Every year, lightning strikes cause thousands of house fires and millions of dollars in property damage across the United States. A single bolt can destroy roofing materials, explode wiring in walls, fry every electronic device in the home, and even start a fire that consumes the entire structure. While many homeowners focus on protecting against […]
The connection between energy efficiency and sustainable building has never been more critical. As the building industry works to reduce its environmental footprint, energy efficiency remains the most cost-effective strategy for cutting energy waste in homes, workplaces, and commercial facilities. A comprehensive report from the Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
By now, most builders recognize that foundation insulation is essential in all but the warmest climates. Whether a project involves a basement, crawlspace, or slab-on-grade foundation, proper insulation plays a critical role in energy performance and occupant comfort. Conventional approaches typically rely on rigid foam boards or spray polyurethane foam. However, a growing number of
In the world of building materials, few stories are as dramatic as the rise, fall, and quiet resurgence of urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). Once vilified as a health hazard and banned in many jurisdictions, this insulation material — now marketed under names like amino foam, injection foam, and tripolymer foam — has never entirely
Few building materials have experienced a fall from grace as dramatic as urea formaldehyde foam insulation, better known by its acronym UFFI. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, this material was installed in hundreds of thousands of homes across North America following the 1973 energy crisis. Then came the formaldehyde scares, government bans, and
Renovating a kitchen is one of the most rewarding home improvement projects a homeowner can tackle. When Chris Stratton and Wen Lee decided to rebuild their kitchen from scratch, they took the DIY route for nearly every step of the process. From demolishing old vinyl flooring to cutting quartz countertops by hand, their kitchen upgrade
Every cold-climate builder has faced the unsettling moment of peeling back a fiberglass batt during winter construction only to discover soaked OSB sheathing behind it. The panic is understandable. Water staining, mold growth, and potential rot come to mind. Yet this phenomenon is far more common than most builders realize, and in many cases it
The journey toward a net-zero home has become a widely celebrated goal in sustainable construction, promising homeowners energy independence and a drastically reduced carbon footprint. However, the real-world experience of families who have made this transition reveals a more complex picture than what glossy marketing materials suggest. In Minnesota, one homestead’s pursuit of net-zero energy
In early 2020, a major shift in federal energy policy took place when stricter energy requirements for new construction were removed from the American Energy Innovation Act as it moved through the U.S. Senate. The decision drew sharp criticism from environmental groups and energy efficiency advocates, who pointed to the National Association of Home Builders
Stair design is one of the most overlooked aspects of residential safety. While building codes have evolved over the decades to address many common hazards, older homes and even some new constructions continue to feature stair configurations that pose serious risks to occupants. Falls on stairs are a leading cause of injury, particularly among older
