"Walls"

Walls / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Walls and Roofs

The best alternatives to drywall for finishing interior walls

...walls disintegrating before your eyes. Lath and plaster walls were what came before drywall - and there's a reson why drywall replaced it Natural mud finish walls Natural finished walls with mud and natural earth pigments is another beautiful, healthy, sustainable…if extremely labor intensive… building method. Simi...

Walls and Roofs

What is interstitial condensation in Walls or roofs? (And how to stop it!)

...walls. Does interstitial condensation cause damage? Yes, interstitial condensation can lead to damage in homes, the moisture deposited in walls or roofs can lead to rot, mold and hidden structural damage. Just like dry rot, Interstitial condensation can be difficult to diagnose due to the fact that it’s hard to noti...

Concrete and masonry

Gabion walls - what is a gabion cage & how to build with them?

...walls or even as outdoor furniture. They can also be covered with dirt and used to introduce plants. Of course, over time, nature will supply many varieties to fill the structure if you don’t get in first. Gabion retaining walls in modern architecture Gabion walls in modern architect-designed homes Gabion walls are ...

Insulation and soundproofing

Does plastic foam or Styrofoam insulation have a place in green building?

...walls (structural insulated panels), that have an EPS foam insulation core as insulation. So, which home insulation is best? I originally wanted to build with straw, but I was led to believe that in pretty short order it would be a moldy walls full of insects. As it turns out, that’s not necessarily true. I considered...

Walls and Roofs

The easiest way to insulate walls from the exterior in older homes

...walls in the Ecohome Green Building Guide and these pages here : Choosing a house wrap, which is best? How to choose between OSB and plywood sheathing for walls The difference between air barriers and vapor barriers How to install siding so walls can dry How to install windows properly in high-performance w...

Walls and Roofs

Condensation on windows is a pain but is it a problem & how to stop it?

Condensation on windows – is it bad? It’s that time of year when condensation on windows becomes a pain, we wake up in the morning, can’t see out, curtains are wet, there’s water on the window bottoms, and even worse it can affect the walls below windows causing mold and mildew in drywall and furniture. Condensation i...

Wood and organic materials

Which is better, OSB or plywood for roofs, walls & floors?

...Walls & Floors. OSB is made of small and fairly rectangular-shaped wood chips from small resinous trees, which are bonded into a panel form with wax and synthetic resin. Plywood on the other hand, is made with thin sheets of wood that have been cut from a spinning log, then glued together with the grain laid out in...

Wall assemblies - new construction

Larsen truss wall systems with double-stud construction & extra insulation for new homes & energy efficient home renovation

...walls. It is a popular wall assembly for Passive House Certification as with attention to detail on air sealing it can result in an extremely energy efficient house. The typical design involves a standard code "tried & tested" traditional stick-framed wall with 2x6s and batt insulation in the cavities, covered wit...