wooden-roof / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Prefab homes

Where to find the best wooden prefab kit homes in Canada and the USA

Introduction to wooden prefab kit homes Prefab housing is gaining a lot of attention in the news and in the construction industry due to the greater speed of construction, quality and affordability it offers compared to site-built homes.  There are prefab homes made with a variety of materials, here we will focus on th...

Tesla Solar Roof Cost Comparison, Competitors & Reviews
Solar photovoltaic

Are Tesla solar roofs worth the money? Are there any competitors? Our take on the future of BIPV

Rooftop solar-power production is fairly commonplace now, and you always know exactly which roof has them because they are highly-visible and somewhat clunky looking. They aren’t ugly but, they aren’t really beautiful either.  As a follow-up to our original article on the Tesla solar roof here, the next phase of solar-...

Living green roof installation on the Edelwiess house
Roof coverings

DIY green roof installation video

DIY green roof installation The following DIY green roof video shows the steps needed to ensure your green roof will not leak. Watch more Green Building Guide videos from Ecohome on YouTube here   The most common building material used for roofing in North America is asphalt shingles, and because of their poor durabil...

How to Vent Roofs - the Methods, Vent Types, Fans
Roof assemblies - new construction

Why roofs need to be ventilated and how to ventilate a roof properly

It is pretty much inevitable that at least some warm, moist air from living areas will find its way into the roof of a building and bring with it the very real risk of frost and ice forming in a cold climate, or mold and rot in a temperate climate. This is a simple product of physics and the realities and limitations o...

A complicated roof with dormers and metal roof covering
Roof assemblies - new construction

Choosing the Best Roof Profile For Your Home

Choosing a roof for a home: a homeowner's & pro's guide Deciding on a roof profile is one of the most consequential steps in residential design, influencing structural longevity, thermal performance, and future maintenance. Roof shape is the primary aesthetic feature that determines the curb appeal of the home.  Ch...

Tesla Solar Roof Tiles installation just got easier
Solar photovoltaic

Tesla solar roof gains ground with target of 1000 solar roofs / week

The Telsa solar roof tiles are in the news again. They now have solar panel shingle installations going in 8 states so far - with what's becoming competitive pricing. If news of these PV roof shingles is also news to you, check out our Tesla solar roof review from when it was first announced in 2016. What was missing b...

Mineral wool insulation in roof by Rockwool - LEED Platinum V4
Roof assemblies - new construction

Using mineral wool insulation batts in roofs

Mineral wool roof insulation used to best effect: Watch more green building video on the Ecohome YouTube channel here The Ecohome's Edelweiss House LEED Platinum certified V4 roof is a 2/12 pitch insulated to R95 with Rockwool (formerly Roxul) mineral wool batts. R95 far exceeds the most rigorous Canadian building cod...

A close-up view of a roof shingle with green moss and dark algae stains on it.
Roof assemblies - renovation

Eco-friendly Roof Cleaning and Treatments: The Complete Guide

Roof cleaning and treatments: a homeowner's and pro's guide To ensure the long life and peak performance of your home's primary shield, this homeowner's and pro's guide to roof cleaning and treatments outlines the most effective and eco-friendly maintenance strategies. A roof is often overlooked until a problem like a ...

A beautiful standing seam metal roof on a modern home in a natural setting.
Roof assemblies - renovation

The Complete Guide to Metal roof Cleaning and Maintenance

The complete guide to metal roof maintenance To protect your long-term investment, this complete guide to metal roof maintenance provides homeowners and pros with a definitive resource for cleaning, treating, and preserving this durable material. Metal roofing is a premium choice known for its exceptional longevity, we...

Roof assemblies - renovation

Flat roof maintenance & leak prevention - Everything you need to know!

The definitive guide to flat roof maintenance To prevent the nightmare of a catastrophic leak, this definitive guide to flat roof maintenance provides the critical knowledge needed to properly care for this demanding roofing type. While common on commercial buildings, flat and low-slope roofs are also a staple of moder...

Cómo restaurar una terraza de madera de cedro fácilmente
Decks, porches and gazebos

How to restore a cedar wood deck easily

Restoring a weathered cedar deck easily, step by step  Cedar decking boards turn gray in a few short years if untreated, and can make your deck look much older and closer to the end of its life than it actually is. There are easy tips for restoring an old deck and bringing back the original color of cedar decking. Deck...