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Brian Pontolilo

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Brian Pontolilo has spent nearly a quarter-century as a journalist, writer, editor, and producer covering residential design and construction at Fine Homebuilding magazine and GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. Brian has a degree in professional writing, worked for a short time at local newspapers, and as a novice in landscape construction, painting, and carpentry before coming to the Taunton Press, and during the many breaks he has taken from office life. On his most recent hiatus from full-time employment, Brian designed and built a net-zero-energy house in northwest Connecticut following the Pretty Good House philosophy. He rejoined the FHB staff once again in the summer of 2023.

  • FHB Podcast Segment: Designing and Building an Efficient Slab-On-Grade Home

    There are important considerations to keep in mind when building a slab-on-grade home with continuous insulation.

  • What’s Old Is New — An Exciting Announcement

    Fine Homebuilding's editorial director has some fun news to share.

  • Plumbing Protection

    Some of these smart devices are more than a leak alarm—they can help you understand your water usage and diagnose plumbing problems.

  • Show Us Your Shop

    We want to see how you make the most of your workshop.

  • Remembering Larry Haun

    With his boundless skills, unwavering work ethic, and big heart, this California framing carpenter was — and forever will be — an inspiration to generations of builders around the world.

  • The Complicated Role of a Water-Resistive Barrier

    Choose the right WRB product and install it well, because if you're not keeping water out, nothing else matters.

  • Save With a Smart Thermostat

    The technology has become affordable, offering easy access to energy- and money-saving features, not to mention comfort.

  • The Air We Breathe

    Source control, ventilation, and filtration are the keys to healthy indoor air quality. Dehumidification is important too.

  • Indoor Air Pollutants and Their Sources

    It’s incredibly helpful to know about indoor air pollutants and their sources. Understanding what the potential pollutants are and knowing how they arrive in our homes allows us to mitigate…

  • Podcast 626: Walls with Fiber Sheathing, Optional Building Inspections, and Heat Pump Water Heaters

    Listeners write in about high water bills, soggy straw bales, and house fires and ask questions about tightening wood-fiber walls, places without inspections, and heat pump water heaters.

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

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  • Issue 327 - November 2024
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