FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

Podcast Episode 156: Home Building Across the Globe, Air-Sealing Can Lights, and Parging an Old Concrete Wall

This week's podcast starts off with Matt's insights into residential construction methods in the many places he's lived around the world while writing for the newspaper Stars and Stripes.

By Patrick McCombe, Matthew Millham, Rob Wotzak
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Background
      Window
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Follow the Fine Homebuilding Podcast on your favorite app. Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode:

      Watch on YouTube

      Because the Fine Homebuilding editors have nothing to report on their personal home-remodeling projects, Patrick asks Matt to recount experiences he’s had living in unique homes in Europe and the Middle East. Then it’s on to the advice portion of the show, where the guys offer solutions for improving attic insulation, avoiding het loss through leaky recessed lighting, and repairing crumbling plaster or stucco on old masonry foundation walls.

       


      Editors’ updates: Housing around the world

      Patrick asks Matt about the multitude of home styles he’d seen when traveling around the world in his former career as a military journalist.​

      But first, a quick look at the progress on Matt’s custom workbench…

      Related links:

      • Skilsaw Super Sawsquatch
      • Big Saw Bests Big Timbers

       


      Question 1: Blow in cellulose on top of old fiberglass insulation?

      Jorge from San Antonio writes: Good afternoon, I am facing a common problem that has been coming up with other listeners. My home was built in 1979 and is as an energy pig.  It’s a single story and i would like to air seal the attic before blowing in some cellulose. It currently has a few inches of some, blow in fiberglass insulation, the black stuff that makes your skin itch like the devil.  Now, is it worth removing all the old insulation and properly air sealing with acoustical sealant and spray foam.  Or will I get similar results by just blowing in a mile of cellulose. Thanks.

      Related links:

      • What’s the best attic insulation?
      • How To Air-Seal an Attic
      • Air-Sealing Basics

       


      Question 2: Improving the air-seal on my caulked can lights?

      Chris from Connecticut writes: Hey Guys, Five years ago we moved into our current house in Connecticut (a Cape) and I added eight can lights with LED retrofit screw in bulbs in the living room via access through the second story floor which I cut open, and the holes I drilled in the ceiling. By this point I had read about all of the convoluted ways to try to safely air seal can lights and I promptly disregarded them all in favor of caulking the trim kit to the ceiling drywall. So far as I can tell with a smoke stick they are airtight, and I needn’t worry about these bulbs dying for a little while yet, so why the hell isn’t everyone doing this?.

      Related links:

      • Air-Sealing Can Lights Safely
      • Recessed Can Lights
      • How do you air-seal recessed can lights that you can’t access from above?

      ​


      Question 3: What’s the best way to insulate my crawlspace?

      Joey from Boston writes: Hi! I have a question that I think is about air-sealing and insulation.

      Our 1st-floor laundry/bathroom gets very cold in the winter, despite the adjacent sunroom, which shares the [forced hot water] heating zone, being pretty comfortable. The 11’x12′ bathroom was added on in the 50s, and because of its location is exposed on 3 sides and has a flat roof above. I think it’s also at the tail of that particular heating loop.

      Below both the bathroom and sunroom is a crawlspace. There’s an opening from the full-height basement, but this is full of AC ductwork so the remaining access is via an exterior window (33″x15″). There’s actually a dedicated “unit heater” for this crawlspace with its own thermostat (currently set at 55°), presumably to avoid freezing pipes. There is some insulation between the floor joists, but only under about half of the floor area. Last winter, I spray-foamed some obvious gaps around the foundation and weather-stripped around the window.

      I’m not sure what the best, most efficient approach is:

      • to isolate the living space from the crawlspace by insulating and air-sealing the floor better, and letting the unit heater minimally warm the pipes below, or
      • to insulate the foundation wall, maybe with spray foam, and just treat the entire space as conditioned. Should I remove the insulation batts in this case? And how high should I set the crawlspace thermostat?
      • Another option?

      Related links:

      • Get the Right Rigid Foam
      • The No-Mold Finished Basement

       


      Question 4: How do I clean up my parged basement walls?

      Clifton from Portland writes: Hi Guys, I have been slowly renovating my 1916 bungalow in Portland Oregon and recently discovered your podcast!  I wish I had a couple years ago how much great information is available on through Fine Homebuilding.

      My question is the next project on my list is to clean up the basement and make it a little nicer for my workshop and utility room.  I have a foundation wall that is about 4 ft high around the whole parameter topped with a pony wall.  At one point someone tried to do a parge coat on the old foundation but in spots it is bubbling off from what I can only assume is where some moisture is coming though.  In researching further I read that parging a cement wall that is mostly lime with a mix of mostly Portland cement will cause this as moisture and minerals being pulled through the concrete will be blocked by the Portland in the mix and cause it to bubble and crumble.  I tested a little bit of the original foundation with some vinegar and indeed got lots of bubble indicting a high lime content.

      I’d like to re-parge the walls to clean everything up as well as protect the original foundation since it is on the softer side due to unwashed sand which was common at the time.  I’ve read that using a hydraulic lime mixture instead is the way to go so have a couple of questions.

      – Would I need to somehow remove all of the bad portland parge or just in the spots where it is bubbling off?

      – Does this sound like the direction to be headed in or is there some other way to address the issue as I can’t afford any major foundation work at the moment?

      Thanks!

      Related links:

      • US Heritage Group: Plaster and mortar for historic buildings
      • Restoration Guide for Historic Masonry Buildings

       


      Fine Homebuilding at the 2019 International Builders’ Show

      If you can make it to IBS (Feb. 19th – 21st) in Las Vegas this year, you can get FREE tickets to the floor show courtesy of Fine Homebuilding.

      Also, if you definitely plan to be at the show, email us at [email protected] if you would like a chance to join us for the taping of one our 6 episodes at the Fine Homebuilding booth (at 10am and 3pm each day of the show).

       


      This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Benjamin Obdyke and MiTek

      This episode of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast is brought to you by Benjamin Obdyke would like to use the special occasion of our 150th anniversary to thank the nuisances that builders and homeowners despise. Our premium products protect from those pesky things like rain, snow, UV rays and the neighbor’s sprinkler system. Take HydroGap, a drainable housewrap that eliminates moisture from your wall assembly. Or the new InvisiWrap UV, an all-black WRB, perfect for long-term moisture protection behind open joint siding.  Come hang out with our awesome team and see our sexy new solutions at the International Builder’s Show, booth C7250. 

      Also brought to you by MiTek for Breakthroughs in Building. MiTek offers integrated Solutions…for more affordable, sustainable, safe, healthy, efficient and resilient homes. As a diversified, global supplier of software, engineered structural connections, engineering services and automated manufacturing equipment, MiTek provides a technologically advanced, high-quality, and reliable approach to building better homes with better technology.  Work with the industry leader to solve the labor shortage, reduce cycle times and eliminate waste.

      We hope you will take advantage of a great offer for our podcast listeners: A special 20% off the discounted rate to subscribe to the Fine Homebuilding print magazine. That link goes to finehomebuilding.com/podoffer.

      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 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.

       

      Other related links

      • All FHB podcast show notes: FineHomebuilding.com/podcast.
      • #KeepCraftAlive T-shirts support scholarships for building trades students. So go order some shirts at KeepCraftAlive.org.
      • The direct link to the online store is here.

      Sign up to get the Fine Homebuilding Podcast newsletter and special offers delivered to your inbox.

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters
      ×

      Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters

      New Feature

      Fine Homebuilding Forums

      Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

      • X
      • facebook
      • linkedin
      • pinterest
      • email
      • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

      Log in or create an account to post a comment.

      Sign up Log in

      Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

      More The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

      View All
      • Podcast Episode 693: Old-House Hazards, Building Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
      • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
      • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements
      • Podcast Episode 691: Replacing Vinyl Siding, Sloping Concrete, and Flat vs. Pitched Roofs
      View All

      Up Next

      Video Shorts

      Featured Story

      Fast, Accurate Wall Framing

      A rear addition provides a small-scale example of how to frame efficiently.

      Featured Video

      A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

      The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

      Related Stories

      • A Practical Perfect Wall
      • Insulation Scrap Dispenser
      • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
      • Install Denim Insulation Like a Pro

      Discussion Forum

      Recent Posts and Replies

      • |
      • |
      • |
      • |
      • |
      • |
      View More Create Post

      Highlights

      Fine Homebuilding All Access
      Fine Homebuilding Podcast
      Tool Tech
      Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

      "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

      Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters

      Video

      View All Videos
      • Adding Windows, Siding, and a Brick Lime-Wash Coating
      • Control Layers for a Remodel
      • Replacing Old Shingles with a New Metal Roof
      • Framing a Second Story on an Existing House
      View All

      Basements

      View All Basements Articles
      • Strategies for Making an Old House Airtight
      • FHB Podcast Segment: Lime Wash Recipe for an Old Concrete Basement
      • Podcast Episode 646: Overhanging Floors, Sustainable Building, and Bath Fans
      View All Basements Articles

      Fine Homebuilding Magazine

      • Issue 332 - July 2025
        • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
        • Fight House Fires Through Design
        • Making the Move to Multifamily
      • Issue 331 - June 2025
        • A More Resilient Roof
        • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
        • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
      • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
        • Deck Details for Durability
        • FAQs on HPWHs
        • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
      • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
        • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
        • A Kominka Comes West
        • Making Small Kitchens Work
      • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
        • How a Pro Replaces Columns
        • Passive House 3.0
        • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

      Fine Home Building

      Newsletter Sign-up

      • Fine Homebuilding

        Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

      • Green Building Advisor

        Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

      • Old House Journal

        Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters

      Follow

      • Fine Homebuilding

        Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
        • LinkedIn
      • GBA Prime

        Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • YouTube
      • Old House Journal

        Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

        Subscribe Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
      • Fine Homebuilding

        Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
        • LinkedIn
      • GBA Prime

        Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • YouTube
      • Old House Journal

        Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

        Subscribe Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X

      Membership & Magazine

      • Online Archive
      • Start Free Trial
      • Magazine Subscription
      • Magazine Renewal
      • Gift a Subscription
      • Customer Support
      • Privacy Preferences
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Careers
      • Terms of Use
      • Site Map
      • Do not sell or share my information
      • Privacy Policy
      • Accessibility
      • California Privacy Rights

      © 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

      Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

      • Home Group
      • Antique Trader
      • Arts & Crafts Homes
      • Bank Note Reporter
      • Cabin Life
      • Cuisine at Home
      • Fine Gardening
      • Fine Woodworking
      • Green Building Advisor
      • Garden Gate
      • Horticulture
      • Keep Craft Alive
      • Log Home Living
      • Military Trader/Vehicles
      • Numismatic News
      • Numismaster
      • Old Cars Weekly
      • Old House Journal
      • Period Homes
      • Popular Woodworking
      • Script
      • ShopNotes
      • Sports Collectors Digest
      • Threads
      • Timber Home Living
      • Traditional Building
      • Woodsmith
      • World Coin News
      • Writer's Digest
      Active Interest Media logo
      X
      X
      This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

      Main Menu

      • How-To
      • Design
      • Tools & Materials
      • Video
      • Blogs
      • Forum
      • Project Guides
      • Reader Projects
      • Magazine
      • Members
      • FHB House

      Podcasts

      • FHB Podcast
      • ProTalk

      Webinars

      • Upcoming and On-Demand

      Podcasts

      • FHB Podcast
      • ProTalk

      Webinars

      • Upcoming and On-Demand

      Popular Topics

      • Kitchens
      • Business
      • Bedrooms
      • Roofs
      • Architecture and Design
      • Green Building
      • Decks
      • Framing
      • Safety
      • Remodeling
      • Bathrooms
      • Windows
      • Tilework
      • Ceilings
      • HVAC

      Magazine

      • Current Issue
      • Past Issues
      • Magazine Index
      • Subscribe
      • Online Archive
      • Author Guidelines

      All Access

      • Member Home
      • Start Free Trial
      • Gift Membership

      Online Learning

      • Courses
      • Project Guides
      • Reader Projects
      • Podcast

      More

      • FHB Ambassadors
      • FHB House
      • Customer Support

      Account

      • Log In
      • Join

      Newsletter

      Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters

      Follow

      • X
      • YouTube
      • instagram
      • facebook
      • pinterest
      • Tiktok

      Join All Access

      Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

      Start Your Free Trial

      Subscribe

      FHB Magazine

      Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

      Subscribe

      Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

      Already a member? Log in

      We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

      Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

      Start your FREE trial

      Already a member? Log in

      Privacy Policy Update

      We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

      Cookies

      Analytics

      These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

      Advertising/Social Media

      These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

      Essential

      These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

      Delete My Data

      Delete all cookies and associated data