Imagine a beach where the sand is barely visible, covered not by towels and umbrellas, but by a thick blanket of sargassum seaweed. This has been the grim tableau for many coastal communities, where the encroaching algae has spelled disaster for both the environment and the economy. Yet, in this burgeoning crisis, Omar Vasquez, a … Read more
If you’ve been keeping an ear to the ground in the world of real estate, you might’ve caught wind of a trend that’s reshaping the American backyard: Tiny homes, aka Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). These aren’t just your average garden sheds; they’re fully functional, stylish mini-homes. Let’s dig deeper into this fascinating housing evolution. A … Read more
Imagine if you could magically move heat from one place to another, like a genie in a bottle granting your thermal wishes. Well, that’s basically what heat pumps do – they pump heat! By manipulating the refrigerant temperature within a closed loop, heat pumps can collect ambient heat from the air and concentrate it. It’s … Read more
Are you ready to step into the eerie world of abandoned mansions and explore their fascinating tales? Horror movies have long capitalized on the strange and spooky feel that abandoned homes bring, but the truth is stranger than fiction. While the existence of ghosts is still up for debate, the fact that these once-luxurious estates … Read more
When it comes to insulation, the term “R-value” is often mentioned, but what exactly does it mean? Unfortunately, it is a bit confusing, and the answer should be more straightforward. But, once you get some background into how it was created and measured, you’ll easily be able to answer the question when someone asks, “what … Read more
Construction is a vast field with many different types of work available. From residential to commercial, highway to industrial, there’s something for everyone in construction. However, not all construction jobs pay the same; some are more lucrative than others. We’ll look at the different types of construction jobs and what kind of pay you can … Read more
Is your home drafty with rooms that are never the same temperature? Unfortunately, most U.S. homeowners experience this, along with noise pollution and stale, poor-quality indoor air. It wasn’t until the oil crisis of the 1970s that residential building codes became mandatory. So, many of the 130 million homes in our country suffer from poor … Read more
Weathertight, thermal insulation, and airtight are the three continuous functional layers in thermal envelope design in home building to provide adequate protection from the elements. These layers’ performance must be tested on paper and in the field. Once these layers are installed, gaining access to correct any remaining flaws is prohibitively expensive. If weaknesses persist, … Read more
Learning how to install cement board on a floor properly is the best thing you can do for a solid, mold-resistant, crack-free tile floor that will last. Budget at least a full day for this job. Especially if it is your first time installing cement board, more extensive floors may need multiple days. Tools & … Read more
When installing cork underlayment, the base materials and the type of flooring will guide how it is installed. You should also consult the manufacturer to see what they recommend. Before we begin, it should be noted that cork underlayment can be used to level out different sub-floor heights. For example, say one room has hardwood flooring … Read more
