Better Building Works, LLC

05/08/2026

We all love a fresh-smelling home, but those "scent cartridges" included with many purifiers are often just chemical cocktails in disguise. By using them, you’re actually pumping Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), phthalates, and synthetic irritants right back into your space. Use your purifier for what it was built for—removing odors, not masking them with toxins. Let’s keep the air actually clean, not just "perfumed."

05/07/2026

What can a door do? Privacy, security, ventilation, views, access. These doors do it all and are one of our favorite Mexican technological innovations.

05/06/2026

We can't get enough of the architecture in Mexico, so here are some more things we find intriguing. This spectacular exhaust hood is deceptively simple. The grand sculptural form houses lighting, and a simple exhaust fan at the very top. Because the house is so well ventilated and the shape of the hood is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, the fan at the top can be much smaller.

05/05/2026

Happy Cinco de Mayo!
We love to geek out on architecture that is perfectly suited to its climate zone. This is a house in Mérida, Mexico, where annual temperatures rarely fall lower than 70°F and can go as high as 103°F, along with high humidity. This 19th century home offers cool shade in the outdoor loggia and fresh air and light from the open courtyard. All rooms open to the Loggia. This same home would not work as well in Roanoke, Virginia, but we can learn lessons from it. Building science helps us understand why things work, and how to use materials appropriate for the local environment.

05/01/2026

Come see us tomorrow for all things Building Science!

Email from Clean Valley Council You don't want to miss this.   Join us for these exciting upcoming events in May. Go to https://www.cleanvalley.org/get-involved for more information and to register  

04/30/2026

What an incredible turnout for BS&Beer last night at Three Notch'd Brewery! 🍻 A massive thank you to our fantastic speaker, Deputy Building Official Nancy Morgan. She shared invaluable insights into the new building codes and gave us a great look at what our industry should be preparing for over the next couple of years. Thanks to everyone who came out!

04/28/2026

Efficiency and sustainability go hand-in-hand! We’ll be at the Rethink, Reuse, and Repair Fair this Saturday. Stop by the Better Building Works tent to chat with us about future-proofing your home. Can't wait to connect with our Roanoke community!

Email from Clean Valley Council You don't want to miss this.   Join us for these exciting upcoming events in May. Go to https://www.cleanvalley.org/get-involved for more information and to register  

04/24/2026

"Holy cow, this attic was HOT! 🥵 As soon as I opened the laundry room door, I was met with a literal gust of hot air. It was only about 80 degrees outside that day, but I was sweating more inside the house than I was out in the sun. This infrared shot shows exactly why: that attic hatch was reading over 100 degrees. If your house isn’t properly insulated, this can be the result!"

04/22/2026

The Window "U-Value" Trap: Why Your Windows Are Lying to You
Most "high-performance" windows come with a sticker boasting a 0.30 U-value. They achieve this by filling the gap between panes with Argon gas.

The Reality Check: Between "solar pumping" (expanding/contracting in the sun) and standard seal wear, that gas slowly leaks out. Within ~10 years, many 0.30 windows are effectively performing at a 0.50.

If your HVAC system was sized based on "perfect" windows that no longer exist, your home will struggle to stay comfortable on the coldest and hottest days of the year.

We don’t just model for the honeymoon phase; we model for the life of the home. Because building science isn't just about ratings—it's about long-term resilience.

04/19/2026

Friendly reminder:
Flush your water heater!! 💧🛁

If you want those hot showers to stay hot (and your utility bills to stay low), an annual flush is non-negotiable.

Think of it like an oil change for your house. It clears out the gunk, improves efficiency, and keeps your system running for years to come.