Walls and Roofs

Caulk, caulking, silicone, sealant - the gooey stuff in a tube used to seal windows, doors and to fill the gaps in buildings, comes in all different types - some of which usually gets on your clothes! Here we look at which caulk is best. Which is the best caulk or sealant? Finding the right caulking, and better…

Spray foam insulation has been used primarily for home renovations as a way of sealing and insulating in one step, but spray foam is now even finding a home in new build - but, is it safe? Is spray foam insulation the best idea. There is a plethora of home improvement shows demonstrating how easy it is to buy…

Drywall is the most common interior finish surface inside homes due to ease and affordability. But there are options! see below for the best natural healthy alternatives to drywall for finishing interior walls. Walls in residential homes are almost exclusively finished using gypsum board (either recycled or…

What is interstitial condensation in walls or roofs? How to know if it's happening, & how to fix it if it does? We're glad you asked, as it can cause serious & costly damage within the structure of our homes. As a precursor to a new post exploring everything you wanted to know about Dry Rot but were afraid to ask…

Roofs - all homes have them in one form or another, and they're a potential cause of all manner of problems effecting the durability and performance of homes. Roof ventilation needs to be adapted to the type of roof and the climate. It is pretty much inevitable that at least some warm, moist air from living areas…

High-performance suspended-film insulating glass windows may offer the perfect solution of window performance, window cost & window weight. As early versions of suspended coated film windows had issues, we took another look & review the LiteZone units. Why suspended-film insulating glass windows may be a…

There will come a point where the cost of insulation in any attic, wall or basement - and the energy required to manufacture and transport it - will outweigh any savings. Want to find out where that point is. Home insulation - how much is too much? A House can definitely be under-insulated (millions of homes…

Passive cooling techniques such as reflective window films can increase comfort, home durability and lower energy bills at the same time. Extreme summer temperatures pose a very real health risk to the most vulnerable members of society.  There are some tips to help keep a home cool during a heat wave , but faced…

Which type of insulation is best for reducing emissions and safely mitigating climate change? There may be a case to be made for EPS rigid insulation. Are foam insulation panels a green choice? The short story is, maybe. And the long story is, well.... When we launched Ecohome about a decade ago, our mission was to…

Natural insulation materials such as hemp insulation, cellulose (including grass based), wood fiber, straw and cotton act as carbon storage and reduce embodied energy and carbon footprint of homes & buildings. Natural building insulation materials In order to combat the climate change impact of the built…

Fitting extra insulation to an older home when renovating can be a great idea, but when insulating exterior walls from the outside take care to do it right. Ecohome investigates the easiest ways to retro-fit insulation to walls. How to insulate house walls from the outside Adding extra insulation to the exterior…