some general jocularity from all three. Plus more on Brian's kitchen cabinets.

In this podcast episode, host and FHB editor Justin Fink talks with design editor Brian Pontolilo and associate editor Patrick McCombe about cordless miter saws, routers, drivers, drills, and more. That includes some pretty honest evaluations of the strengths and weaknesses of tool makers including Milwaukee, Rigid, DeWalt, Bosch, Festool, and Makita. Plus Brian's kitchen cabinets, jigs for drawer slides, roof durability under solar panels, and a water heater in the attic?!

Rob talks about his visit to the North Bennet Street School in Boston, which runs the oldest carpentry program in the United States. The guys offer advice to a shop teacher on "timeless" vs "dated" styles in home renovation. Also on the slate: large high-performance houses on sloped lots, working platform safety vs cost vs efficiency, and Brian's first job working on roofs.

In an open discussion of the Fine Homebuilding ProHOME demonstration project, the guys talked about sourcing building materials and our guiding purpose in trying new things — like No-Coat drywall tape for corners and Habito heavy-duty drywall. Podcast host and FHB editor Justin Fink, editorial director Rob Yagid, and design editor Brian Pontolilo also tackled windows with drywall returns, shop organization, dust collectors, and miter saw stands.

Justin Fink, Rob Yagid, and Brian Pontolilo continue their conversation with GreenBuildingAdvisor.com editor and green building expert Martin Holladay. Martin mentions the superlative builder community at his site. The discussion also covers insulating basement walls and cathedral ceilings, window replacements and make-up air, and ductless mini-splits in cold climates.

In this episode, host Justin Fink talks with Rob Yagid and Brian Pontolilo about attics and insulation — especially Brian's project prepping his attic for insulation and then blowing in the cellulose. Brian, Rob, and Justin are amazed at builder Mike Guertin's clever trick for tackling the cheek wall of a cross-gable. Plus simple Shaker design and listener questions.