Walls and Roofs

The structure and design of a building envelope will determine how much it costs to heat and cool your home, and how long it will last. This section contains information about wall designs that will protect your home against the elements, and create an enjoyable indoor environment that is healthy, comfortable and durable.

Insulation and soundproofing

The embodied carbon of insulation materials, which are the best choices for insulating homes

A comprehensive comparison of the most common insulation materials used for home construction, analyzing their embodied carbon impact, performance & suitability for construction applications & construction types, ranking the best of each insulation type. Introduction: Why carbon reduction matters in construction As…

Exterior cladding

How to install siding

Drainage planes and air spaces: siding installation tips so your walls can dry. Siding installation The walls of your home are an environmental separator. Their job is to keep the inside in and the outside out. Exterior cladding or siding is your first line of defense against weather elements, and its job is to…

Insulation and soundproofing

Rigid insulation panels: which ones to use for different applications

When using rigid foam insulation boards, choose carefully between polyiso, EPS & XPS or mineral wool and hemp. The wrong choice can reduce insulation performance and cause mold and rot in building envelopes. Polyisocyanurate (PIR), Extruded Polystyrene (XPS), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) or Styrofoam? When building or…

Windows and doors

Our top tips for buying high-performance windows

The quality of windows you install will have a big impact on both your comfort and your heating bill. Here is a guide to help you choose the best windows for your high performance home. Which windows are best? Windows are essential to our homes, so getting the choice of window right is important . They give us…

Air and vapour barriers

What is an air barrier?

Approximately 100 times more water vapour is carried into our walls by air leakage than is carried by vapour diffusion. That makes air barriers 100 times more important than vapour barriers, so why is no one talking about them. How important is an air barrier in a home? Approximately 100 times more water vapor is…

Air and vapour barriers

The difference between air barriers and vapor barriers

Can a house be too airtight? No it cannot. The difference between air barriers and vapour barriers is often confused. Also confused, is which one is more important. The difference between air barriers and vapor barriers The job of a vapor barrier is to prevent vapor diffusion, and the job of an air barrier is to…

Insulation and soundproofing

Choosing the right insulation: the pros, cons and applications for walls, slabs and basements

Understanding the performance characteristics & limitations of different types of insulation before you make a purchase & start to build or renovate a high performance home is important. Not all insulation materials are the same, and they are not always interchangeable A basic understanding of how walls work is…

Windows and doors

The ultimate guide to low-e glass: benefits, drawbacks, and whether it’s right for your home

Low emissivity (low-E) coatings on windows reflect heat in and out of your home that can help to keep it warmer and cooler if they are specified correctly. Read here about why low-E glass can be a good choice for a high performance home. The challenges of specifying glass for windows, what are Low-E coatings? When…

Wall assemblies - renovation

How to improve the energy efficiency of an old stone house in a cold climate

Stone farm houses from the 1800s are beautiful heritage homes to restore. But how do you insulate a stone house and keep the interior and exterior appearance as they are? Well, that's tricky, but this guide will give plenty of good advice to follow. Should you insulate an old stone house? Those beautiful old stone…

Insulation and soundproofing

How to choose between open cell and closed cell spray foam and which is best?

Open cell and closed cell spray foam have different characteristics, as well as environmental impacts and health implications, which is best? Is either good? Let us guide you on how to choose between open cell and closed cell spray foam. What is the difference between open-cell and closed-cell spray foam? Both open…

Air and vapour barriers

Top tips for caulking - which caulking gun is best & tips on how to do a clean caulking job

An effective caulking job at air sealing or for water protection in kitchens and bathrooms starts finding the right caulking gun for the job. See here for tips. What is the best caulking tool? The first and most costly mistake made for any first-timers doing a DIY home caulking job is buying the wrong tool. There…