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 HVAC equipment.

Guide describing how to air-seal doors that are next to unconditioned spaces.

Guide describing how to select efficient bathroom faucets for single-family homes and multifamily buildings.

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

Guide describing how to install moisture-resistant materials on walls behind showers and tubs to help manage moisture.

Guide describing vapor retarder permeability, insulation interaction, and example construction in a hot-humid climate.

Guide describing how to install a corrosion-resistant drain pan in condensate-producing HVAC equipment.

Guide describing how ice dams form and how roofs can be constructed to prevent them.

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

Guide describing methods for short-term control of erosion during construction and long-term measures for controlling erosion on sloped sites or sites with river banks or shore lines.

Guide describing how to repair or replace skylights in existing homes.

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

Guide describing how to apply flashing to the bottom of exterior walls to create a continuous drainage plane.

Guide describing how to provide a continuous water control layer across the roof assembly by sealing all penetrations for pipes, vents, etc. in existing roofs.

Guide describing how to install and properly integrate flashing at the intersection of the wall and roof on an existing home.

Guide describing how to install flashing that is integrated with air and water control layers around piping, vents, and other wall penetrations as part of an exterior wall retrofit.

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

Guide describing how to properly apply mulch to landscaping.

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 choose building materials.

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

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 apply heavy membranes at eaves in cold climates to help guard against ice dams.

Guide describing service water pressure requirements for EPA's WaterSense Program.

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

Guide describing how to install step and kick-out flashing on roofs.

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

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

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 an approach to re-roofing an existing flat roof to improve thermal, water, and air control performance.

Guide describing how to re-roof an existing home with a sloped and add insulation above the roof deck.

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.

Guide describing how to design a water-efficient landscape that will minimize the need for supplemental water by using the WaterSense® Water Budget Tool.

Guide describing appropriate flooring for wet areas of the home.

Guide describing how to install flashings to help direct water down and out of windows and doors openings in exterior walls.