Archives: Structure

Roofing Protractor Review

By Todd Fratzel on Framing, Power Tools, Product Reviews, Roofing

It’s not often that I see a new tool or gadget and ask myself why someone hasn’t come up with this thing sooner. When Derek Pater emailed me and asked if he could send me his latest invention, Roofing Protractor, to review I was a bit skeptical. However, I never turn down a product to…

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Does Your House Have Insulation?

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Insulation

Don’t Assume Your House Is InsulatedShortly after we bought our first home we started some major renovation projects including a complete kitchen remodel, master bathroom remodel and replacement window installation. The house we bought was a 1960’s ranch style home that was very well built. I just assumed the house was properly insulated. When I…

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Insulating A Basement With Cellulose

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Energy Conservation, Insulation

I’ve written several posts about how to insulate basements, How To Insulate Basement Walls and Basement Insulation. One of the best ways I know how to insulate a basement is using a combination of polystyrene foam board insulation and spray-in-place cellulose insulation. I get so many emails and questions about how to properly insulate a…

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Tool Belt Gift Idea

By Todd Fratzel on Framing, Power Tools

Are you looking for a great gift for the carpenter in your life? Does a friend or loved one frame houses for a living? Do they need a new tool belt? If so then I highly recommend the Bucket Boss 55039 Tool Belt. Some of the guys that work on my crew use this type…

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Air Sealing Homes Saves Energy Costs

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Insulation

Air sealing homes saves energy costs. This makes so much sense but it’s rarely done and it’s something we’ve only just begun doing to homes in order to meet certain Energy Star guidelines. Air sealing is very easy and it’s something that anyone with experience using a caulking gun can do. If you look closely…

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Spray-In-Place Cellulose Insulation

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Insulation

Here are some more photos showing the spray-in-place cellulose wall insulation that’s being installed in the Energy Star home we’re building for a client. Installing cellulose spray-in-place insulation is a very effective way of insulating a home and almost completely stopping air infiltration. As you can see in these photos the wall cavities between studs…

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Installing Cellulose Spray-In-Place Wall Insulation

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Insulation

Today was another productive day for the crews building the Energy Star home that I’ve been writing about. Today a crew from Murphy’s Cell-Tech started installing the Nu-Wool spray-in-place cellulose insulation in the walls. Nu-Wool spray-in-place cellulose insulation is an amazing energy efficient insulation product. In addition to being such a great air barrier and…

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Cellulose Attic Insulation

By Todd Fratzel on Insulation

Insulating Attics with Blown In Cellulose Insulation Today I’d like to tell you about the cellulose attic insulation being installed in the Energy Star home that we’re building for a client. Blown-in cellulose insulation is an excellent way to insulate your attic space. In my opinion blown-in cellulose is a much better product compared to…

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