Archive of posts tagged moisture
Moisture and Mold
Mold spores are present almost everywhere. Inside a house, mold spores are not a problem if the count is low. When the count becomes high, it may be a cause for respiratory problems such as asthma. Mold requires certain conditions to grow. First is the presence of organic materials that serve as food for mold […]
19 Plants That Can Clean Air In Your Home
A research program in the 1980’s by NASA to keep air fresh in space stations helped discover the role of house plants on indoor air quality. It is well known that plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through the photosynthesis process. The research showed that many house plants which require low light, also absorb […]
The Terry Project: Sustainability Measures
The final step in air sealing the house was to take care of the old flooring in the kitchen area. It turns out that there are gaps between the old floorboard slats. These gaps will be completely taped up to prevent air or moisture moving from the crawlspace into the living space. A new floor […]
An Integrated Approach to Home Energy Improvement
As a general contractor and energy assessor, I believe understanding both the local and global impacts of energy consumption are important. As a traditional home builder I have always built with quality craftsmanship. While this served me well for many years, it was not until three years ago that I began to really explore in-depth […]
The Terry Project: Air Sealing, Insulation, Windows
The family room with a vaulted ceiling requires particular attention for insulation. The roof sheathing material is foil faced oriented strand boards (OSB). The foils act as a radiant barrier which will cut down the heat from the hot roof from getting into the living space. Under the radiant barriers, sheet rocks were installed leaving […]
Flooring
The floor covers the entire area of a house. It gets heavily used. Children play on floors. It is important to choose flooring materials that ensure a healthy environment and fit your living style. Here is a table comparing different types of green flooring materials. This forum provides you with resources about home renovation, improvement, […]
Comparison Of Insulation Materials
Homes should be well insulated in the attics, walls and underfloors to avoid heat loss in winter and to keep heat out in summer. The effectiveness of insulation material is measured in R value. The higher the R value, the more effective it is. Building codes in most mild climate jurisdictions require attic insulation to […]