Brian Pontolilo

Brian Pontolilo has spent the better part of the last 20 years as a journalist, writer, and editor covering residential design and construction at Fine Homebuilding magazine and GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. Brian has a degree in professional writing, worked for a short time at local newspapers, and has worked in landscape construction, as a painter, and as a carpenter before coming to the Taunton Press, and during the three breaks he has taken from office life. On his current hiatus from full-time employment, Brian is designing and building what he hopes will be a pretty good house in northwest Connecticut.

Recent Articles

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  Product Guide

  How Smart Thermostats Help You Save Energy

  With remote control, learning technology, geofencing, and other high-tech features, WIFI-enabled thermostats are trying to make up for unconnected programmable thermostats’ weaknesses

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: All About Kitchen Ventilation

  Choosing the right size range hood and using it well are the first part of protecting indoor air quality from cooking-related pollutants. Adequate make up air completes the system.

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: Open Building Systems with Tedd Benson

  The pioneer of modern timber framing shows how we can build homes to last 500 years by disentangling the structure from partitions, mechanicals, and other "stuff"

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: Windows Part II – Installation Details

  A couple weeks ago we discussed windows and concluded that even the best windows are only as good as their installation. That's where we picked up in this episode.

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  Product Guide

  Buying Windows

  To make an informed decision, it’s important to understand what's listed on the NFRC label, and what isn't

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: The State of the Industry

  An all-star panel offers insights into the past, present, and potentially bright future of the building industry, at least if we heed their advice

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: The Wondrous World of Windows

  A conversation with industry insiders about window performance ratings, operation types, engineering, frame materials, and more

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: Inside the Wingnut Testing Facility (WTF)

  A look at how Peter Yost and Dave Gauthier have tested flashing- and air-sealing tapes and why you should be doing your own Wingnut Testing

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: Pushing for the Win

  In this special Independence Day episode we opened the discussion to the community and asked, how are you meeting the challenge of building better?

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  BS* + Beer

  The BS* + Beer Show: All About Advanced Framing

  When we use less lumber in our walls we are not only saving a resource, and some money, we're creating more space for insulation