Cover photo of the book, A House Needs to Breathe...Or Does It?

Book: A House Needs to Breathe...Or Does It? - paperback

$49.00

$45.00

This book by building science expert Allison A. Bailes III, PhD lays out the basic science of buildings. When it comes to how houses perform, professionals and homeowners alike believe many things that just aren’t true.

This book explodes the myths, misinformation, and plain old nonsense that pervades the world of home building, remodeling, maintenance, and operation.  But it doesn't stop there.  It provides concrete advice on how to design, build, improve, and live in homes that are healthy, comfortable, energy efficient, and durable.

Whether you're an experienced professional, new worker, student, or someone who lives in a home, this book has something for you.  From indoor air quality to building enclosure control layers to heating and cooling to hot water, Dr. Bailes has covered the breadth of residential building science.

Book details

362 pages, 278 images, 19 chapters, 7 appendices, and 1 jam-packed index. For more information, see the book page.

Table of Contents

Click to see the table of contents.

Questions?

Scroll down to see the FAQ

FAQ

Is this book for beginners?

Beginners can learn a lot from this book and should not be afraid to buy it. Some of the content is at the intermediate level. There's a bit of math in some places, but it's not critical to to understanding the main points.

Here's what Amy, a copyeditor who worked on the book, wrote:

"It really is a great book. I learned a lot from it. I’m not planning any extensive home repair myself anytime soon, but I feel like I'd have a
better idea if someone we hired was trying to pull the wool over our eyes."

Also see the quotes from Amazon reviews above.

Read the one-page preface to get a better feel for the target audience.

Is there a charge for shipping?

We provide free economy shipping (USPS Media Mail) for addresses in the
United States. You'll also have the option to pay for expedited shipping. For countries outside the US, you can buy the digital version (ebook or pdf) from us, but we don't ship outside the US. If you really want a print copy, check with Amazon or pick one up if you visit the US.

Is there a digital version of the book?

Yes! It's available for immediate download after you complete the purchase here in our online store. You can choose either ebook or pdf versions.