Walls and Roofs

Air and vapour barriers

Choosing the right house wrap / weather barrier, which is best?

Weather barriers (or more accurately water-resistive barriers) keep bulk water away from vulnerable building components and allow walls to dry at the same time. A technical guide to understanding the role weather barriers and rainscreens play in a wall, choosing the right products and installation tips for optimum…

Air and vapour barriers

Airtight construction of homes is essential: "your house sucks." "Oh yeah? your house blows!"

Odds are that at any given time the air pressure in a house is out of balance & either drawing air in or forcing it out. Learn the causes, the effects & the solutions for air leakage in homes & why it's important. Air tightness in houses - all about balancing air pressure in the home We go on incessantly here about…

Windows and doors

When should you replace old windows?

Replacing old windows in all but the most extreme cases will not save money in your lifetime. Repairing old windows or adding layers may be a more cost-effective solution. Windows, replace or repair? We often get asked if it is a good idea to replace old windows with new and better performing windows to save money…

Insulation and soundproofing

Soundproofing interior walls-video

How to reduce sound transmission through interior partition walls. How to soundproof interior walls The key to building smaller homes which don't sacrifice quality of life is ensuring that they are designed to make the best use of their space no matter how limited. However, you must also ensure that there is…

Roof coverings

DIY green roof installation video

A living green roof can last far longer than many other roofing systems when installed properly. 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…

Windows and doors

Are skylights an asset or a liability?

Skylights offer natural light in a home but account for a lot of heat loss and can cause problems in cold climates. Here are some tips for selection and installation. So are skylights a good or bad idea? It has been said that there are two kinds of skylights; those that leak, and those that are going to leak . This…

Windows and doors

How to install windows

Tips for window installation that will give you the best performance and durability. How to install windows correctly to avoid air or water leaks Watch more green building videos here The Edelweiss LEED Platinum V4 Demo House has been oriented towards the south to increase passive heat gain and reduce energy demand…

Air and vapour barriers

How to install an air barrier for reduced air leakage - video

Air leakage is responsible for a large portion of the heat loss and moisture damage in walls, reduce air leakage for durability and energy savings. The Ecohome Demo House has a vapor permeable exterior air barrier, and with an ACH rate of .69 it is several times more airtight than the average new home. Air leakage…

Roof assemblies - new construction

Using mineral wool insulation batts in roofs

Mineral wool batts being installed in roof for a total of R95 - contributing to a LEED Platinum V4 certification for Ecohome's Edelweiss House. 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…

Wall assemblies - new construction

Wood framing

All lumber for interior and exterior framing is FSC certified. All framing materials for the Demo House are FSC certified, and provided by our sponsor Kott Lumber. Kott engineered the plans for us , supplying detailed framing documents including a cut list for each framing member. We were also provided with a wood…

Insulation and soundproofing

Insulating below slab-on-grade floors

Installing 8 inches of Roxul mineral wool below a concrete slab floor. Insulating below slab-on-grade foundations Why insulate under a slab on grade foundation? For comfort, and to save money, that's why! In many areas Building Code has fallen behind common sense on what specification of insulation to use under a…