Insulate & Weatherize (Taunton's Build Like a Pro)

The dangers of doing it wrong aren't just a waste of money. There is a real risk of mold in the short term and rot in the long term. Read this book, but let it be your first step. See the Taunton forums at their web page, the Building Sciences Corp web page, and do your homework before you let anyone do anything to your house.

I agree with a previous reviewer that a weakness of this book is its lack of step-by-step guides, and as a complete novice on house construction I had to look elsewhere for some of the terminology. But I'm still giving it 5 stars just because it has so much important information, to counteract all the misinformation and misconceptions out there.


Clears up common misconceptions about insulation   March 8, 2003
31 out of 32 found this review helpful

I am very pleased with this book. In addition to covering the basics of insulation and weatherization, the author shares the latest results of actual research in "building science". This book dispelled several myths about what really works.
The book has numerous sidebars with expert tips and "what can go wrong."
You can tell the author teaches seminars on his topic, because the material is very well organized and clearly presented.
The advice of an expert is invaluable, and I am re-thinking my approach as a result of reading this book.
Insulation and weatherization can be time-consuming and costly. If you want to tackle the projects that yeild the greatest bang for the buck, read this book.


Buy this book if you are insulating yourself or hiring a contractor.   November 1, 2005
Mark Diaz (Long Island, NY USA)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

I bought this book when oil prices spiked and I finally got motivated to upgrade the desperately inadequate insulation in my attic. Without the wealth of information gained from it, I would have wasted most of my time and money.

Much better than a simple step-by-step checklist, and not just a reprint of previously published material, it gives you an understanding of the tools, materials, and the procedures required to customize a project plan for your home and budget.

I found it also gives you enough information to let you decide what you can tackle yourself, and what you prefer to leave to a contractor. Some items, like the critically important sealing of air leaks, are high on time effort, but low on material cost - a perfect formula for a do-it-yourselfer.

Led by the information in this book, I was overjoyed to be able to seal about 30 square feet of air gaps in my attic, which were sucking conditioned air right through the house.

If you are considering upgrading your insulation yourself, or you want to know what to look for in a contractor's work or what to specify to a contractor, this book is for you. Like I've come to expect from any Taunton publication, the layout, organization, and information is first rate.


Must Have for Every Home Owner   November 4, 2007
James Adcock
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I think of all the poor suckers who pay $50,000 for new windows when they could accomplish more energy savings quicker, easier, and for only a couple hundred bucks even if they hire out the work using the suggestions of this book. Everthing you think you know about saving home energy is wrong! Read this book instead! Incredibly detailed and photographed. If you can't do it yourself then hire it out -- but DO IT!


Excellent book and worth every peeny   October 3, 2007
E. Wetzel (PA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I purchased an old wooden home built about 1890 a few years ago. Other that some poorly installed blown fiberglass there wasn't any insulation in the house. I immediately started getting every book on insulating and energy efficiency that I could out of the library. This book was one of the last ones I read but it's the only one that I went back and purchased. It may not have step by step guides but what it does do is teach you about the basic mechanics of how your house works, which to me is more important than any step by step guide. It is not short on very specific advice either and also includes an excellent resource guide to purchase many of the things you will need to do the job. I have constantly referred back to this book as we slowly turn this leaky old home into a tight, energy efficient and more comfortable home.

This book is for anyone looking to improve the energy efficiency of their home, even if you are just in the design stage. Many more subjects than just insulation are covered.