#704: Groundwater, Radiant Barriers, Water Management with Masonry Walls

The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Leisure, Construction, Keepcraftalive, Home & Garden, How To, Drywall, Craftsmanship, Education, Homebuilding, Houses

4.6 • 756 Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Doug says that ground water is regional. Hunter asks about the effectiveness of two radiant barriers. Michael inquires about insulating a 200 -year old stone farmhouse. Chris is considering a ceiling update in his family’s’ A-frame.

Grant and Mike help Patrick help listeners address updating old houses dating from the 1700’s to the 1980’s. Insulation, water management and maintaining the historic fabric of old buildings is considered.

Tune in to Episode 704 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

If one radiant barrier is effective, is two better
Insulating masonry building without risking future problems
Improving the thermal performance of a former seasonal home

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at [email protected].

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Transcript

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0:00.0	As natural wood species go, redwood is in a class of its own.
0:05.0	A sustainable alternative to tropical hardwoods, redwood is grown and harvested to the highest environmental standards in the world.
0:12.0	Name for the dark red hardwood at the center of the tree, redwood imparts natural beauty, warmth, and durability to interior and exterior building applications,
0:22.0	including decking, fencing, paneling, siding, exposed beams and timbers, pergolas,
0:28.2	and other shade structures. To learn more about Redwood from Humboldt Sawmill,
0:32.3	please visit getredwood.com.
0:46.5	Wow, you're going to put drive it on this century's old farmhouse. If you like the charm of the inside and the stonework,
0:50.3	then take the plaster off on the inside and leave all the stone exposed on the inside.
0:54.4	You'll enjoy it, feeling warm and toasty on those cold winter nights.
0:59.0	Woo!
1:00.0	Grant, what do you think about Mike's plan?
1:02.3	Yes.
1:07.1	Welcome to the Fine Home Building podcast, a weekly discussion of building, remodeling, and
1:11.8	design topics aimed at anybody who cares deeply about the craft and science of working on
1:16.4	houses.
1:17.4	I'm Senior Editor Patrick McComb.
1:19.8	Today I'm joined by Fine Home Building Associate editor Grant Baver.
1:22.9	Hey.
1:23.9	Fine Home Building editorial advisor, Mike Gerton.
1:26.9	Hi there.
1:30.1	And producer, Carrie Delahanty.
1:30.8	Hey.
	...

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