Build Science 101: #5 Where is Building Science?

Production builders can't even construct a house to match the plans! Poor construction leads to roofs poorly managing water and walls that can't manage water or air. Imagine if just the most basic aspects of the house were actually done correctly, how much better a basic track home would perform. Installation is possibly more important than insulation. Only those who care build tight. A blower door is a door that whistles when the wind is blowing... Great series and thanks for sharing! 😁👍

Great video! We had 55 days of 110 degree plus temps in Phoenix this summer. I used your building science lessons to build my son's home. ICF exterior walls, shaded porches on all sides except North, Rockwool interior walls, ERV, R50 ceiling insulation, vented attic, low SRI standing seam metal roof, inverter hot water, low U windows. Triple Mitsubishi high SEER mini splits. His August all electric house (2500 sq/ft) power bill was $149! So low I can't justify my dream solar/battery set up. Thanks for the education. Come see it if you are in town. I also built all the cabinets /built ins with real wood (Bourbon Moth help).

While I am the guy meticulously building his own house and 1 and done, I'd like to think I have also learned so much that the second one would be much better. Thanks for all your lessons in building science, I have incorporated so many into my own build it is appreciated.

Love these kinds of discussions. Great content Matt and Build team!

Good series. Keep it coming...faster.

Excellent presentation thank you! Every Builder and home owner should think about more energy-efficient, comfortable housing. But what about affordability? With over a half million people homeless in America we need more housing. After World War II you could buy a house on a single-income. Today you're lucky if you can afford a house with both parents working, the younger generation is struggling.

I've been looking for insulated door knobs, but can't find anything. Metal is good at conducting heat and it seems like an insulated door knob would be pretty useful. Where are the insulated door knobs?

I have been in the trades for 22years. I was injured on the job and have been worried about being able to stay in the game. Because of you guys and this channel I realize I can do more. If you have some suggestions on books or classes I am very interested. Thanks for the insperation.

Better House LLC here. People think it's an ego title that I. Better than others, but I only do specs so I don't market to customers. That's pointed at the workers and subs. No matter if we had a good or bad problem on a job once we resolve it I say we'll build a better house next time.

Building Science is marketing term for engineering. Design in the field of construction is a combination of material properties, labor skills, market conditions, codes, and other factors. The tactics change for each strategy that evolves from the climate and social factors to include economics. Science is a different discipline from building. I agree this approach to building is a perspective that has evolved in part due to new engineered products. It may not be as effective in marketing to call this approach “engineered build”, however we are accustomed to appropriating words with other meanings to fit social trends. Sorry guys for critiquing the choice to call this science when it fits into another discipline.

i believe things we see affect the way we think.... architecture has always been an expressive way of technology.... i think philosophy is the seat of all things.... the love of knowing... similar to how art mimics technology... if technology is the application of knowing?...

I'm going to start using gravity next.

It’s like when people say they’re going on a diet. Fact is, they were already on a diet, just a poor one that made them fat. What they mean is, they are going to improve their diet. We were already using building science, but failing to take a systems-thinking approach or utilizing best practices.

Look, even using the phrase "building science" is appealing to a kind of marketing language, because of what the word 'science' does to people's brains. Maybe we shouldn't saw off the branch we're standing on. Broadening the understanding of how some basic principles of physics and chemistry should inform building best practices is all well and good. I'm not sure why we need to be precious about this "building science" coinage. The basic point is we can do better, and a little physics and chemistry can help us develop and establish a better set of common practices: that's all I need.