UnBuild It Podcast - Live Recording!

Tune in to the UnBuild It Podcast at Build Show LIVE for lively discussions on building science, business management, and industry events.

Unbuild It | Episode 152: Thermal & Structural Load Issues with Insulation, Wood, and Concrete

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Whoa--the boys go super technical and wonky on structural loading of rigid insulation, thermal bridging with concrete and wood, and innovative framing systems, EcoSmart and Tolko. This leads to an interesting discussion of how often in residential buildings we unknowingly way over-engineer. Steve closes out with a design issue for certain beehives...

Unbuild It | Episode 151: Where Matters: Climate (I)

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Pete kicks off a three-part series on how Climate, Site, and Extreme Events influence building design. This episode focuses on climate and why building strategies must change depending on location—just like packing differently for Minneapolis, Honolulu, or New Orleans. Drawing on research from the Building America Solution Center and Joe Lstiburek’s “Perfect Wall,” the discussion highlights the importance of climate-driven building science.

UnBuild It | Episode 150: Social Media: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

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DESCRIPTION: Our good buddy, Matt Risinger, joins Jake & Steve as the Three Social Media Amigos to roast Pete, the social media naysayer. Entertaining? You bet. Information transfer? Of course, with great conversation, distinguishing between social media's dark/worst times and its enlightening/best times.

UnBuild It | Episode 149: I'll Tell You Where To Stick That Opinion

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The building team (5 gears): Designers, Builders, Manufacturers, Consultants, Building Owners/Users. Is anyone more important than the others? CAN they work together? MUST they work together? Steve breaks this down for us by cutting to the chase — how he really feels about consultants (that would be Pete) and, in particular, energy modelers. Long and short of it: You get the best building when all the gears mesh... PETE'S RESOURCES:

UnBuild It | Episode 148: Dumb Ideas? Vented Crawls & Window Frame "Over-Insulation"

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Crawlspaces have a varied history in the US, and proper insulation is key. Over-insulating window frames is a low priority in most climate zones.

UnBuild It | Episode 147: Dehumidification in Dry Climates and Vented Crawlspaces? Seriously?

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It is not recommended to rely solely on an ERV for dehumidification, as it is not its primary function. Using a dehumidifier in a vented crawlspace can be effective.

UnBuild It | Episode 146: A Deep Dive--Windows

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Important considerations for window and glass selection include dual vs triple pane IGUs, i89 coating, center-of-glass vs NFRC performance numbers, and their impact on thermal performance.

UnBuild It | Episode 145: High-Performance HVAC Ducting and Appliance Exhaust

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Properly designing HVAC ducts and registers is crucial for thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency, while coordinating with building design.

UnBuild It | Episode 144: Tips for Young Builders with Tim Hill - Risinger Build

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Jake, Steve, and Tim Hill offer valuable tips for young builders: focus on capital, budget talk, customer service, accuracy, marketing, selectivity, professionalism, saying no, finding your niche, and maintaining work-life balance.

UnBuild It | Episode 142: Sage Advice for Young Architects

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Seriously? These 3 clowns are sages? The discussion includes how to select the "right” school? How much should a school include building science compared to learning it on the job? And what about even just the 4 control layers? And all three of us stand squarely with Steve: if you want to design buildings, get out on the job site first, second, and last over the course of your prep and your years on the job. And then take what you learn at the site to improve the information transfer you accomplish with your drawings! Pete's Resources see the links below.

UnBuild It | Episode 141: BUILDING SCIENCE NAIVETE? You heard it here first!

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All of us in the industry have projects--likely early in our careers--that we just either cringe about or wonder how the heck we got away with that one? The boys wax nostalgic about stories of their naivety over the years, turning them into valuable lessons learned. Actual building topics include spray foam, sill sealer, combining blower door & IR imaging, slab-on-grade insulation, and rainscreens.