All sources
Every source we rely on. Types are shown so you can weigh them: a government agency and a company's cost page are not the same kind of evidence.
| Source | Type | Checked | Used on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction (ACI 302.1R-15), Chapter 5 American Concrete Institute A guide for people who build concrete floors. Describes drying shrinkage, restraint and movement in slabs, and tells owners to expect some cracking and curling. It is written for construction, not for diagnosing a crack in an existing house. | Building-science / engineering | October 7, 2026 | Why is my concrete basement floor cracking, and should I be worried? |
| Window Condensation 101 Andersen Windows Window manufacturer. Used only for what condensation outside the glass (dew) and between the panes (seal failure) means, and its 30 to 35% winter humidity suggestion. It sells windows, so its advice on replacement is not used. | Manufacturer / trade | October 15, 2026 | Condensation on windows in winter |
| How Much Does Bowing Basement Wall Repair Cost? Angi Per-foot costs for wall anchors, straps, helical tiebacks and straightening; engineer inspection and permit ranges; repair-guide inch cutoffs for bowing. Has small internal inconsistencies (strap spacing 4 ft vs 5 ft; straightening total quoted two ways). The inch cutoffs are this guide's, not an engineering standard. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 12, 2026 | Bowing basement wall: how serious is it, and what does it cost to fix? |
| PSI and Residential Water Pressure: What's Normal and Why It Matters Burgeson's Heating, Cooling & Plumbing Typical 40–60 psi range, gauge test, common causes of low pressure. A plumbing company's blog, not a standard. | Contractor or consultant explainer | October 4, 2026 | Why is my water pressure low? |
| Why Seal and Insulate? ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA / DOE) Estimated savings from air sealing and insulating, and common signs a home needs it. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | Why is my house so cold? How much does it cost to insulate an attic? |
| Heating and Cooling Maintenance Checklist ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA / DOE) Filter checks and annual tune-ups; effect of airflow problems on efficiency. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | Why is my house so cold? Should I repair or replace it? |
| Identify Problems You Want to Fix (Seal and Insulate) ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA / DOE) Warns that sealing a home may trap indoor air pollutants such as radon, carbon monoxide and VOCs; points to DIY checks. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | Why is my house so cold? How much does it cost to insulate an attic? |
| Foundation Cracks in Homes and Buildings Exactus Engineering Crack-width thresholds and crack patterns. A single consulting-engineer page, not a standard; width cut-offs vary between sources. | Contractor or consultant explainer | October 4, 2026 | Is this crack serious? |
| Roof Replacement Cost HomeGuide Installed $/sq ft by material, tear-off labor, and the $5,400–$17,400 spread by state. Updated Nov 2025. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | How to read a cost estimate How much does a new roof cost? |
| Mold Removal Cost HomeGuide Remediation and testing costs. Updated Feb 2026. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | Why is my wall damp? Is mold in my house dangerous? |
| Water Pressure Regulator Replacement Cost HomeGuide Regulator replacement $300–$650 with labor. Updated Sep 2024. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | Why is my water pressure low? |
| Basement Waterproofing Cost HomeGuide Costs by method (interior, exterior, sump pump, grading). Updated Jan 2026. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | Why is my wall damp? |
| Home Insulation Cost HomeGuide Insulation and air-sealing costs. Updated Dec 2025. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | Why is my house so cold? How much does it cost to insulate an attic? |
| Home Energy Audit Cost HomeGuide Audit, blower-door and thermal-imaging costs. Updated Oct 2024. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | Why is my house so cold? How much does it cost to insulate an attic? |
| Foundation Repair Cost HomeGuide Crack repair, leak repair and structural-engineer report costs. Updated Feb 2026. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | Is this crack serious? Bowing basement wall: how serious is it, and what does it cost to fix? |
| Water-Damaged Ceiling Repair Cost HomeGuide Patch and paint, full repair, pipe-leak and roof-damage repair costs. Updated Nov 2025. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | Why is there a stain on my ceiling? How much does it cost to insulate an attic? |
| Window Glass Replacement Cost HomeGuide Per-window costs for double-pane glass replacement and whole-window replacement; glass-only typically 30 to 70% less than a full window when the frame is sound; fogging between panes points to seal failure. No separate defogging price. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 15, 2026 | Condensation on windows in winter |
| Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers (revised January 2013) InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) Home-inspector training course. Causes of horizontal cracking in brick and block foundation walls (backfilling, vibration, saturated soil swelling or freezing), frozen soil pushing harder than wet soil, and advice to refer masonry problems to a structural engineer. Gives no procedure or inch limit for measuring bowing. | Contractor or consultant explainer | October 12, 2026 | Bowing basement wall: how serious is it, and what does it cost to fix? |
| Winter Window Condensation (Answerline) Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 30 to 40% winter indoor humidity and approximate condensation temperatures for single-, double- and triple-pane windows (attributed to NDSU's Ken Hellevang); air leakage cooling the glass; weatherstripping, caulk and plastic window covers; drapes. Short extension Q&A. | Government agency | October 15, 2026 | Condensation on windows in winter |
| Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity (2007) Original NAHB study; this link is a third-party copy. It is from 2007 and says lifespans depend on installation quality, maintenance, climate and use. | Industry research | October 4, 2026 | How much does a new roof cost? Should I repair or replace it? |
| Cost to Replace Roof Shingles NerdWallet Asphalt $4.25–$12.25 per sq ft; permits, inspection, flashing and tear-off as extras. Updated Jul 2025. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 4, 2026 | How to read a cost estimate How much does a new roof cost? |
| Window Condensation a Common Problem North Dakota State University Extension Extension energy educator Carl Pedersen. About 40% winter indoor humidity, approximate outdoor temperatures at which double- and triple-pane windows condense, moisture from breathing, fans that vent outdoors, dehumidifiers often ineffective in winter, air-to-air exchangers. A 2011 news release, not a technical standard. | Government agency | October 15, 2026 | Condensation on windows in winter |
| Understanding Window Performance Labels (EGEE 102, section 10.10) Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences University course material. Condensation resistance (CR) on window labels runs from 0 to 100; higher means better resistance; typical residential windows about 20 to 80. | Building-science / engineering | October 15, 2026 | Condensation on windows in winter |
| Does homeowners insurance cover foundation repairs? Progressive An insurer's general explainer: foundation cracks and settling generally not covered, earth movement typically excluded, damage from a covered peril may be covered. Your own policy terms control. | Consumer explainer | October 12, 2026 | Bowing basement wall: how serious is it, and what does it cost to fix? |
| Bowing Basement Wall Repair Cost Today's Homeowner Per-foot repair costs by method, typical total for one wall, engineer report range, and repair-guide inch cutoffs. Names no data source or methodology, and discloses compensation from featured companies. Used as a cross-check on Angi. | Cost guide (crowd/contractor data) | October 12, 2026 | Bowing basement wall: how serious is it, and what does it cost to fix? |
| About Mold and Your Health U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health effects, who is most at risk, why the CDC does not recommend mold testing, humidity and cleaning guidance. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | Is mold in my house dangerous? |
| A Guide to Home Energy Assessments U.S. Department of Energy What a home energy assessment involves. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | Why is my house so cold? |
| Insulation U.S. Department of Energy (Energy Saver) Recommended R-values by climate zone for an uninsulated attic and the main types of insulation. It gives no costs or savings. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | How much does it cost to insulate an attic? |
| Evaluation of the Thermal and Moisture Performance of Insulating Shades (PNNL-33380) U.S. Department of Energy / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory DOE-funded lab report (with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Hunter Douglas and AERC). Explains condensation via dew/frost point, finds closed cellular shades can cause window condensation, recommends opening shades by day, wiping sills at least every few days and higher-performance windows or secondary glazing in cold climates. Does not cover condensation between panes or outside. | Government agency | October 15, 2026 | Condensation on windows in winter |
| Water Management of Existing Basement Floor U.S. Department of Energy / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Building America Solution Center) Practitioner guidance. Describes slab cracks, holes and wall-to-slab joints as places where moisture and soil gas can enter, and says sealing alone is not enough where grading, gutters or a high water table cause serious water problems. It does not say how to tell where water comes from. | Government agency | October 7, 2026 | Why is my concrete basement floor cracking, and should I be worried? |
| A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Humidity targets, the "about 10 square feet" guideline, and the 24–48 hour drying window. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | Why is my wall damp? How moisture moves through a house Is mold in my house dangerous? Condensation on windows in winter |
| A Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction (EPA 402/K-10/005) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Says soil air, including radon, is drawn into a home through foundation cracks and other openings; that radon cannot be seen or smelled, so testing is needed; and that EPA does not recommend sealing alone to reduce radon. It does not say that any particular crack means radon is present. | Government agency | October 7, 2026 | Why is my concrete basement floor cracking, and should I be worried? |
| Fix a Leak Week U.S. EPA WaterSense Household leak statistics, the toilet dye test and the water-meter leak check. It gives no pressure (psi) guidance. | Government agency | October 4, 2026 | Why is my wall damp? Why is my water pressure low? |
| Water Stains on Ceiling: Is It a Roof Leak? Weathershield Roofers How roof, plumbing and condensation stains tend to differ. A roofing company's blog, not a standard; its repair costs are lower than other guides. | Contractor or consultant explainer | October 4, 2026 | Why is there a stain on my ceiling? |
| Cost vs. Value Report 2025 Zonda / Remodeling & JLC National averages of job cost and estimated resale value for remodeling projects. Estimates are based on surveys of real-estate professionals and cost modelling, not on measured sale prices. | Industry research | October 4, 2026 | How much does a new roof cost? Should I repair or replace it? Which home improvements add the most value? |