UnBuild It Podcast

R-value is only part of the story. In the final episode of the Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete tackle the thermal control layer—and why good insulation means very little if the rest of the building enclosure isn't working with it.

The boys break down heat flow, insulation, thermal bridging, and the importance of maintaining a continuous thermal control layer throughout the building. As with water, air, and vapor, continuity matters: transitions, penetrations, framing, windows, doors, and other interruptions can undermine an otherwise well-insulated assembly.

But thermal performance isn't simply about chasing hi...

Vapor is one of the most misunderstood parts of building science—and in many assemblies, it helps buildings dry rather than making them wet. In Part 3 of the Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete break down vapor control, vapor permeability, drying potential, and why decades of confusing code language created so much fear around vapor.

As Steve puts it, “Vapor is not a liability, it is an asset.” Buildings get wet. In most climates and assemblies, the ability to dry through vapor diffusion is an important part of keeping moisture-sensitive materials safe.

The crew e...

Airtightness is one of the most important—and most measurable—parts of building performance. In Part 2 of the Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete break down how air control layers work, why continuity matters, and how blower door testing exposes the difference between theory and reality.

The crew starts with several principles that apply across multiple control layers: staying in one plane makes continuity easier, simpler details are more likely to succeed, and combining control functions in a single material can reduce opportunities for failure. They also revisit one of their favorite ideas: eliminate “confused spaces...

Water is the number one enemy of building durability—and the first control layer every builder, architect, and designer needs to understand. In Part 1 of a four-part Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete break down the principles of water management that every high-performance building depends on.

The conversation starts where most rain begins: the roof. From roof design and drainage to flashing strategies and capillary action, the crew explores how liquid water moves through buildings and why good design is the first line of defense. They also discuss how patterns of water damage in both hi...

How do you design a home for floods, wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, or ice storms? In this episode, Steve, Jake, and Pete explore what it really means to build for extreme events—and why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Drawing from real-world experience, Steve and Jake discuss how high-performance homes can be adapted to withstand the specific hazards of a site’s climate and geography. From flood-resistant foundations and safe rooms to wildfire resilience and high-wind detailing, the conversation focuses on matching building strategies to the level of protection each client wants to achieve.

The discus...

Three listener questions lead to three very different building science discussions—from cold-climate roof assemblies to aging-in-place design and innovative foundation systems.

The episode begins with a Climate Zone 7 tongue-and-groove ceiling question, comparing ZIP sheathing and smart vapor retarders for airtightness and moisture control beneath a vented attic. From there, a question about zero-threshold exterior doors expands into a broader conversation about Universal Design and designing homes that remain accessible throughout every stage of life.

The final discussion explores alternatives to traditional concrete foundations, including wood-based and prefabricated foundation systems. Steve and Jake weigh in on...

How much can a building affect human health—and what happens when occupants become highly sensitive to their environment? In this episode, Steve and Pete are joined by retired building scientist and pulmonary physician Nathan Yost for a thoughtful discussion on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and its relationship to building performance.

Nathan shares insights from decades of experience working with clients dealing with chemical sensitivities, along with more recent medical understanding surrounding pregnancy, hormonal changes, and biochemical sensitivities. The conversation explores where building science intersects with health concerns, how indoor environments can influence occupant comfort, and what bu...

Four listener questions. Four very different building science challenges. One highly technical episode.

Steve, Jake, and Pete tackle a collection of building puzzles that span foundations, roofs, wall assemblies, and moisture management. The discussion starts with expansive soils and why successful construction often depends on engineered foundation systems designed to accommodate soil movement. From there, the crew examines attic radiant barriers, where they work best, and why climate matters when evaluating their performance.

The conversation then shifts to a cold-climate stucco retrofit involving exterior rigid insulation, reinforcing a core building science principle: prioritize the four...

Do certifications, standards, and professional credentials actually lead to better buildings—or just more paperwork? Steve, Jake, and Pete tackle one of the more uncomfortable questions in the building industry: why so many standards fail to consistently produce better outcomes in the real world.

The conversation ranges from ASTM standards and manufacturer testing to architectural credentials and industry certifications, questioning where standards genuinely help—and where culture, habits, and resistance to change become the bigger obstacle. Steve makes the case that the industry’s biggest challenge may not be technical at all, but cultural.

The crew a...

Can ZIP-R panels work on a roof—and should they? Steve, Jake, and Nick Sabol from Huber’s Technical team dig into a topic that’s getting a lot of attention in the field.

This episode breaks down the full set of considerations behind putting insulated sheathing on the roof deck: structural loading, fastening and shear, hygrothermal behavior, condensation risk, and long-term durability. The crew looks at where the idea makes sense, where it doesn’t, and what you need to understand before trying it on a real project.

It’s a detail-heavy conversation that connects t...

Do wildfire zones actually change how rainscreens should be detailed—and where does conventional thinking fall short? Nick Sabol from Huber’s Product Engineering team is back with Steve and Pete to continue the deep dive into wall details that actually work.

This episode focuses on rainscreen strategies in wildfire-prone areas and challenges the assumption that every risk requires a completely different assembly. The discussion also highlights Steve’s perspective on using materials like ZIP sheathing in unconventional ways—prioritizing performance and continuity over tradition when it makes sense.

From fire exposure considerations to air barrier...

What are the most critical wall details for managing water and air—and where do builders get them wrong? Nick Sabol from Huber’s Product Engineering team joins the crew for a technical deep dive into exterior wall assemblies that actually perform.

Pete, Jake, and Nick focus on two of the most failure-prone areas in construction: bottom-of-wall-to-foundation connections and window rainscreen detailing. The discussion breaks down how to properly manage bulk water, maintain continuous air control, and integrate systems so they work together instead of against each other.

Along the way, they introduce RAINA (Rainscreen Asso...

How much load can insulation actually carry—and are we over-engineering residential buildings without realizing it?

This episode goes deep into the structural and thermal realities behind common building materials. The crew breaks down compressive loading on rigid insulation, long-term creep behavior, and how these factors influence slab and foundation design. From there, the conversation expands into thermal bridging challenges in wood and concrete assemblies, and how innovative framing systems like EcoSmart and Tolko aim to improve performance.

Along the way, they question a core assumption in residential construction: are we solving problems that don’t ac...

Climate drives building performance. In the first episode of a three-part series, Pete, Steve, and Jake explore why climate matters so much in building science.

Steve kicks off the discussion with a simple analogy: Would you pack the same suitcase for Minneapolis in February, Honolulu in March, and New Orleans in July? Of course not. Buildings work the same way. Design decisions about insulation, vapor control, air barriers, and drying potential all depend on where the building lives.

The conversation walks through how climate zones influence building enclosure strategy and why national research from the...

Is social media helping the building industry—or hurting it? Matt Risinger joins Jake and Steve as the Three Social Media Amigos to roast Pete, the resident social media skeptic, and unpack what online platforms really mean for builders, architects, and building science pros.

The conversation draws a sharp line between the dark side of social media—misinformation, marketing noise, and ego-driven content—and its best potential: real information transfer, community, and better buildings through shared knowledge. It’s entertaining, honest, and occasionally brutal (especially for Pete), but it also raises serious questions about how we learn, teach, a...

Who really matters most on a building project—and can the team actually work together? In this episode, the crew digs into the five “gears” of the building process: designers, builders, manufacturers, consultants, and building owners or users. The big question is whether any one of those gears is more important than the others—or whether good buildings only happen when they all mesh.

Steve cuts straight to the chase, sharing how he really feels about consultants (that would be Pete) and, in particular, energy modelers. The discussion gets lively, honest, and occasionally spicy, but the takeaway is clear...

Are vented crawlspaces really a bad idea—and can you actually over-insulate a window frame? The crew gets fired up tackling two topics that refuse to die in building science conversations.

First up is crawlspaces. The boys dig into a bit of U.S. crawlspace history, what vented crawlspaces were originally intended to do, and why they so often fail to perform as hoped. They walk through what crawlspaces should and should not do, and why climate, moisture, and enclosure strategy matter far more than tradition.

Then Steve takes the lead on one of his fa...

Can ERVs actually dehumidify a home? And does it ever make sense to use a dehumidifier in a vented crawlspace? Two listener questions spark a lively—and slightly ruthless—discussion that leads to one of Steve’s classic lines: “Suck it up, buttercup!”

The crew digs into how moisture really behaves in dry climates, what ERVs can and cannot do when it comes to latent load management, and why dehumidification strategies that work in one climate can be completely wrong in another. They also unpack the challenges of managing moisture in vented crawlspaces and why adding equipment isn’t alwa...

Windows are one of the most confusing—and consequential—components of a high-performance home. In this episode, the crew takes a deep dive into window and glass selection, aiming to make things clear without letting your eyes glaze over.

The discussion covers dual-pane versus triple-pane insulated glazing units, IGU numbering conventions, and the relatively new i89 coating—including what it means for thermal performance and condensation risk. They also unpack the difference between center-of-glass values and full-window NFRC performance numbers, and why those distinctions matter when making real design decisions.

One gem of a takeaway sums i...

A detailed look at smarter HVAC ducting, better airflow, and what it really takes to manage appliance exhaust and makeup air in high-performance homes.

The boys dive into the how and why behind HVAC duct layout, register placement, and whole-house airflow. They break down how interior design, enclosure performance, and mechanical systems must coordinate—because ducting isn’t just about energy efficiency. Thermal comfort and indoor air quality matter just as much.

They also get into makeup air, kitchen ventilation, and what happens when houses get tighter and appliances get stronger. Lots of building science, lots...

What does it really take to grow as a young builder today? Jake and Steve bring in Risinger Build’s Managing Partner, Tim Hill, for a fast-paced, experience-packed conversation full of practical advice for builders looking to level up their craft, business, and mindset.

Jake and Steve give Pete the boot for this one—and for good reason. Tim joins them to share real-world insights on everything from building capital and managing budgets to client communication, niche-building, and avoiding the projects that drain your time and sanity. Across the episode, there are a “baker’s dozen” takeaways that every...

A deep dive into cathedral roof design and insulation strategy. The team compares solid-sawn rafters vs. scissor trusses, smart vapor retarders vs. poly, and discusses optimal roof pitches. You’ll learn when to vent from the topside, from below, or go unvented entirely—and why those choices matter.
In the last 10 minutes, the crew unpacks one of building science’s trickiest topics: 6-sided containment of air-permeable insulation—and how it impacts attic R-values and energy performance.

 PETE'S RESOURCES:

1. GBA "Five Cathedral Ceilings That Work:"

2. BSD-149: Unvented Roof Assemblie...

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:

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.

PETE'S RESOURCES:

Installing windows is getting more, not less, complicated. Pete lobbies for a different, more durable, and simpler gasket installation of windows. Steve and Jake weigh in with their insights and challenges to what Pete is up to. And a bonus: with Steve and Jake's help, Pete creates a new word: "Poninions" (Pete crashed the words opinions and positions, and his "friends" just could not let it slide).

PETE'S RESOURCES:

- Pella Steady Set: https://www.pella.com/professionals/steady-set/

- Build Show LIVE 2024 Austin, TX: "Why...

The boys start with a really cool problem-solving involving a monopoly framing, big overhangs, and thermal bridging. And the follow-up is an excellent question from Western Canada regarding the use of ZIP sheathing with a Class I interior vapor retarder. It's a great discussion involving R-values, air barriers, vapor permeability (including all Classes of vapor retarders), wetting, and drying. Whew! Good thing that Steve had a "great" joke to close this one out...(gag).

 PETE'S RESOURCES:

- GBA: "Calculating Thermal Bridging in a Wood-Framed Building:" 

- BuildingScienceAdvisor: 

- GBA "Can...

If you can't find an experienced high-performance builder, then find a professional builder who is willing to listen and learn! And add in time and money in the budget for that listening and learning. The same can go for your architect. But as Steve says: "SOMEONE has to drive the bus. Put on your big boy pants and move your business to the next level."

 PETE'S RESOURCES:

- Building Enclosure Manufacturers Tech Support - Here are just a few manufacturers with outstanding tech support professionals: Huber, Dorken, Rockwool, Benjamin Obdyke, Prosoco...

 ...

All 3 UBIP podcasters are fond of the Superior Wall System, but connecting the extended "foot" of the foundation wall panel to the basement slab is a bit tricky. But not for Steve, but of course. And while sump pumps OUTSIDE are a mystery to Pete, Jake & Steve walk Pete through it. And a bonus: using gravel to spread the structural load and better manage the water load. All that and a "joke" by Steve to-just-die-for...

PETE'S RESOURCES:

- Superior Wall resources on slab-to-panel connections - https://weaverprecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pouring-the-Concrete-Floor-Slab.pdf& https...

Once again, we drive wood into the ground, but only in the context of Permanent Wood Foundations. No surprise that this discussion is all about water & drainage. And some episodes ago, the boys each revealed pivotal moments in their careers in the building industry and wrapped up with a request for your pivotal moments. We got one, but what a doozy from our buddy Carl Seville of SK Collaborative. I think we might be done now (at least for a while) with PWF, but come on now: email us your pivotal moment in our industry!

PETE'S...