Performance & Efficiency

Step-by-step guides, tested in real houses.

Caulk gun laying a clean bead of white sealant along an exterior window frame, with weatherstripping and a utility knife on the sill

ExteriorWeatherproofing & Drainage Solutions8 min read

Seal It Up: Weatherproofing Your Home Before the Seasons Turn

A DIY weatherproofing checklist: find air leaks, caulk exterior gaps, add weatherstripping and door sweeps, and cut drafts for about $40 in materials.

Gloved hands filling a wiring hole through attic framing with expanding foam, caulk gun and headlamp lying nearby

ExteriorEnergy Audits & Air Sealing11 min read

The DIY Energy Audit and Air-Sealing Weekend That Pays Rent

A step-by-step guide to a DIY energy audit and air-sealing weekend: smoke-pencil leak hunting, attic top plates, foam and caulk targets, and weatherstripping.

A worker in gloves blowing loose-fill insulation across attic joist bays, a wooden depth ruler standing in the fill

ExteriorExterior Insulation11 min read

Top Up Attic Insulation to R-49 the Right Way

A step-by-step guide to topping up attic insulation: air-seal first, install baffles, choose blown-in over batts, and verify depth with rulers every ten feet.