Guides A-Z

Guide describing how to insulate a basement to improve the overall thermal performance of the building and provide more dry, usable conditioned space for home occupants and for HVAC equipment.

Guide describing how to create a capillary break at all crawlspace floors using polyethylene sheeting to manage moisture in crawlspaces.

Guide describing how to provide a strong continuous load path from the roof through the wall to the foundation to ensure a structurally sound building and increase racking resistance in hurricanes, high winds, tornados, and earthquakes.

Guide describing installation of sump pumps in the basement or crawlspace of a home.

Guide describing how to install slab edge insulation when retrofitting existing slab-on-grade foundations.

Guide describing how to insulate a new foundation wall or an existing foundation wall by adding rigid insulation to the exterior side.

Guide describing different options for providing seismic and thermal resistance for homes with basement foundations, crawlspace foundations, or crawlspace foundations with a "cripple" wall.

Guide describing how to upgrade a crawlspace floor in an existing home by adding insulation.

Vapor retarder plastic should not be installed over fibrous insulation on basement or crawlspace walls unless rigid foam or spray foam is installed directly against the concrete, behind the blanket insulation.

Guide describing how to correctly slope solid surfaces outside a home so rainwater flows away from the home.

Guide describing how to install a radon mitigation fan with various types of house foundations.

Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

Guide describing principles of insulating and air sealing band joists as a stand alone energy upgrade, or as part of creating a closed crawlspace.

Guide describing how to insulate closed crawlspace walls and band joist areas with rigid foam board insulation.

Guide describing how to insulate an existing slab floor by adding rigid foam insulation over the slab then installing a floating subfloor.

Guide describing how to insulate an existing foundation wall by adding spray foam insulation to the interior side of the wall.

Guide describing the need for covers on sump pumps in the basement or crawlspace of a home.

Guide describing how to install a radon-mitigating vertical ventilation pipe in new and existing homes with various types of house foundations.

Guide describing how to construct the walls of a home with bracing to resist wind and earthquake loads.

Guide describing how to insulate the sill beam or sill plate on the exterior side in a way that allows drying to the exterior, as part of an exterior wall upgrade.

Guide describing how to retrofit an existing basement floor or slab to reduce moisture issues.

Guide providing information about treating bulk water drainage issues and moisture control measures in existing basements and crawl spaces.