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The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

Podcast Episode 54 — Cellulose vs. Fiberglass

Casement windows, lead paint abatement, dormers, and when smart membrane is not needed.

By Fine Homebuilding Editors
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Fine Homebuilding Podcast Episode 54
In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. The guys respond to a listener who takes them to task over their lead paint removal conversation in Podcast Episode 47.
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      In this podcast episode, host and editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo. The guys respond to a listener who takes them to task over their lead paint removal conversation in Podcast Episode 47. Justin talks about the time he stripped his own house, and the measures he took then.

      Another listener asks about Rob’s dormer build, sizing his dormers to look appropriate given the design of his house, but also having a large enough clearing to meet code for egress requirements.

      Other topics covered in this podcast: blown-in fiberglass insulation vs. cellulose, building a deck over a concrete patio, and using smart membrane with insulation. Plus, Justin’s house is so leaky, a bird got in. “I think it came in through a gap between two boards somehow,” he says in the episode.

      We also have our continuing request for listeners: We need all our fans to take our podcast feedback survey by clicking here.

      This episode is sponsored by SoftPlan, software for better home design.

      The show is driven by our listeners, so please subscribe and rate us on iTunes or Google Play, and if you have any questions you would like us to dig into for a future show, shoot an email our way: [email protected]. Also, be sure to follow Justin Fink, Rob Yagid, and Fine Homebuilding on Instagram — and “like” the magazine on Facebook. Note that you can watch the show above, or on YouTube at the Fine Homebuilding YouTube Channel.

      The Fine Homebuilding Podcast embodies Fine Homebuilding magazine’s commitment to the preservation of craftsmanship and the advancement of home performance in residential construction. The show is an informal but vigorous conversation about the techniques and principles that allow listeners to master their design and building challenges.

      Resources mentioned in (or related to) this podcast episode:

      • FHB articles by green expert Michael Chandler.
      • FHB articles by insulation expert Alex Wilson.
      • Passive House Meets Pueblo.
      • All FHB podcast show notes: FineHomebuilding.com/podcast.
      • KeepCraftAlive.org.

      Dormers: Here’s an illustration to clarify the guys’ discussion of dormer code, exit egress requirements, and windows used:

      021245094-designing-gable-dormers_xlg

      Deck on Patio 1: Here’s a photo sent in by listener Joe to show where he wants to build a deck over an existing patio:Joe 2

      Deck on Patio 2: Here’s Justin’s diagram to explain the weight issues for Joe’s deck situation:

      deckdiagram
      JM Spider and blow-in fiberglass insulation … It’s not itchy! Also please click the gallery link below to check out photos courtesy Alex Wilson, taken at his house.

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      1. BobboMax | Jan 24, 2019 09:48pm | #1

        FWIW, I don't have an hour to sit around listening until you guys get to the meat of the podcast, which in my case is cellulose v. fiberglass.

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