PODCAST · science
UnBuild It Podcast
by Unbuild It Podcast
THE GOOD news: our homebuilding industry is jam-packed with new materials, new techniques, and new systems, and it’s so easy to get information online in an instant. THE BAD news: How do we know what we can trust, what will work, and under what conditions? Where do we turn to separate the spin-and-hype from the true-and-square? We’ve got you covered! The UnBuild It Podcast is an industry-leading opportunity to get good information. UnBuild It podcast is a three-member team – Peter Yost, Building Scientist; Jake Bruton, Builder, and Remodeler; and Steven Baczek, Architect. We are nationally recognized industry leaders: Jake as a homebuilder, Steve as an architect, and Peter as a building scientist. You can find us at leading homebuilding industry events, in top-notch publications, and online media outlets. We believe that solid industry-related information has four key ingredients; RELEVANCE: You need insight on your job site. Jake, Steve, and Peter are in the field re
Episodes
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166 - Why Is Steve So Angry? High-Performance Building Frustrations
Why is building a high-performance home so frustrating? Steve Baczek has some strong opinions about the challenges facing architects and builders who are trying to deliver better-performing homes—and Jake Bruton is happy to let him vent. From clients who want the best of everything without paying...
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165 - High-Performance Homes: Do They Really Cost More?
Do high-performance homes have to be expensive? Steve and Jake tackle one of the most persistent misconceptions in building science: that better-performing homes are only practical for wealthy clients with luxury-home budgets. Yes, Steve and Jake work on plenty of high-end custom homes. But the...
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164 - Back to Basics: Thermal Control Layers Explained
R-value is only part of the story. In the final episode of the Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete tackle the thermal control layer—and why good insulation means very little if the rest of the building enclosure isn't working with it. The boys break down heat flow, insulation, thermal...
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Back to Basics: Vapor Control Layers Explained | UnBuild It Podcast #163
Vapor is one of the most misunderstood parts of building science—and in many assemblies, it helps buildings dry rather than making them wet. In Part 3 of the Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete break down vapor control, vapor permeability, drying potential, and why decades of confusing...
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162 - Back to Basics: Air Control Layers Explained
Airtightness is one of the most important—and most measurable—parts of building performance. In Part 2 of the Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete break down how air control layers work, why continuity matters, and how blower door testing exposes the difference between theory and reality....
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161 - Back to Basics: Water Control Layers Explained
Water is the number one enemy of building durability—and the first control layer every builder, architect, and designer needs to understand. In Part 1 of a four-part Back to Basics series, Steve, Jake, and Pete break down the principles of water management that every high-performance building...
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160 - Designing Homes for Extreme Weather & Natural Disasters
How do you design a home for floods, wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, or ice storms? In this episode, Steve, Jake, and Pete explore what it really means to build for extreme events—and why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Drawing from real-world experience, Steve and Jake...
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159 - Climate Zone 7 Ceilings, Universal Design & Alternative Foundations
Three listener questions lead to three very different building science discussions—from cold-climate roof assemblies to aging-in-place design and innovative foundation systems. The episode begins with a Climate Zone 7 tongue-and-groove ceiling question, comparing ZIP sheathing and smart vapor...
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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity & Building Performance - 158
How much can a building affect human health—and what happens when occupants become highly sensitive to their environment? In this episode, Steve and Pete are joined by retired building scientist and pulmonary physician Nathan Yost for a thoughtful discussion on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)...
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157 - Four Building Science Puzzles: Expansive Soils, Radiant Barriers & More
Four listener questions. Four very different building science challenges. One highly technical episode. Steve, Jake, and Pete tackle a collection of building puzzles that span foundations, roofs, wall assemblies, and moisture management. The discussion starts with expansive soils and why…
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156 - Building Standards vs Better Buildings?
Do certifications, standards, and professional credentials actually lead to better buildings—or just more paperwork? Steve, Jake, and Pete tackle one of the more uncomfortable questions in the building industry: why so many standards fail to consistently produce better outcomes in the real world....
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155 - ZIP-R on the Roof? Structural, Hygrothermal & Durability Tradeoffs
Can ZIP-R panels work on a roof—and should they? Steve, Jake, and Nick Sabol from Huber’s Technical team dig into a topic that’s getting a lot of attention in the field. This episode breaks down the full set of considerations behind putting insulated sheathing on the roof deck: structural…
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154 - Wildfire Zone Rainscreens & Smarter ZIP Sheathing Use
Do wildfire zones actually change how rainscreens should be detailed—and where does conventional thinking fall short? Nick Sabol from Huber’s Product Engineering team is back with Steve and Pete to continue the deep dive into wall details that actually work. This episode focuses on rainscreen...
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153 - Wall Details That Actually Work: Water, Air & Rainscreens
What are the most critical wall details for managing water and air—and where do builders get them wrong? Nick Sabol from Huber’s Product Engineering team joins the crew for a technical deep dive into exterior wall assemblies that actually perform. Pete, Jake, and Nick focus on two of the most...
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152 - Thermal & Structural Loads: Insulation, Wood, and Concrete
How much load can insulation actually carry—and are we over-engineering residential buildings without realizing it? This episode goes deep into the structural and thermal realities behind common building materials. The crew breaks down compressive loading on rigid insulation, long-term creep...
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151 - Where Matters: Climate
Climate drives building performance. In the first episode of a three-part series, Pete, Steve, and Jake explore why climate matters so much in building science. Steve kicks off the discussion with a simple analogy: Would you pack the same suitcase for Minneapolis in February, Honolulu in March…
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150 - Social Media: The Best and Worst of Building Science
Is social media helping the building industry—or hurting it? Matt Risinger joins Jake and Steve as the Three Social Media Amigos to roast Pete, the resident social media skeptic, and unpack what online platforms really mean for builders, architects, and building science pros. The conversation…
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149 - I’ll Tell You Where to Stick That Opinion
Who really matters most on a building project—and can the team actually work together? In this episode, the crew digs into the five “gears” of the building process: designers, builders, manufacturers, consultants, and building owners or users. The big question is whether any one of those gears is...
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148 - Dumb Ideas? Vented Crawlspaces & Over-Insulating Window Frames
Are vented crawlspaces really a bad idea—and can you actually over-insulate a window frame? The crew gets fired up tackling two topics that refuse to die in building science conversations. First up is crawlspaces. The boys dig into a bit of U.S. crawlspace history, what vented crawlspaces were...
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147 - Dehumidification in Dry Climates & Vented Crawlspaces? Seriously?
Can ERVs actually dehumidify a home? And does it ever make sense to use a dehumidifier in a vented crawlspace? Two listener questions spark a lively—and slightly ruthless—discussion that leads to one of Steve’s classic lines: “Suck it up, buttercup!” The crew digs into how moisture really behaves...
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146 - A Deep Dive on Windows: Glass, Performance & Condensation
Windows are one of the most confusing—and consequential—components of a high-performance home. In this episode, the crew takes a deep dive into window and glass selection, aiming to make things clear without letting your eyes glaze over. The discussion covers dual-pane versus triple-pane…
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145 - High-Performance HVAC Ducting & Appliance Exhaust
A detailed look at smarter HVAC ducting, better airflow, and what it really takes to manage appliance exhaust and makeup air in high-performance homes. The boys dive into the how and why behind HVAC duct layout, register placement, and whole-house airflow. They break down how interior design,...
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144 - Tips for Young Builders with Tim Hill – Risinger Build
What does it really take to grow as a young builder today? Jake and Steve bring in Risinger Build’s Managing Partner, Tim Hill, for a fast-paced, experience-packed conversation full of practical advice for builders looking to level up their craft, business, and mindset. Jake and Steve give Pete…
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143 - Venting Cathedral Roofs & 6-Sided Insulation Explained
A deep dive into cathedral roof design and insulation strategy. The team compares solid-sawn rafters vs. scissor trusses, smart vapor retarders vs. poly, and discusses optimal roof pitches. You’ll learn when to vent from the topside, from below, or go unvented entirely—and why those choices…
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142 - Sage Advice for Young Architects
Seriously? These 3 clowns are sages? The discussion includes how to select the "right” school. How much should a school include building science compared to learning it on the job? And what about even just the 4 control layers? And all three of us stand squarely with Steve: if you want to design...
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141- BUILDING SCIENCE NAIVETE? You heard it here first!
All of us in the industry have projects--likely early in our careers--that we just either cringe about or wonder how the heck we got away with that one? The boys wax nostalgic about stories of their naivety over the years, turning them into valuable lessons learned. Actual building topics include...
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140 - Window Installation: Can We Do Better?
Installing windows is getting more, not less, complicated. Pete lobbies for a different, more durable, and simpler gasket installation of windows. Steve and Jake weigh in with their insights and challenges to what Pete is up to. And a bonus: with Steve and Jake's help, Pete creates a new word:...
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139 - Roof framing, thermal bridging, and Cold climate wall worries
The boys start with a really cool problem-solving involving a monopoly framing, big overhangs, and thermal bridging. And the follow-up is an excellent question from Western Canada regarding the use of ZIP sheathing with a Class I interior vapor retarder. It's a great discussion involving…
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138 - Finding a High-Performance Builder
If you can't find an experienced high-performance builder, then find a professional builder who is willing to listen and learn! And add in time and money in the budget for that listening and learning. The same can go for your architect. But as Steve says: "SOMEONE has to drive the bus. Put on…
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137 - Another two-fer - Thermally-broken basement slab-to-Superior Wall panel connection AND exterior sump pumps
All 3 UBIP podcasters are fond of the Superior Wall System, but connecting the extended "foot" of the foundation wall panel to the basement slab is a bit tricky. But not for Steve, but of course. And while sump pumps OUTSIDE are a mystery to Pete, Jake & Steve walk Pete through it. And a bonus:...
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136 - We Want More! Permanent Wood Foundations & Career Pivotal Moments
Once again, we drive wood into the ground, but only in the context of Permanent Wood Foundations. No surprise that this discussion is all about water & drainage. And some episodes ago, the boys each revealed pivotal moments in their careers in the building industry and wrapped up with a request…
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135 - ZIP-R for CZ 6B - New Construction? Continuous Air Control Layer for Exterior Retrofit CZ 4A?
Two great questions about wall assemblies. The boys dig deep, exploring all the variables to consider for both wall assemblies. And no big surprise: Much of the conversation is about how to get these three control layers right (water, air, thermal) and ALSO get the drying potential (vapor)…
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134 - Another Double Feature - SIPs vs Stick-Frame & Thermal Degradation of Rigid Insulation
Whole bunch of reasons to consider SIP building systems BUT switching from stick-framing is not a walk in the park. But UnBuild It has a ton of experience with SIPs. Next up: Just how stable are the R-values of rigid insulations (the plastic ones with blowing agents) over time? The boys spend…
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133 - Deep Dive on That Pesky Transition: Top-of-Foundation/Bottom-of-Above-Grade Wall
Should exterior above-grade wall sheathing or framing line up flush to the outside face of the foundation? Is sealing the bottom of the above-grade wall and foundation with a sill sealer product like Protecto Wrap Triple Guard a good idea? This sets off Jake, Steve, and Pete on balancing water...
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132 - The Pre-Construction Process?
Plenty of reasons for the question mark: Pete wondered what this term really meant; Jake points out that for most of his career, he was not involved in this process as a builder; Steve gets pretty heated when this process does not include budget (at least a realistic budget...). Gem here from...
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131 - Two Q's: Isn't ZIP-R backwards? Shouldn't we rainscreen roofs as well as walls?
Two great questions on which the boys pontificate in fine form. Yes, ZIP-R is "backwards" (rigid insulation interior to structural sheathing) but that does not mean that it doesn't work; it does, just differently. So why don't we typically rain screen roof claddings? The short answer is it always...
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130 - Two Qs: Job Site Safety & Garage Moisture Management
What could be more fun than yammering on about scary job site stories and just how confusing a space your garage can be? You listeners ask the damndest questions, so we just keep on cranking... Per usual, Steve closes us out with humor worthy of these two questions... PETE'S RESOURCES: - "Does...
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129 - A Crazy Space - Decks Over Garages (or worse) & Living Spaces
The advice starts with "don't ever do this" and then dives into the details for doing it right: slope, overhangs, pedestal systems, step-down from house to deck, and truck liners. Wait, what? Jake describes a long-past project involving a spray-on truck bed liner protective coating (and there...
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128 - Master Plumber Eric Aune Part III: Water Sources/Water Quality
Different water sources lead to different water quality issues. Eric walks us through: sources of tap water; testing water; appropriate water treatment systems responding to the testing results; and a new water frontier: PFAS in our tap water (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances). Yikes! PETE'S...
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127 - Master Plumber Eric Aune Part II: How NOT to wait for hot water!
Eric Aune would make the perfect Marvel Superhero Plumber. With tank versus Tankless water heaters, multiple small tanks, and on-demand recirc systems, Eric brings real-world insight to all sorts of plumbing technologies and techniques. And of course, Steve closes the episode with a special look…
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126 - All Things Water Heating with Eric Aune
Eric provides Steve and Jake with a plumber's perspective on almost every residential, domestic hot water system available in the US. Stick around for terms like "cold water sandwich," "air-to-water," "CO2 refrigerant," and "recirc." It's absolutely gripping! Pete's Resources: Eric Aune -...
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125 - Christine Williamson: From training building practitioners to teaching the next generation of architects
Jake spends time at Virginia Tech with Christine Williamson, a leading building professional who integrates building science and architecture. In her first year as an Assistant Professor of Architecture, Christine applies building science to architecture courses such as Environment and Building...
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124 - "Post-Frame" Buildings & Rim Joist Riddles
You say Post-Frame, I say Pole Barn or Barndominium...Yikes. The boys beat up on this topic when we move utility-grade agricultural weather-sheltering buildings (pole barns) to fully-conditioned homes. Aesthetic questions aside, there is solid building science to consider here. And speaking of...
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123 - Chelsea Scharbach, AKA Rosy the Riveter!
From metal worker to Director of Architecture Risinger Build to home remodeler, Chelsea is all about working on buildings. Instead of a working-man's Architect like our buddy Steve, Chelsea is the quintessential working-woman's Architect. And get this: Steve & Chelsea are about to team-up on a...
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122 - Regionality rules us but so now does the internet & social media...
Since the internet makes us all so cozy from LA to Louisiana, it comes as a surprise to even hard-core building pros that many materials and systems simply don't translate from region to region. Local context simply interferes: price, local expertise, local building codes, availability of...
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121 - "It's All About STEVE"
When Steve doesn't show up on time for the podcast, Jake and Pete jump all over the idea of roasting him. But the podcast is mainly about why we love working with the "jamoke." It is about a half-hour of stories about the consummate job-site architect, Steve Baczek, the guy we "can't live with;...
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120 - Santa-Fe Dehumidification Deva Nikki Krueger Round 2
Jake & Pete get schooled again on dehumidification by Nikki. - Nikki introduces the acronym HVACD to make dehumidification in equal standing with heating, air conditioning and ventilation. - Great discussion of the differences between portable ("big box") and whole house dehumidifiers.…
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119 - A Riff on Measure Twice, Cut Once...
Jake and Pete host good friend Matt Risinger (pretty sure he is “part” of the Build Show...). It starts simple with pre-drywall checklists (you know, like blocking for toilet paper holders...). But boy, it quickly blossoms into a wonderful, wandering discussion of everything from sequencing to...
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118 - Special Guest Nikki Krueger of Santa Fe Dehumidifiers with her remarkably "dry" sense of humor...
Many of us in the building industry turn to Nikki for all questions dehumidification (certainly including this weeks hosts, Jake & Pete). Nikki goes toe to toe with HVAC techs with a degree in communications and that is because she understands that you have to go tech if you are representing...
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117 - What Should Pre-Construction Look Like?
After the boys were done taking jabs at each other, they each take this question and apply it to their fields: building (Jake), designing (Steve), and enclosure review (Pete). Much of the discussion centers on the cost and expectations that both building professionals and clients have or should…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
THE GOOD news: our homebuilding industry is jam-packed with new materials, new techniques, and new systems, and it’s so easy to get information online in an instant. THE
BAD news: How do we know what we can trust, what will work, and under what conditions? Where do we turn to separate the spin-and-hype from the true-and-square? We’ve got you covered! The UnBuild It Podcast is an industry-leading opportunity to get good information. UnBuild It podcast is a three-member team – Peter Yost, Building Scientist; Jake Bruton, Builder, and Remodeler; and Steven Baczek, Architect. We are nationally recognized industry leaders: Jake as a homebuilder, Steve as an architect, and Peter as a building scientist. You can find us at leading homebuilding industry events, in top-notch publications, and online media outlets. We believe that solid industry-related information has four key ingredients;
RELEVANCE: You need insight on your job site. Jake, Steve, and Peter are in the field re
HOSTED BY
Unbuild It Podcast
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does UnBuild It Podcast have?
UnBuild It Podcast currently has 186 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is UnBuild It Podcast about?
THE GOOD news: our homebuilding industry is jam-packed with new materials, new techniques, and new systems, and it’s so easy to get information online in an instant. THE BAD news: How do we know what we can trust, what will work, and under what conditions? Where do we turn to separate the...
How often does UnBuild It Podcast release new episodes?
UnBuild It Podcast publishes regularly with 186 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to UnBuild It Podcast?
You can listen to UnBuild It Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts UnBuild It Podcast?
UnBuild It Podcast is created and hosted by Unbuild It Podcast.
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