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 233: Hardwood Flooring, Windows in Rain Screen Walls, and Duct-Free Ventilation Systems

The crew hears from listeners about housing costs and box stores before taking questions on the right way to flash windows in a rain-screen wall, preventing hardwood floor squeaks, and supplying fresh air for HRV’s and ERV’s.

By Patrick McCombe, 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

      Rob, Colin, and Patrick hear from Ian and Bruce about housing costs. Adam writes in about his experience at the home center. Taylor asks how to best flash the new windows in his rain screen walls. Paul asks how to keep his hardwood floors from squeaking and Jeff wants to know how to install a ventilation system without ductwork.

       


      Listener Feedback:

       

      Listener feedback #1 

      Andy Engel writes, Regarding the housing costs in episode 230. There are many, many factors of course, but land development looms very large. Look around any built-up town and you’ll probably see that the easy building lots got used up years ago. What’s left isn’t flat, well-drained corn fields. It’s steep, rocky parcels that at least in Connecticut, have sensitive wetlands that require protection. Certainly that’s not the case everywhere, but around here it is. Anytime you need a hydraulic hammer on an excavator, or dynamite, to put in a road or a foundation hole, your costs skyrocket.

       


       

      Listener feedback #2

      Bruce from Lincoln, RI writes, Interesting show this week (Podcast #230)
      On the affordable house issue, it’s all about the land, they’re not making any more of it.
      Regulation usually means zoning and it’s the lever existing residents pull to keep development expensive. I’m a long time TV/print media member and every Zoning commission meeting has a few regulars to whom the answer to any question is No! On the flip side developers want to pack as many high–end homes onto the land they’ve acquired regardless of how the project will affect the area.
      It would be nice if planners and developers would cooperate to develop affordable housing in appropriate spaces that are near public transportation.

       

       


       

      Listener feedback #3

      Adam in Virginia writes, I was driving in this morning catching up on some FHB podcasts and couldn’t believe what I heard. In episode 2015 Justin said he loves the big box stores? You should test him for coronavirus. The big box stores are the worst. Here are just a few reasons why.
      1. The products they sell are often of questionable quality. For example, it’s a fact that the toilets they sell are those that come off the production line with minor imperfections. Granted I’m not reading stories about toilets failing across the nation but I’ve had a few fail on me. So why risk it? Everyone should just go to their local plumbing supply and get a Toto and never worry again. Ditto with pex and most other plumbing products (I know Justin likes plumbing)
      2. As Justin accurately pointed out, for some dumb reason they don’t sell entire systems. So now I’m taking a half day to drive from store to store trying to find the one thing I need to finish what was supposed to be a 15 minute job.
      3. You’re design limits are constrained but what they sell, which is boring and bad quality.
      4. No one working in the stores has any clue of high performance building.
      5. Tool manufacturers design their products based on what the big box stores tell them they need. So my Dewalt drill is designed for the weekend DIYer and not the pros. This explains why I’m going through drills every few years.
      I will admit the negatives are somewhat balanced out by convenience. I like being able to get things quick on a Sunday or after 5 at night when they supply house is closed. Still, as you can probably tell, I’m not a fan of the blue or orange stores.

       

       


      Editor Updates:

      Colin’s Sister’s gabel-end repairs

      Jeff’s In-law’s kitchen

      Rob’s burning CFLs

       


      Question 1: Another listener asks about flashing-product substitutions

       

      Taylor from Minneapolis, MN writes, Hello FHB podcast. I’m a long time listener and builder in Minneapolis, MN. I just bought my first house in August and am doing a room by room complete renovation of it.
      Today’s question is about windows. This coming summer I plan to reside with Hardie board. I will be removing the old asphalt siding and adding 2” of poly-iso, a WRB, and a rain screen behind the Hardie. When I get to the windows I want to bump them out 3” so they line up with the siding correctly. I have seen a lot of great details on how to flash and waterproof the windows when doing this. It looks to me like the best option is to use a mixture of flashing tape and liquid flash.
      My question is, do I need to use a liquid flash specific product or is there something that I can get more readily like an ISO or Vulkem product and apply that in the same fashion? I’m not against buying the liquid flash if it’s the only way, but I also like to be thrifty where it makes sense.
      Thanks for the great material! Keep it up.

      Related links:

      • What Happens When Building Materials Don’t Like Each Other?
      • Coping With the Revolution in Building Materials

       


      Question 2: How should I install hardwood flooring so it doesn’t squeak?

       

      A listener in NE Ohio writes, Hi Podcast Crew! Love the show!
      Warning: I can be a little long winded—and—-I’m an engineer.
      I’m also a serial DIY remodeler. I’ve done pretty much everything you can do to a house short of building one from the ground up, or anything much involving masonry.
      My wife and I are in the early stages of remodeling our home office in NE Ohio. What type of flooring and what installation method will minimize floor squeaks (or other problems) down the road. The area is over a finished and conditioned basement space that is generally in the 40-50% humidity range. The room is about 12×18 and the 2×10 joists which are 16” on-center run the 12’ direction.
      I know that a lot of squeaks are due to poor subfloor condition or installation. This area has 3/4” plywood subfloor, and I’ll be screwing it down tightly to the joists and fixing any issues before installing any flooring.
      In our dining room, I installed engineered hardwood T&G planks using a floating installation where the planks were glued together during installation over a thick poly vapor retarder covered with ¼ sheet cork. This was all per manufacturer’s installation instructions. It was a bit of a pain to install, since strap clamps had to be used every few rows, and one had to be on the lookout for glue squeeze out. But the floor looks wonderful, and there is not a squeak to be heard (although it’s only been a year or two).
      So I would be comfortable going that same route in the office. However, that’s a fairly pricey way to go. High quality engineered hardwood is expensive, and the cost of the cork adds to that. My shopping tells me high quality prefinished solid hardwood planks tend to be less expensive than the engineered hardwood, and installing with a pneumatic cleat nailer would sure be faster. But I can honestly say that I’ve never been in a house more than a few years old where the conventional hardwood floors didn’t squeak. The HW floors in other rooms in our house squeak horribly.
      It seems to me that tightly tying solid wood to plywood with a zillion little metal barbs is a fool’s errand. The wood is going to move over time and with the seasons, the plywood will move less, so eventually the planks will loosen enough to move against each other and against the cleats and start squeaking. But I want opinions from the pros. Is there a way to install prefinished hardwood so that it is unlikely to squeak?
      There’s a lot out there on the web about fixing squeaking floors, but not much I could find about avoiding or preventing squeaks, aside from the advice about sound subflooring.
      If it matters, we will likely be going with maple flooring regardless of particular type.
      Hope you folks can shed some light on this!
      Special shout out to Kiley; her perspective is a good addition to the show.

      Howard Brickman replies: Use felt. “I have often seen damage done to wood flooring from “acclimating” the flooring to the job before installation. Because the quality of kiln-drying within the wood flooring industry is high, acclimation is only appropriate in extreme climates where interior relative humidity levels are substantially above or below the 7.5% MC/40% RH manufacturing specifications. This includes the arid regions of the western U.S. and the humid southeastern U.S. Acclimating wood flooring in other regions actually risks exposing it to the high levels of relative humidity and moisture present during summer or on a new construction site. This will cause the wood flooring to swell before and during installation. Then, during the first heating season, it will shrink and permanent spaces will be left between the flooring strips. Instead, dry out the building before bringing the flooring on site.”

      You want 9 nails per sq. ft.

      Floor width
      1 1/2
      2 1/4
      3
      3 1/4
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      Nail spacing
      10 to 11
      6 to 8
      5 to 6
      5
      4
      3 to 4
      3
      2 to 3
      2

       

      Related links:

      • NWFA is Making Sweeping Changes to Their Wood-Flooring Installation Guidelines
      • A Closer Look at Solid-Wood Flooring

       


      Question 3: How can I install an ERV or HRV if I’ve got no room for ductwork?

       

       

      Jeff writes, One question that comes up frequently on the podcast is how to bring in fresh air to the building (ERV, HRV, etc). While this may be easier with ducted heating and cooling system, it may be more challenging with a hydronic heat system, such as a gas/oil fired furnace with base board, and no central a/c. How can one bring in fresh air and exhaust stale air when no ductwork exists?

      Related links:

      • Ducting HRVs and ERVs
      • Running Ducting for an ERV

       

       

       


       

      End Note:

      Check out our new comprehensive guide about building decks, with hundreds of articles and dozens of videos covering everything from design to framing to finish details and more.

      Project Guide: DECKS

       

       


       

      FHB Podcast sticker

      If you have any questions you would like us to dig into for a future show, shoot an email our way: [email protected].
      If we use your question we’ll send you a FHB Podcast sticker!

       

      KCA Trucker Hat#KeepCraftAlive

      KeepCraftAlive hats help celebrate the value of true craftsmanship–plus 50% of all proceeds from every hat sold go to the #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship Fund, supported by Fine Homebuilding and SkillsUSA.

      Buy a #KeepCraftAlive hat or t-shirt

       


       

      This episode of the Fine Homebuilding podcast is brought to you by ZIP System building enclosures.

      By creating the integrated sheathing alternative to “layered” roof and wall assemblies, ZIP System sheathing and flashing options provide a streamlined approach to exterior water, air and thermal management. Did you know ZIP System has been on the market for over 10 years and not only comes with a 180-Day Exposure Guarantee and 30-Year Limited Warranty, but decades of research from the scientists and innovators at Huber Engineered Woods. Learn why so many building teams have make the switch to ZIP System building enclosures and how to get it on your next project at the new ZIPSystem.com.

      Also brought to you by Danner:

      If you believe in timeless ideas like quality, craftsmanship, and blazing your own path, I want to introduce you to our friends at Danner who sponsor this podcast. A Pacific Northwest original for over 85 years, Danner makes boots for people with purpose in their step. Boots like the new Steelyard family—featuring 8 different models with game-changing comfort, legendary durability, and performance features for any jobsite. Earn a pair and join the family at Danner.com.

      Also brought to you by Benjamin Obdyke:

      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.

       


      Renovation 5th Edition

       

      Fine Homebuilding podcast listeners can now get 20% off anything in the Taunton store, including the Renovation 5th Edition.

      Use the discount code FHBPODCAST to take advantage of this special offer.


       

      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 and hats support scholarships for building trades students. So order some gear 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

      Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

      Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

      Related Stories

      • Podcast Episode 693: Old-House Hazards, Building Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
      • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements
      • Old Boots Learn New Tricks
      • Podcast Episode 691: Replacing Vinyl Siding, Sloping Concrete, and Flat vs. Pitched Roofs

      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
      • A Closer Look at Smart Water-Leak Detection Systems
      • Podcast Episode 678: Live from the Builders' Show-Part 2
      • Podcast Episode 677: Live from the Builders' Show-Part 1
      • FHB Podcast Segment: The Best of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Volume 8
      View All

      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