Insulate and Weatherize: Expert Advice from Start to Finish (Build Like A Pro) (Paperback)

by Bruce Harley (Author) "There is a lot of misconception, folklore, and conflicting information about the consequences of weatherizing a house: ""A house has to breathe-you don't want it..." (more)
Key Phrases: blowing cellulose, good air barrier, indoor humidity control, Kevin Kennefick, Fine Homebuilding, Energy Star (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Taunton has created its new "Build Like a Pro" series to help serious do-it-yourselfers perform projects of greater complexity than are usually covered in books for amateurs. An engineer who trains builders in energy-efficient construction, Harley offers a wealth of information that will allow readers to improve their home's efficiency, saving both money and natural resources. After an introductory section that explains the underlying principles of heat transfer, insulation, and air quality, Harley demonstrates basics such as weather-stripping and moves forward through advanced projects including insulation and major upgrades. Short "Pro Tips" as well as sections labeled "Trade Secrets," "What Can Go Wrong," and "In Detail" provide a great deal of helpful information. Increasing energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways for homeownes to save money, so this book is sure to be used. Other titles in this series include Windows and Doors, Painting and Finishing, Trim Carpentry and Built-ins, and Building a Deck. They are all good choices for any public library wanting to increase the depth of its home improvement collection.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
From the most basic solutions to advanced, energy-saving projects, no book covers home insulation and weatherization like this one. With 35 drawings and 350 color photos guiding them, homeowners will learn how best to keep their homes warm in winter, cool in summer, and weather-tight all year long.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Taunton; illustrated edition edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561585548
• ISBN-13: 978-1561585540
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #7 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Repair
  #14 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Building Types & Styles
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for every homeowner!, April 14, 2004

By	Taylor (Maplewood, NJ) - See all my reviews

Insulating your house is fraught with dangers and there are lots of sharks out there only too delighted to take your money and ruin your house. Although I am still learning this stuff, I'm still confident that I know more than most of the insulation contractors that have come through my door. Scary, isn't it?

The dangers of doing it wrong aren't just a waste of money. There is a real risk of mold in the short term and rot in the long term. Read this book, but let it be your first step. See the Taunton forums at their web page, the Building Sciences Corp web page, and do your homework before you let anyone do anything to your house.

I agree with a previous reviewer that a weakness of this book is its lack of step-by-step guides, and as a complete novice on house construction I had to look elsewhere for some of the terminology. But I'm still giving it 5 stars just because it has so much important information, to counteract all the misinformation and misconceptions out there.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clears up common misconceptions about insulation, March 7, 2003

By A Customer

I am very pleased with this book. In addition to covering the basics of insulation and weatherization, the author shares the latest results of actual research in "building science". This book dispelled several myths about what really works.
The book has numerous sidebars with expert tips and "what can go wrong."
You can tell the author teaches seminars on his topic, because the material is very well organized and clearly presented.
The advice of an expert is invaluable, and I am re-thinking my approach as a result of reading this book.
Insulation and weatherization can be time-consuming and costly. If you want to tackle the projects that yeild the greatest bang for the buck, read this book.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very useful overview, but not a step-by-step manual, July 21, 2003

By	Jason R. Tibbetts (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was one of the first books that I bought after purchasing an older, leaky home. And not having insulated a house for ten years or so, and knowing many people with rigid-insulated McMansions, it was a relief to see a book that treats insulation as something to be planned, like any other infrastructural component, not just done ad hoc. Like other Taunton publications, this one is nicely laid out and designed. However, as an amateur, I wanted to see a game plan that I could follow, including which tasks I could be expected to do reasonably well myself, and which things should be left to a professional. Sure, this advice is scattered in the content, but having something like a checklist and timetable would make this a great reference, not just a great overview.