Building With Style: Energy-Detail Dilemmas

Energy-Detail Dilemmas by Gordon F. Tully The other day I found myself, my favorite builder and a friendly client talking about energy efficient construction: Architect: I’m going off the deep end trying to decide how to detail the walls of a house I’m designing. Every time I do a house, it’s different, nothing seems to work every time, and I’m scared stiff I will do something disastrous. Builder: Got any ideas for this time? Architect: I have ideas coming out of my ears, but I’m not sure of anything. First of all, if the occupant keeps the relative humidity down, and you seal up the building pretty well, it appears you don’t need a vapor barrier, or retarder or whatever the heck