Building a home for a client who is mold-sensitive—or who has previously lived in a water-damaged home—requires more than selecting “mold-resistant” materials or arranging a final air test. It requires a documented process: protect materials, control water, verify...
Most kitchen planning focuses on appearance and function: the cabinetry, appliance selections, island, storage, and seating. Those decisions matter, but a kitchen also affects the air pressure and air quality throughout the house. A range hood removes air from the...
Humidity is an early warning signal—not a diagnosis. Learn how rain, ground moisture, indoor activities, leaks, and neglected maintenance affect Atlanta homes, and what homeowners can do to prevent expensive damage.
An ERV is not a dehumidifier. In Atlanta’s humid climate, high-performance homes often need balanced ventilation, humidity control, filtration, and properly designed HVAC working together.
Planning a basement in Atlanta means designing for more than finishes. Learn how drainage, waterproofing, radon control, insulation, ventilation, healthy materials, and thoughtful design work together to create a comfortable, durable below-grade space.
Roof insulation is about more than R-value. See how SawHorse uses warm-roof assemblies, exterior insulation, THERM and WUFI modeling, moisture control and field testing to design high-performance roofs for Atlanta’s climate.
A crawlspace is really just a short basement. Learn why plastic alone doesn’t create a properly conditioned crawlspace and how SawHorse approaches water, air sealing, insulation, humidity, radon, termites and long-term durability.
HVAC design is about much more than heating and cooling. See how SawHorse integrates right-sized variable-capacity heat pumps, filtration, ventilation, dehumidification, duct design and independent commissioning for high-performance Atlanta homes.
A high-performance roof needs to do more than keep moisture out—it also needs a way to dry. See how SawHorse incorporated a vapor diffusion port, vapor-open stone wool, continuous exterior insulation, and airtight construction into a conditioned roof assembly in Atlanta.
Most wall failures don't happen because we don't know how to insulate the middle of a wall. They happen because buildings aren't just walls. A wall has to meet a foundation. The foundation has to...
Healthy building materials are about more than green labels and low VOCs. Learn how SawHorse evaluates durability, performance, indoor air quality, environmental impact, lifecycle, and cost before choosing materials for Atlanta homes.
A healthy home is about more than air filters. See how SawHorse uses science-based design and construction to control air, moisture, pollutants, water, ventilation, filtration, and the indoor environment.
Building code tells us the minimum. WUFI helps us understand how an assembly may actually behave over time. See how five-year moisture modeling changed the foundation insulation strategy for an Atlanta ranch renovation.
Thermal bridges create weak points in a building enclosure that can affect surface temperatures, condensation risk, durability, comfort, and efficiency. See how SawHorse addresses them through continuous insulation, proven construction details, and thermal modeling.
An ERV brings controlled fresh air into an airtight home, but it’s only one part of healthy indoor air. Learn how SawHorse approaches ventilation, filtration, humidity and air-quality control in Atlanta homes.
Atlanta’s hot, humid climate demands more than rules of thumb. See how SawHorse uses Passive House modeling, building science, testing, and third-party verification to design and build better-performing homes.
What does ACH50 mean, and why does airtightness matter? Learn how blower-door testing, air sealing, and Passive House standards help create more comfortable, efficient homes in Atlanta’s hot, humid climate.
If you own an older home in Atlanta, you may have learned to live with drafty rooms, hot and cold spots, high indoor humidity, poor indoor air quality, or an HVAC system that seems to run constantly during the summer. But those problems are not necessarily something...
Several years ago, THE BUILD SHOW founder, Matt Risinger, coined the phrase "monopoly framing." He noticed that houses with continuous insulation on top of the sheathing resembled Monopoly houses. Several weeks ago, he visited a project that we are building and...
We are incredibly honored to have won the "Best Remodeling—Green/Eco-conscious" award for 2024! While we’ve received over 130 awards over the years, our true measure of success at SawHorse isn’t trophies—it’s happy clients who love their newly transformed homes and...
It's freezing outside in Atlanta right now and if you have leaks in your house, you feel the cold drafts right now. Not only are these leaks causing discomfort, but they also lead to unnecessarily high energy bills. You don't have to live in a drafty house, and if...
Check out December's newsletter from Rate It Green- our Green Building Marketing Partner Rate It Green Members and Friends - Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do, and here's to an AMAZING 2024! We expect great things from this new year! ...
Check out November’s newsletter from Rate It Green- our Green Building Marketing Partner Rate It Green Members and Friends - There are so many pressing crises, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first or next. At a time when we need to take immediate and...
Check out October’s newsletter from Rate It Green- our Green Building Marketing Partner Rate It Green Members and Friends - Do you have window questions? We've got some information and answers! Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. has been busy answering Rate...
Check out September's newsletter from Rate It Green- our Green Building Marketing Partner Rate It Green Members and Friends - Hello to everyone gathering at Greenbuild this week! I had hoped to attend in person but had some schedule complications. As much as I think...
