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Insulate & Weatherize (Taunton's Build Like a Pro)
 
 
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Insulate & Weatherize (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) [Paperback]

Bruce Harley (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 1, 2002 Taunton's Build Like a Pro
From the most basic solutions to advanced, energy-saving projects, no book covers home insulation and weatherization like this one. 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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Insulate & Weatherize (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) + Drywall: Professional Techniques for Great Results + Black & Decker Codes for Homeowners: Electrical Codes, Mechanical Codes, Plumbing Codes, Building Codes
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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 Details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Taunton Press (October 1, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1561585548
  • ISBN-13: 978-1561585540
  • Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I was in the fifth grade, I did a science fair project on solar power, which was fun and exciting: among other things, I put together a solar cell to charge a battery-powered matchbox car. After that, I didn't think very much about energy--until I got a job at Conservation Services Group (CSG) in 1990.

After studying electrical engineering in college, and working for a few years doing circuit design and writing software, I found myself wanting to use my engineering skills to be more actively helpful in the world. That's when I found CSG and started doing energy audits, and learning about the science of energy in buildings. Having a background in engineering and physics was essential for me to get up to speed quickly and really understand what I was doing.

Since then, I have built a solar-powered home, written two books on energy efficiency, and conducted hundreds of trainings on residential energy efficient design and renovation, energy ratings, energy codes, HVAC systems, and green building. I'm actively involved in RESNET (the Residential Energy Services Network, www.resnet.us), as a board member and chair of the technical committee. And in my main job at CSG, I help the people who run energy efficiency programs all over the country make smart decisions about how to help homeowners. This ranges from analyzing savings, answering questions about "how to", doing research on developing technology, and applying a science-based approach to make sure that we achieve real savings in thousands of homes every year.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By Taylor
Format:Paperback
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.

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38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
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.
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58 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great book
This book is great for several reasons. One, the pictures and captions are very helpful when describing certain topics/principles. The author is very thorough as well. Read more
Published 5 months ago by NRmd
Attic Chaos
We recently removed and replaced the insulation in our attic. The book was helpful, but not as helpful as the man at Home Depot.
Published 9 months ago by C. Moss
My Job
This book is most valuable to me as this relates to my every day activity always learning and improving my current skills I am extremely please with the content of this book and... Read more
Published 10 months ago by originaltulan
Insulate and Weatherize; a brief review
As with all Taunton Press books about building and construction, this book is excellent. Although now a bit dated (pub. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Luke Warmwater
Great Money-Saving Book
Learn the truth behind saving money on insulating and how you can improve your home yourself or
understand what your contractor is doing. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Club Saigon
house info
shows some good ways to insulate, but could go into a little better way or more details.
Published 21 months ago by B. J. Ledbetter
Excellent Reference
Great resource for both the beginner and experienced construction professional. Covers all topics with clear instructions, photos and drawings.
Published 21 months ago by rjk
Insulate & Weatherize Review
Excellent book, simple to understand, yet very detailed and it covers the latest in insulation and weatherization practices used by homeowners and contractors alike.
Published on May 10, 2010 by Paul Thomann
A useful guide
Good photos and how-to information. A thorough treatment of insulation in the attic, crawl space and walls.
Published on March 31, 2010 by Julia in Georgia
excellant
An excellant collection of not only "how to" but where to, what to use, and what to look for. This goes way beyond the boring "caulk and weatherstrip" and gives you specifics by... Read more
Published on January 31, 2010 by David A. Coan
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
"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 too tight,"" ""Too much insulation will make your house rot,"" ""Insulate your attic because heat r" Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
blowing cellulose, good air barrier, indoor humidity control, duct mastic, tight building envelope, central ventilation system, drainage plane, weather shell, standby losses, wiring holes, chimney chases, duct board, flex duct, fiberglass batts, duct leakage, stud bay, joist bays, mixed climates, anode rod, moisture loads, band joist, thermal envelope, duct leaks, motorized damper, service penetrations
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Kevin Kennefick, Fine Homebuilding, Energy Star, Bruce Harley, Conservation Services Group, United States, Steve Culpepper, Scott Phillips, Charles Miller, Code Most, Environmental Protection Agency, Lin Wagner, Model Energy Code, Tamarack Technologies, Taunton Press
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