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Rigid insulation can be used as a thermal break between a garage slab with a heated plenum space and a separately cast garage slab without a heated plenum space.

Rigid insulation can be used as a thermal break between a garage slab with a heated plenum space and a separately cast garage slab without a heated plenum space.
CAD File:

Rigid Insulation Over Aggregate

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Rigid Insulation Over Aggregate
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Scraps of rigid foam insulation can be used to fill in gaps and insulate narrow sections along the edges of the garage door.

Scraps of rigid foam insulation can be used to fill in gaps and insulate narrow sections along the edges of the garage door.
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Sealed blocking

Sealed blocking
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Side view showing air-sealing and rigid foam insulation is installed over existing wall and ceiling under a room above, then covered with new gypsum board.

Side view showing air-sealing and rigid foam insulation is installed over existing wall and ceiling under a room above, then covered with new gypsum board.
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Side view showing how the existing garage wall and ceiling are air-sealed prior to installing rigid foam insulation on the garage side of the shared wall of an existing home.

Side view showing how the existing garage wall and ceiling are air-sealed prior to installing rigid foam insulation on the garage side of the shared wall of an existing home.
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Spray foam at band

Spray foam at band
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Spray foam insulates the rim joist and air seals the subfloor-rim joist and rim joist-top plate connections

Spray foam insulates the rim joist and air seals the subfloor-rim joist and rim joist-top plate connections
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Spray foam insulation air-seals and insulates the floor above the garage; the joist will be filled with fibrous insulation in this flash-and-batt approach.

Spray foam insulation air-seals and insulates the floor above the garage; the joist will be filled with fibrous insulation in this flash-and-batt approach.
Presentation:

Stump the Building Chump – Joe Lstiburek

Stump the Building Chump – Joe Lstiburek
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Subfloor as air barrier

Subfloor as air barrier
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Table of interior vapor retarder requirements based on climate zone and retarder class; no interior retarder is recommended in zones 6-8, and class II is acceptable for all other zones.

Table of interior vapor retarder requirements based on climate zone and retarder class; no interior retarder is recommended in zones 6-8, and class II is acceptable for all other zones.
Case Study:

Technology Solutions Case Study: Moisture Durability of Vapor Permeable Insulating Sheathing

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The “institutional” perfect wall works in all climate zones; water, air, vapor, and thermal control layers are exterior of the sheathing, assembly allows drying to interior and exterior

The “institutional” perfect wall works in all climate zones; water, air, vapor, and thermal control layers are exterior of the sheathing, assembly allows drying to interior and exterior
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The air tightness of the garage-to-house air barrier can be tested with a blower door kit and two manometers

The air tightness of the garage-to-house air barrier can be tested with a blower door kit and two manometers
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The air tightness of the house-garage air barrier can be tested using a CFM50 test that is first run with the garage door to outdoors closed

The air tightness of the house-garage air barrier can be tested using a CFM50 test that is first run with the garage door to outdoors closed
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The air tightness of the house-garage air barrier can be tested using a CFM50 test that is run first with the garage door to outdoors closed and then with the overhead garage door to outdoors open

The air tightness of the house-garage air barrier can be tested using a CFM50 test that is run first with the garage door to outdoors closed and then with the overhead garage door to outdoors open
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The below-grade wall assembly includes dampproofing, draining details, and insulation.

The below-grade wall assembly includes dampproofing, draining details, and insulation.
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The builder’s crews spray foam directly onto the ground to provide a vapor barrier and insulation layer under the slab.

The builder’s crews spray foam directly onto the ground to provide a vapor barrier and insulation layer under the slab.
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The floor of the sealed insulated crawlspace is covered with a heavy plastic vapor-barrier sheathing that is taped at all seams and around the foundation piers to prevent water vapor from moving into the crawlspace.

The floor of the sealed insulated crawlspace is covered with a heavy plastic vapor-barrier sheathing that is taped at all seams and around the foundation piers to prevent water vapor from moving into the crawlspace.
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The grille in the photo on the left brings air into a return air plenum under an air handler platform. As shown in the infrared image on the right, the plenum is not air sealed so hot attic air is being pulled into the air handler closet.

The grille in the photo on the left brings air into a return air plenum under an air handler platform. As shown in the infrared image on the right, the plenum is not air sealed so hot attic air is being pulled into the air handler closet.
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The I-joist is continuous along the shared wall and serves as a natural air barrier between the garage and the house

The I-joist is continuous along the shared wall and serves as a natural air barrier between the garage and the house
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The Larsen-truss 9-inch wall cavities were covered with a smart vapor membrane that was fastened to the trusses with furring strips, which also provide an air gap behind the wood siding; each truss cavity is then filled with blown cellulose.

The Larsen-truss 9-inch wall cavities were covered with a smart vapor membrane that was fastened to the trusses with furring strips, which also provide an air gap behind the wood siding; each truss cavity is then filled with blown cellulose.
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The original corner seam is air-sealed with caulk, then rigid foam is installed on the existing garage ceiling and walls, and finally covered with drywall.

The original corner seam is air-sealed with caulk, then rigid foam is installed on the existing garage ceiling and walls, and finally covered with drywall.