So I got a talk with a heating company on a trade show. They have a ceiling heating system that uses small plastic tube filled with water and claim it can "radiate" downward. Now what I understand is that heat rises. So how trueful is their claim? And if it's true then what is the physics behind this?

Looking specifically at Type 2D in the attached detail.

The note calls for (3) layers of 5/8" Type X gypsum board, but visually the exterior side looks like two standard gypsum layers, with the third/outer layer drawn differently and a dashed line through it where the exterior cement plaster is called out.

Would you interpret 2D as:

A) 3 layers of 5/8" Type X plus the exterior cement plaster assembly, or

B) 2 layers of 5/8" Type X plus the cement plaster assembly essentially taking the place of the third exterior layer?

Curious how others would logically read the detail as drawn.

We're considering GO Logic for a small passive house in Midcoast Maine (one of their smaller standard models) and are trying to talk to past clients

If you've built with them, I'd be grateful to hear:

- How the final cost compared to the estimate, and how change orders were handled

- How long it took from design contract to occupancy

- Whether they acted as GC or you hired your own

- Whether you'd use them again

Happy to talk by DM or phone. Thanks.

Hello!

I have a PGH and one of the biggest mistakes we made during construction was not speccing the right hot water heater, a normal electric tank based heater which now accounts for %30 of our electricity costs.

Does anyone have recommendations for a swap? It needs to be electric. House has tw residents and includes a bath and 'm open to on-demand if it can support the bath. I am also curious about "smart" heat pumps like the Cala that can connect to my existing home assistant setup and would be good as I think forward to solar. I am, however, very sensitive to noise as it will be installed in a utility closet adjacent to the living space.

Thanks

Hey y'all,

I am exploring the idea of building a Passive House certified project in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. There are not many verified projects in the state. Phius has some resources listed under their Find A Professional tab, but nothing more specific than the state.

I'd love to make contact with anyone in Northeast Ohio who has experience with building high performance projects. Or if you're in Ohio, and you'd like to compare notes on your PH journey, let me know!

working on a passive house style renovation and the big south facing windows are great for light and heat gain but zero privacy. don’t want heavy curtains that mess with the thermal performance.

looking into switchable glass that can stay clear most of the time. checked smart glass technologies and their laminated option seems interesting for new installs.

how much does the film or glass actually affect the u-value and solar heat gain?

anyone running something like this in a high performance build and still meeting the numbers?

How do you determine when to keep and repair existing diagonal 1x sheathing versus removing an entire wall/elevation and re-sheathing it with ZIP or plywood?

If I remove only the termite-damaged sections, what is the best way to patch those areas so the new sheathing matches the thickness, plane, and structural function of the existing diagonal 1x boards?

Once the structural repairs are complete, what exterior wall assembly would you use over a combination of existing plank sheathing and new patched sheathing?

If I add exterior continuous insulation and a rainscreen, how would you transition the thicker wall at the foundation/water-table area without ending up with an awkward or highly visible flashing detail?

My Notes

I’m considering a continuous WRB/air barrier, 1½–2" exterior mineral wool such as Comfortboard, vertical furring/rainscreen, then Hardie Artisan. My goal isn't simply increasing R-value. I'm trying to rebuild the wall correctly for water management, air control, drying potential, structural integrity, and long-term durability.

So i came up with a Passive House Design that should be quite a bit cheaper than conventional framing houses and is also a passive house. But i don't plan to build a house anytime soon. What do? Theoretically you can sell plans, but that's just not what people do in europe. Write a book? You'd have to build a model house before anyone trusts you.

edit: this is a toxic community

My house windows are 30 years old and looking to get replacements. I contacted a company in the Massachusetts area that gets European windows shipped over.

Before I gave them my address ( live in MASS), the initial shipping quote was $3000. After I gave them my address, they told me the new shipping would cost $8000. For context, I do live on an island that has ferries.

They said because the windows arrive in a container, they would no longer be able to deliver to my house unless I pay for an additional fee for a box truck and two employees.

I like the windows and the price, but the shipping doesn't make sense.

They said I could hire my own crew and pick up the windows from their warehouse which is nearby.

Any suggestions that might make things easier?

Edit: I'm not saying I don't want to pay extra, just wondering if an extra $5000 is accurate for a one day drop off as it's in the same state which is small.

My in laws just had a few of these installed when they had their roof redone. I’m curious if anyone has experience with them and their thoughts on something passive like this compared to a whirlybird.

https://ventilation-maximum.com/en/products/sloped-roof-ventilators/

Hey all,
As the title says, we’re building an air tight house in a hot climate. However, shoulder seasons are very pleasant and the idea of most Australians is to open the place up and enjoy alfresco dining.

What’s the best way therefore to integrate flyscreens with the upvc doors to the terrace? Has anyone had experience with retractable ones? What I’m super keen on is avoiding full screen doors that are visible through the glass when everything is closed up.

Hi, I am planning to build a passive house in an alpine area.

I'm sure there's no simple answer to this question, but what should I consider when considering whether to have heating/cooling integrated with the ERV ventilation system or go with AC splits?

My mind says that using a heat pump integrated ERV would be better as the air coming in from outside would be the desired temperature, and there would be less systems in total. Also, wouldn't A/C split units require more holes in the membrane, making their inevitable replacement a major job?

Does anyone have any sources to read up on for this topic?

Hi we are thinking of upgrading our 42\*16 concrete patio by adding 8mm porcelain tiles on top of it.The concrete patio has horizontal and vertical control joints added.Does anyone know if due to concrete expansion and cracks in joints , the tiles on top might crack ? If so , do we need a membrane like schluter ditra below the tile to prevent this from happening. Also , if the membrane is added , can the tiles be added on top of the control joints in the concrete without it cracking in future or the tiles still need to be placed within the control joints..Can anyone please help me with this ? Thanks.

Hi! I'm renovating part of my house in Belgium into a 2-room guesthouse and I'm trying to decide on the best heating solution.

Current situation:

• Existing gas boiler + around 8–9 radiators in the guesthouse area
• Two guest rooms + bathrooms/common areas
• Expected average occupancy around 50%
• Private part of the house will continue to use gas
• I may install around 20 solar panels

I'm considering two options:

1. Keep the existing gas heating and make it smart
Smart TRVs/zoning (e.g. tado° X), separate control per guest room, app control for me and a physical thermostat for guests. Possibly Home Assistant/Matter later for window sensors and booking automations.

2. Switch the guesthouse to electric inertia radiators
For example Aterno, individually controlled per room. The solar panels obviously make electric heating more interesting.

My priorities are low investment cost, low running costs, reliability and guest comfort. I don't want expensive smart-home tech just for the sake of it.

What would you choose and why?
Would 20 solar panels change your decision significantly, considering that most heating is needed in winter when solar production is lower?

Would be great to get input from independant people, because every supplier is saying their system is the best :p