#673: Energy Codes, Air-Sealing Between Floors, and Evaporative Cooling

Mike Gerden describes his experience patching stucco on his Tucson home, highlighting the lack of detailed Fine Homebuilding resources and the upcoming article by Grant Baver on stucco.

Mike shares advice for DIY stucco patching, emphasizing that mistakes can be easily corrected and discussing the types of stucco mixes and finishes available.

The hosts discuss the surprising statistic of stucco's high usage in new US home construction and the critical importance of proper water management behind stucco, especially in modern building practices.

Doug shares his experience with a rented drywall sander for a 100-year-old house and expresses the need for longer-reach tools, leading to a discussion about different models and their benefits.

Jason Webster discusses Vermont's adoption of the 2021 ICC energy code without robust building code enforcement, leading to potentially risky wall assemblies that meet minimum requirements but lack durability.

Mike Gerden explains the principles of evaporative coolers (swamp coolers) and their effectiveness in arid climates like the Southwest, highlighting their energy efficiency and operational requirements.

The discussion focuses on how evaporative coolers operate in tighter homes, emphasizing the need for air movement and the option to use them with an open window.

The hosts ponder the environmental and economic comparison between using water-intensive evaporative coolers in deserts versus refrigerant-based systems, including the embodied carbon and operational costs.