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Insulation-Caulking Topics

Click on the column headlines below to read the entire unedited columns and view the related illustrations. Most of my columns that you read in your newspaper or magazine have been edited due to space constraints.

Homeowner Benefits? - These are the potential benefits that a typical homeowner will realize by following the tips or by installing the home-related products that are discussed in this column.

409 - Super-efficient insulated steel front doors look as good as wood
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 12 insulated steel front door manufacturers listing finishes, styles (flush, glass, panel, sidelights, transom and sidelights), illustrations showing styles, insulation, metal gauge, hardware, warranties, decorative glass options, and efficiency and security features.
Homeowner Benefits: Better appearance, greater security, less maintenance, lower utility bills

410 - Weatherstrip your doors to stop air leaks and lower utility bills
Update Bulletin Description - Do-it-yourself instructions with illustrations for sealing and weatherstripping doors and windows, types and descriptions of various types of door bottom weatherstripping available (illustration of each type) and a chart of caulking materials.
Homeowner Benefits:Reduce chilly drafts, reduce dust in home, lower utility bills year-round

462 - New hardwood flooring is attractive, warm, easy to install
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of solid and engineered hardwood flooring manufacturers, types of wood species, sizes, patterns, prices, prefinished or unfinished availability, hardness/stability guides, descriptions of wood flooring choices, wood flooring styles (strip, plank, parquet), description of surface finished, description of type of cut and wood flooring grades, and floating floor installation details.
Homeowner Benefits:Attractive flooring, easy to install yourself, natural material

482 - Cork floor tiles are beautiful and durable, provide warmth
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of nine cork floor tile ans panel manufacturers listing tile sizes, colors, finishes, thicknesses, features, typical patterns, installation instructions and maintenance recommendations, and general information on how cork bark is stripped from trees.
Homeowner Benefits: Attractive and quiet flooring, earth-friendly product, low-cost for do-it-yourselfers.

602 - New types of environmentally friendly insulation for do-it-yourselfers
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 10 do-it-yourself new earth-friendly, high density attic, foam and wall insulation manufacturers, installation methods, R-values, thickness, sizes available, insulation selector guide, installation instructions for batt insulation and a U.S. map showing recommended insulation levels.
Homeowner Benefits: Lower utility bills year-round, easy to install yourself, improve comfort near walls

666 - Permanent wood foundations are efficient, quick to build
Update Bulletin Description - Manufacturers of complete permanent wood foundation (PWF) frame panels and other special construction materials, a soil conditions chart showing types of soils and their design properties, PWF design detail sketches and three floor plans and exteriors of several PWF/house kits.
Homeowner Benefits: Lower utility bills, reduced construction time, construction in any weather conditions, potentially lower costs for a finished basement

668 - Vented insulated roofing panels make cathedral ceiling simple
Update Bulletin Description - List of 19 insulated vented and stress skin roof insulation panel manufacturers, size of panels, insulation values per thickness in inches, types of insulation (expanded polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, isocyanurate, urethane), descriptions, design and recommended installation details.
Homeowner Benefits: Make cathedral ceiling easy to build, lower utility bills, improve comfort

712 - Durable insulating house, wall, roof paint improves comfort
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 energy-saving ceramic and low-emissivity wall, house and roof paints, particle types, coverages, colors, features/uses, warranties, prices, typical application instructions, cleaning and maintenance, painting tips and chart showing the temperature of coatings and other materials in sunlight.
Homeowner Benefits: Paint contains insulation, improves appearance - indoors and outdoors

735 - New decorative, no-maintenance siding adds insulation value
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 15 new decorative and standard types of no/low-maintenance exterior siding materials and insulation kits (cultured stone, insulated vinyl, thin brick, plastic simulated cedar/stone/brick, fiber-cement, engineered wood), surface textures, profiles, warranties, features, installation details, illustrations and descriptions of various types of siding.
Homeowner Benefits: Improve appearance of house, add insulation, low maintenance lower utility bills

738 - SIPS houses are strong, efficient with high insulation, quick to build
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 13 SIPS manufacturers listing insulation type (EPS or polyurethane), optional skin materials available (OSB, plywood, drywall, paneling), maximum panel sizes, thickness of panels, insulation R-value ranges, features, panel assembly details, and a chart comparing EPS panel thickness and R-value for various skins.
Homeowner Benefits: Simple DIY construction method, reduces utility bills, helps eliminate dust, dirt, noise and outdoor allergens

746 - Concrete/foam block houses are efficient, strong, secure, quiet
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 18 manufacturers of concrete/foam blocks showing type of foam used, dimensions and weights of blocks, finished insulating wall R-values, prices, detailed descriptions of how the blocks are assembled and many illustrations of the various block designs and assembly methods.
Homeowner Benefits: Very efficient, very strong, homeowner can help during construction

748 - Convert garage or basement to room with wall insulation systems
Update Bulletin Description - List of 12 manufacturers of materials for insulating and/or finishing a basement or garage with a product description of each system, do-it-yourself instructions for insulating basement walls and do-it-yourself instructions for making a movable insulating wall with diagrams, dimensions and required material list, recommended total R-value chart, adding wall insulation savings chart.
Homeowner Benefits: Increase living area inexpensively, improve comfort or existing rooms, lower utility bills

881 - Tight-sealing insulated garage doors are attractive, safe
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 highest-quality garage doors, method of insulation, insulation thickness, R-value, colors, glass options, seals, panel contours (flush, raised, ranch), section seals with illustration (shiplap, tongue and groove, compression type, polyurethane material), features and illustrations.
Homeowner Benefits: More attractive house appearance, warmer garage, glass windows

883 - Rolling window/patio door shutters for security, privacy, insulation
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 14 rolling shutters showing material option, types of insulation used, colors available, width ranges for the slats offered, opening and closing options, types of automatic controls, representative prices and illustrations of many models and styles.
Homeowner Benefits: Increased security and privacy, lower utility bills, protection from storms

937 - Use the proper type of caulking and tools for efficiency
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide and properties of 10 common types of caulk materials, list of 15 manufacturers of caulk and special tools, and tips on how and where to caulk properly, an illustration of suggested places where air leakage occurs in your home, and recommendations on how much caulk is required for several areas.
Homeowner Benefits: Reduce chilly drafts, increase life of windows and doors, lower utility bills

House Insulation Tips and Quantity Guide - This DIY Homeowner Guide section lists many tips for insulating your house. It also includes a map of the U.S. and a table shows the amount of attic, wall, floor and crawl space insulation recommended for each area.