I had already installed the flooring for the conditioned attic when I assembled the ductwork of the house, but now it was time to throw up some walls and air seal it. I would also need to install some baffles …

Step 22a – Complete the Conditioned Attic Read more »

Installing ductwork properly is quite a bit more difficult than running pipes for plumbing or wires for electrical.  It is, in fact, so difficult that “more than half of new HVAC systems in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated …

Step 19b – Install the Ductwork Read more »

Some people argue that you can build a net-zero home that uses fossil fuels but I am definitely not in that camp.  My net-zero home will be all electric in the hopes that someday I can move from net-zero to …

Step 17 – Electrical Read more »

I installed a decent portion of the cold water supply way back before I poured the concrete slab.  The roxul I used to insulate the slab is plenty to ensure that there won’t be any freezing issues with the PEX, …

Step 15a – Install the Cold Water Supply Read more »

You can see how I’ve been trying to keep the OSB flooring dry with a tarp but with the walls going up it is difficult.  Luckily, I spent some extra money on Weyerhauser EdgeGold OSB subfloor and according to their …

Step 10 – Frame the Second Floor Read more »

In my last post, I discussed how using advanced framing would help me lower my heating bill by creating more space for insulation.  However, insulating a house is just one of the ways to reduce the amount of energy needed …

Step 8b – Frame the Interior Walls Read more »

To an experienced framer, the work I have completed over the last couple of days would seem wrong.  It is quite possible they would never have seen a house framed the way that I am framing mine.  A few might …

Step 8a – Utilize Advanced Framing Techniques Read more »