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Build Science™ 401
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 12: Flat Roof Assembly
Build Science™ 401 concludes with Episode 12 where Matt Risinger and Steve Baczek review flat roof design, insulation strategies, vapor profiles, and the importance of coordinated detailing between trades to ensure durability and performance. They cover details of a flat roof, including slope, insulation, membrane protection, drip edges, lack of parapets, and roof overhangs, with practical reasoning for each design choice. They also cover water management strategies, including gutters and a subsurface drainage system, and considerations for materials like plywood versus OSB on flat roofs. Matt and Steve stress understanding building-specific conditions, using data-driven design decisions, and avoiding unnecessary or ineffective features like venting flat roofs.
Now that you've completed Build Science™ 401, be sure to take the quizzes, share your certificate with us @thebuildshow on social media, and apply these building science principles to create resilient, efficient, and code-compliant homes.
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Episodes
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 1: Basement Slab Foundation Wall Details
Episode 1
Episode 1 of Build Science™ 401 emphasizes the importance of aligning air, water, vapor, and thermal layers in the building envelope, focusing on a real-world ICF foundation with integrated insulation, rebar, and smart water management strategies.
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 2: Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Foundation
Episode 2
Episode 2 of Build Science™ 401 covers how to build a high-performance foundation by aligning and maintaining continuous control layers for water, air, vapor, and thermal management. Focus on real-world performance over theory for resilience and efficiency.
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 3: Crawlspace Foundation
Episode 3
Episode 3 of Build Science™ 401 details a crawlspace or “short basement” foundation using real 2D and 3D drawings to show how water, air, vapor, and thermal control layers must align and remain continuous. Matt & Steve explain how elements like sub-slab insulation, drainage, closed-cell spray foam, and exposed foundation work together to manage moisture, air leakage, energy performance, durability, and region-specific risks like termites and frost depth.
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 4: Slab on Grade Foundation
Episode 4
Episode 4 of Build Science™ 401 walks through the building envelope as a fully integrated system, emphasizing (you guessed it) that continuity of water, air, vapor, and thermal control layers is what ultimately determines durability and performance. Matt and Steve reiterate one of their most common warnings: water is the number one enemy, followed closely by air, and that most “vapor problems” are really failures in water or air management.
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 5: Slab-on-Grade Retrofit
Episode 5
Episode 5 of Build Science™ 401 episode walks through a slab-on-grade retrofit detail to show how air, water, vapor, and thermal layers must work together as one continuous system for durability and comfort. Matt Risinger and Steve Baczek emphasize managing water and air first—using integrated WRBs, vented rainscreens, elastic sealants, and continuous insulation—so assemblies can drain, vent, and dry instead of trapping moisture.
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 6: Floor Framing & Foundation
Episode 6
On Episode 6 of Build Science™ 401, Matt Risinger and Steve Baczek wrap up their deep dive into floor assemblies and building envelope integration. They emphasize the importance of durability over insulation values in certain areas, explaining why moving insulation to the interior can protect exposed concrete and critical junctions.
Build Science™ 401 | Episode 7: Floor Assembly with Offsite Components
Episode 7
Build Science™ 401 Episode 7 explores how a highly integrated floor and foundation system comes together in an off-site–built home. Matt Risinger and Steve Baczek walk through the use of precast Superior Walls, engineered open-web floor trusses, ZIP-R sheathing, drain-and-vent cavities, and layered air-sealing strategies to manage moisture, airflow, and heat in a challenging, cold, high-moisture site.