Guides A-Z | Building America Solution Center

Advanced Framing Overview

Advanced framing is a collection of strategies used to reduce the amount of lumber in walls which allows more room for insulation and thus decreases the heat loss and gain as well as lumber costs. Traditional wall framing often uses more studs and thus more lumber than necessary to support the...

Advanced Framing: Insulated Corners

Guide describing how to frame and insulate corners to reduce the heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

Guide describing how to insulate headers over doors and windows to reduce heat loss and heat gain through solid wood framing.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Interior/Exterior Wall Intersections

Guide describing how to frame and insulate exterior-to-interior wall intersections to reduce the heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

Guide describing how to minimize framing around doors and windows to reduce heat loss.

Advanced Framing: Minimum Wall Studs

Guide describing how to frame a wall with minimal wall studs to prevent heat loss through walls.

Continuous Rigid Insulation Sheathing

This guide describes installation procedures for continuous rigid insulation to help provide thermal protection and reduce thermal bridging; depending on the product it may also serve as structural sheathing, or the moisture control layer.

Double Walls for More Insulation

Guide describing construction and insulation techniques for double wall framing.

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)

Guide describing how to install insulated concrete forms to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

This measure guides describes how to install structural insulated panels to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Stucco Over Rigid Foam Insulation

Guide describing how to install stucco over rigid foam insulation in new and existing homes.

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Guide describing the design and installation considerations for recladding of above grade walls using insulated vinyl siding.