An insulated basement or crawl space provides many benefits year-round, and the rim joist (or band joist) is often a focal point in energy-saving initiatives. Installing insulation at the rim joists ...

Rigid foam boards are better suited for a finished loft or attic space than fiberglass insulation, which is best reserved for times you can see between the joists. When cold weather rolls in, take a ...

Imagine a cold, wet, windy day. You can take an umbrella to protect you from the water alone, but that won’t deal with the cold (temperature) or the wind (air convection). You can add in a light ...

Q–We recently purchased a 7-year-old home that has a full, unfinished basement. The walls have studs, insulation and a vapor barrier but no drywall. We are thinking of installing drywall, but the rear ...

Q: We are finishing off part of the basement into a utility room. The washer, dryer, and laundry tub are already there, with the plumbing anchored to the cement walls. We have framed in the walls with ...

My daughter and son-in-law have a home that sits on sandy soil and has a very deep, full basement. They are planning on finishing the basement to include a bedroom. There is a large escape window, so ...

DEAR TIM: The crawl space under my 1910 home is just exposed dirt and leftover building materials. I need to add a vapor barrier and wonder about the best one. The foundation consists of granite slabs ...

Q: I’m going to be remodeling my basement and want it to be toasty warm. Would you use foam insulation or just the old standby fiberglass? What’s the worst thing that can happen if you do the job ...

Air barriers have been used in many different ways throughout the years, and they’re becoming particularly relevant as energy code requirements evolve. But many questions have surrounded the use of ...

Question: The crawl space under my 1910 home is just exposed dirt and leftover building materials. I need to add a vapor barrier and wonder about the best one. The foundation consists of granite slabs ...