Windows
Design a Glass Curtain Wall That’s Beautiful and Energy Efficient
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones — but they shouldn’t have to suffer through high energy expenses either! Rising interest in large glass installations is changing the way architects, builders, and homeowners think about walls and windows. The trend right now in homebuilding is toward more glass: large picture windows, sliding or…
Roofing
7 Unique Roof Styles You May Not Know About
If you’re building a new home, one of the first choices you’ll get to make is picking an elevation — simply put, that means what the outside of the house looks like. Play close attention to whether those elevations come with different roof designs. If you are custom-building a home, then you will have even…
HVAC
How to Change the Oil Filter on Your Home Furnace
When it comes to heating repairs, some jobs are definitely better left to the pros. Is your HVAC unit smoking? It’s probably best call in a contractor for that one. But minor maintenance tasks, like changing and cleaning the filter on your oil-burning furnace, can be accomplished by almost anyone with a wrench and a…
HVAC
What Is an ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation?
Whether you realize it or not, there’s a lot going on beneath the hood of your air conditioner — and HVAC systems get even more complicated when you add in your home’s duct system, registers, heating units, and filters. With that much going on in your system, true efficiency is about more than just purchasing…
Roofing
What You Need to Know About Flat Roof Houses and Snow
Flat roofs—known for being stylish, modern, and efficient—hit a lot of items on your home bucket list. But they also come with a reputation for leaks, cracks, and collapse. While not frequent, per se, the low slope of a flat roof does make it more prone to certain problems, particularly when it interacts with the elements.…
Windows
In the intricate world of home construction and maintenance, the integrity of your windows stands paramount. But while we often focus on the type, style, or energy efficiency of a window, there’s a critical component that can’t be overlooked: flashing. Flashing, typically a thin strip of material, acts as a shield, preventing water from seeping…
HVAC
How to Use Your HVAC System During a Fire Advisory
Are wildfires a threat to your home? A majority of scientists believe that climate change has increased the prevalence — and intensity — of forest fires, meaning we could see more of these hazards to come in the future, particularly in the western United States. Their reasoning? Droughts have contributed to drier than usual conditions…
Windows
Argon, Krypton, and Xenon — What’s the Best Gas-Insulated Window?
You thought krypton was Superman’s home planet, right? We did, too — until we realized it’s also an inert noble gas that can be used to insulate the glass panels in double- and triple-pane windows. Window makers regularly use argon, krypton, and xenon to turn ordinary glazing into draft-defying superglass. It may not be as…
Roofing
Is a Flat Roof More Energy Efficient than a Pitched Roof?
Flip through the pages of an architectural design magazine, and you’re bound to see flat-roofed homes by the dozens. Flat or low-sloped roofs may garner designer accolades due to their edgy, modern feel, but there’s a lesser-known reason they’re gaining popularity: according to some building professionals, they’re more energy efficient, too. Flat roofs often get a…