Library | Building America Solution Center

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 201 - 221 of 221

Weep Holes in Brick and Stone Veneer

Author(s)

Don Jackson

Organization(s)

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Publication Date

December, 2004

An article written by Don Jackson of The Journal of Light Construction on how to detail brick veneer siding wall.

Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Hot and Humid Climate, Volume 1

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

November, 2004

Document providing a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the hot and humid climate.

Trombe Walls in Low-Energy Buildings: Practical Experiences

Author(s)

Pless Shanti,

Torcellini Paul

Organization(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

September, 2004

Technical conference paper discussing real world experience with Trombe walls.

Van Geet Off-Grid Home: An Integrated Approach to Energy Savings

Author(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

August, 2004

Report about a project with successful integration of numerous energy-conservation and renewable-energy features into a beautiful, comfortable, and very energy-efficient off-grid home.

Assessing the Impact of Thickness of the Performance of Stucco Cladding

Author(s)

Brown William C,

Dietrich Mike,

Latimer Mark

Organization(s)

American Society of Heating,

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Publication Date

January, 2004

A report that evaluates the force it takes to crack stucco of various thicknesses.

Characterization of Framing Factors for Wood-Framed Low-Rise Residential Buildings

Author(s)

Carpenter Stephen C,

Schumacher Christopher

Organization(s)

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Publication Date

January, 2003

Case study characterizing the framing factors for the exterior walls, ceilings, and floors of 180 wood-framed low-rise residential buildings across the United States.

Is Your Home Protected from Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

January, 2002

Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more hurricane resistant.

Advanced Wall Framing

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

National Association of Home Builders

Organization(s)

NAHB,

SEI,

ORNL,

NREL

Publication Date

January, 2002

Fact sheet describing advanced wall framing.

Energy Benefits of Application of Massive Walls in Residential Buildings

Author(s)

Kosny Jan,

Christian Jeffrey E,

Petrie Thomas W,

Childs Phillip W,

Gawin D,

Desjarlais Andre O

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

Technical University of Lodz,

TUL

Publication Date

December, 2001

Presentation about results from an insulating concrete form energy efficiency study in Knoxville, TN.

Termite Damaged Weatherboard

Author(s)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Organization(s)

CSIRO

Publication Date

October, 2001

Image depicting damage from termites in weatherboard cladding.

Brick, Stucco, Housewrap and Building Paper, RR-0105

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

September, 2001

Research study discussing how housewraps restrict or permit the passage of water molecules based on size, but cannot control the direction in which the water vapor molecules move.

Resistance of Exterior Walls to High Velocity Projectiles

Author(s)

Kashuba Scott D,

Kuzik Mark D,

Hatzinikolas Michael A

Organization(s)

Canadian Masonry Research Institute,

CMPA

Publication Date

January, 2001

Report describing the testing of various siding materials for their ability to resist bullets from small firearms.

Building with Structural Insulated Panels

Author(s)

Morley Michael

Organization(s)

Taunton Press

Publication Date

January, 2000

An online learning management resource for the construction community.

Residential Heating and Cooling Loads Component Analysis

Author(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Organization(s)

LBNL

Publication Date

November, 1999

Report describing a study using parametric computer simulations of 112 single-family and 63 multi-family residential building prototypes to quantify the contributions of building components such as roofs, walls, windows, infiltration, outside air, lighting, equipment, and people to the aggregate...

Concrete Masonry Homes: Recommended Practices

Author(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Organization(s)

HIRL,

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

HUD,

Office of Policy Development and Research,

PDR

Publication Date

September, 1999

Attachment or installation of foundations, floors, roofs, insulation, utilities, and finishes to concrete masonry walls as well as on special tools and fasteners available for use with concrete masonry.

Nail Withdrawal Capacities in OSB

Author(s)

Extreme Panel Technologies

Organization(s)

Extreme Panel Technologies

Publication Date

December, 1998

Information sheet with nail withdrawl capacities in OSB.

Building a Better Trombe Wall

Author(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

December, 1998

Fact sheet providing background and technical information on Trombe wall design

Thermal Performance and Wall Ratings

Author(s)

Christian Jeffrey E,

Kosny Jan

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

March, 1996

Report proposing a procedure for estimating the whole opaque wall R-value (whole-wall R-value), independent of system type and construction materials.

Brick Masonry Rain Screen Walls

Author(s)

Brick Industry Association

Organization(s)

BIA

Publication Date

August, 1994

Document focusing on the design and wall components that contribute to a pressure equalized rain screen wall, including the frequency of the weep holes and other brick masonry rain screen wall requirements.

Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew In Florida - Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, FIA 22

Author(s)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Organization(s)

FEMA

Publication Date

December, 1992

Document containing recommendations on how to brace roofs and gable end walls based on lessons learned from analyzing the destruction from hurricane Andrew.

Adobe Construction Methods

Author(s)

Neubauer LW

Organization(s)

University of California Davis

Publication Date

January, 1951

Printed manual describing adobe construction