Welcome to the Fine Homebuilding podcast, our weekly discussion of building, remodeling, and design topics aimed at anybody who cares deeply about the craft and science of working on houses. This is senior editor Patrick McCombe. I’m joined by Fine Homebuilding editorial advisor Mike Guertin, Fine Homebuilding editorial director Brian Pontolilo, and producer Cari Delahanty. Please email us your questions to [email protected].

You can find previous podcasts and check out the show notes at finehomebuilding.com/podcast

Check In:

Mike: How’s the roof coming?

Patrick: Office improvements,  Slate truck.

Listener Feedback 1:

John writes:

To the Fine Air-Sealing and Southwest-Building Podcast:

Regarding the fireplace episodes: I remember a time when true Rumsford fireplace components were advertised in the magazine. Although a blank wall in the living room would allow a large video monitor to keep track of electricity usage, heat-pump mode, and solar-panel supply to the utility grid, it does not create very good ambience.

I think you really missed the chance to speak for domestic harmony and promote balance for efficiency and home features that promote comfort. I propose continuing to inform listeners of options for all types of fireplaces (traditional wood, inserts, gas, etc.).  Not all climate zones have such rigid requirements for home air tightness. But especially, please keep in mind the importance of compromise when working with couples. Maybe some feedback from the head of the Southwest division, Dr. Guertin, on his encounters with homes having fireplaces (and marital advice as well). Thanks for the great information, guidance, and entertainment!

John

Listener Feedback 2:

Michael from Woodbury, Conn., writes:

Hello Patrick and crew,

Hearing your discussion about the physical demands of reaching and operating a drywall sander reminded me of another Festool product that I am curious about: the ExoActive exoskeleton assistive device. This strikes me as the kind of technology that seems wacky at first, but that could become ubiquitous in the future and could lead to better health and greater longevity for tradespeople (or anyone else who depends on their body to get work done).

Best,
Michael

RELATED STORIES

• ExoActive Review
• VIDEO: The Best Sanders for Drywall

Question 1: Do you have any guidance building brick steps for a porch?

Austin from Durham, N.C., writes:

Hi Fine Homebuilding Team,

I’m a big fan of the podcast—thanks for all the great discussions and deep dives each week! I’m also an All Access member and use the magazine and online resources all the time to guide my own DIY projects.

I’m currently preparing to build brick steps to the back door of my house, and while researching the topic I noticed that there hasn’t been much recent coverage on masonry porch construction in the magazine or on the website. Compared to the wealth of content on decks and wood construction, masonry seems underrepresented.

When I turn to YouTube for help, most of the detailed tutorials come from European creators. It got me wondering: is masonry porch work becoming less common in the U.S., or is it simply under-covered in the trade media? Is there a shift in demand or skill availability for brick masons in residential construction?

I’d love to see Fine Homebuilding dig into this topic—either through a feature article, a video segment, or a discussion on the podcast. I think many readers and listeners would benefit from guidance on how to properly build and detail brick porches, especially with tips on footing, drainage, and long-term durability.

Thanks again for all you do, and I look forward to the next episode!

Best regards,
Austin

RELATED STORIES

• Adding Brick Steps to a Walkway
• Refacing Concrete Steps

Question 2: Do you have any advice for installing a DIY-friendly ground-source heat pump for a new build?

Alex writes:

Hello FHB Podcast,

I enjoy listening to you guys every week and liked hearing you all talk about my fireplace question on episode #679.

I’m reaching out this time with some HVAC questions. Any help with the questions would be greatly appreciated. Here are some details:

Background: The building is in Culpeper, Va., (climate zone 4A) on a country lot (multiple acres). It has an ICF exterior envelope, targeting less than 1 ACH 50 score. I am planning to GC the home and self-perform most of it. I want to use a ground-source heat pump. Do any of you have experience with them that you could share? Since I’m building in the country, I could do horizontal loops but will likely go the vertical-loop route due to other conditions.

Zoning: The home we’re building is three levels (basement, main floor, second floor and a conditioned/tempered attic). Do I need three different systems for the different levels, or can zoning be effective enough to handle the multiple levels? With a conditioned/tempered attic, would that be zoned too or just have a couple ducts terminate there from the second floor?

Ducting: I’m looking for a system I can install myself, and I’ve found the Rheia duct system. Have any of you had any experience with this system? It looks friendly from an installation perspective, but I have some concerns about future duct cleaning, potential for mold growth (since it’s not metal), and getting enough volume. Do you have any recommendations for other resources I could research?

Attached garage: The home will have an attached garage with a bonus room/living space above it. I would like to be able to condition the garage. I know that you can’t share air between the garage and the living space for obvious reasons. I suspect a ductless minisplit would be the best solution for the garage. I would want to be able to use the ground-loop system for the garage as well though. Is it possible to have a ductless minisplit and a ducted system on the same system? I would hate to spend all the money on a ground source to only then install an air source unit for the garage. In the worse case I suppose I could put a heat pump window unit, but that looks like an afterthought.

Thanks again for all the work that you do on the podcast and the articles from the magazine.
Alex

RELATED STORIES

• How It Works: Ground-Source Heat Pumps
• A Geothermal Heat Pump
• Conditioning an Attached Garage

Question 3: What’s the best way to protect a greenhouse floor from frost?

George writes:

Hi Podcast Team,

I found your podcast late last year and have been hooked since! You folks have kept me company during the trials and tribulations of first-time homeownership. I am particularly proud of the attached firewood storage my wife and I built out of 100% salvaged materials found on our property. It was super satisfying and has been thoroughly tested by our coastal Canadian winters. It’s a great addition to fire pit area we built too.

My wife gifted me a Fine Homebuilding All Access membership for Christmas last year, and I have loved the first couple of magazines I’ve received. Thanks for the great work.

My question is regarding an exciting build we are undertaking this summer. We are hooked on the idea of building a geodesic dome greenhouse. We’d use it for both our household food needs (with 4 seasons of growing in Canada) and also as a potential business venture selling produce. Our mini homestead already has thriving bee colonies and a successful vermicompost system that feeds our hydroponic gardens and all our outdoor garden beds.

There are companies we are scoping out who ship greenhouse dome kits that are fully customizable and DIY-friendly if you have some know-how. Should be a fun build!

We estimate the greenhouse to likely be somewhere between 26 ft. to 30 ft. in diameter and 13 ft. high. I am hoping to gather your thoughts on doing a frost-protected shallow foundation for this build.

We live in coastal Nova Scotia, Canada (USDA climate zone 5). I’m hoping to avoid digging down to the 4-ft. frost depth because our 2-acre plot is made of hard clay and huge rocks so is pretty unforgiving. We have access to a neighbor’s small tractor and backhoe (a great friend to have!), so I will have no problem clearing the land and prepping the site. Can I dig down, add a gravel bed, form a circular footing, and integrate EPS foam for a FPSF?

I understand EPS loses some of its R-value when it’s buried in the ground, so I’m thinking 2 in. of foam will suffice. The greenhouse manufacturers say greenhouses under 26 ft. in diameter only need a gravel base as a foundation. Given that the structure will be covered in polycarbonate panels, which are rigid, I’d like to ensure no frost heave occurs. Am I overthinking this?

The base layer of the greenhouse is a wood-composite siding material, framed in either PT lumber or cedar, depending on the package we pick. I’d be super-excited if my question ended up on the podcast! I have attached some photos of the geodesic domes and a link to a greenhouse we are considering, which is from Arctic Acres are in Ontario.

https://arcticacres.ca/26-growing-dome-greenhouse-kit

More from George:

On a dome-community Facebook group, others have used ICFs to form the footings and then backfilled the center with dirt or gravel. I’d like to do it a little cheaper if possible, so I’m also thinking of laying hardware cloth (or wire mesh) across the insulated skirt to prevent critters from burrowing into the greenhouse.

Wish you all well and thanks again for the awesome content.
George Lawrencetown

Nikki Jabbour, a garden writer with a garden show on radio, weighs in: Check out p. 19 of this guide for a table showing the R-value of under-grade continuous insulation and how far the insulation must extend past the exterior walls. Nova Scotia is in a better climate than we are in southern New England. They only need R-5.7 insulation and a 30-in. perimeter beyond walls. Here in R.I., I need R-6.4 and a 42-in. perimeter. I sourced the climate information for Nova Scotia from p. 173 of this old doc. It has the mean annual temperature and air-freezing index (AFI) needed to use the Builders Guide.

RELATED STORIES

• Slab Foundation for Cold Climates
• Protecting Foundations from Frost
• Fine Gardening magazine: Constructing a Home Greenhouse

Be like Austin and become an All Access Member! Or be like George’s wife and gift an All Access membership to Fine Homebuilding today! We greatly appreciate our members and your support helps continue the important work of Fine Homebuilding.

Unfortunately that is all the time we have for today. Thanks to Mike, Brian, and Cari for joining me and thanks to all of you for listening. Remember to send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected] and please like, comment, or review us no matter how you’re listening–it helps other folks find our podcast.

Happy Building!

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8067 All-Weather Flashing Tape

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