Making the Most of a Siding Replacement Job
I didn’t think my client was planning on an energy retrofit when he first talked to me about repairing and repainting the shingle siding on his 120-year-old Massachusetts home. But after crunching some numbers, we decided that re-siding the house with factory-painted fiber-cement siding would be more cost-effective than replacing, prepping, and repainting the severely weathered cedar shingles…
Read MoreGive A Damn, Don’t Get A Dam!
“Dam!” That’s what many contractors and homeowners alike were thinking during the winter of 2011. The constant snow, freezing rain, and bitter cold wreaked havoc on our homes—especially our roofs. Many of us tired quickly of those cute little icicles as they grew into large ice masses hanging onto the edges of our roofs, punishing the gutters and fascia. When the water began to trickle through the ceilings, we ran for buckets. As many homeowners know now, it was the winter of the ice dam….
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stevewords
Hello and welcome to SteveWords, our blog. Here you will find stories about our recent work at steveworks as well as some brief articles and suggestions to answer your building and home maintenance needs! In following the steveworks philosophy, we want to make topics in building, renovation, energy conservation and green design accessible and easy to understand.
So you think your house is too cool? Tips on winterizing your home.
Date: 08 Jan 2012 | 0 Comment | Energy Performance,Preventive Maintenance,Uncategorized | Posted by: admin |
So you think your house is too cool? Here are a few tips for winterizing your home . Feel free to comment and add your own tips! Check for proper insulation in your attic,walls and basement. Call us to arrange an energy audit. Check for drafts; seal windows, doors, nooks and crannies to prevent cold air leaking in. Install foam insulators behind the face plates of light switches and electrical outlets on exterior walls. Clean your gutters and downspouts! Replace your furnace filter. You should check...
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Give a Damn, Don’t Get a Dam!
Date: 21 Dec 2011 | 0 Comment | Building Performance | Posted by: admin |
“Dam!” That's what many contractors and homeowners alike were thinking during the winter of 2011. The constant snow, freezing rain, and bitter cold wreaked havoc on our homes—especially our roofs. Many of us tired quickly of those cute little icicles as they grew into large ice masses hanging onto the edges of our roofs, punishing the gutters and fascia. When the water began to trickle through the ceilings, we ran for buckets. As many homeowners know now, it was the winter of the ice dam. What Causes an Ice Dam? By...
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Deep Energy Measure Verification Workshop – Sturbridge 12/2/11
Date: 04 Dec 2011 | 6 Comments | Energy Performance | Posted by: admin |
Hi all, I attended the Deep Energy Verification Workshop on Friday and my head is still spinning with excitement. The workshop had 2 main goals: to demonstrate the results from recently completed Deep Energy Retrofits (DERs) and then present the techniques that enable me as a renovator/ home builder to accomplish the goals. This workshop mainly focused on basement insulation and damp proofing, wall and roof insulation, and wall and roof construction. Basically DER means what to do to your home to achieve energy savings...
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Don’t Let that Wind In!
Date: 29 Aug 2011 | 0 Comment | Building Performance | Posted by: admin |
Old and drafty homes are so romantic – until you see the heating bill. One of our recent jobs on a particularly old house (we think it was built in the early 1900’s) is a perfect example of this. The house was so drafty the clients complained that they could hear the wind and traffic noise from outside very clearly. We suspected that outside air was seeping into the house through the walls, windows and doors. So, first we performed a blower door test to check the air infiltration throughout the house. To do this, a large fan sucked...
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