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After all holes through the ceiling are air-sealed and the baffles have been installed, then the insulation can be installed.

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Right - A “flash” seal approach with spray foam provides a continuous air barrier between the ceiling and walls of the garage and the living space.

Right - A “flash” seal approach with spray foam provides a continuous air barrier between the ceiling and walls of the garage and the living space.

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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.

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Right – Closed-cell spray foam insulates and air-seals the rim joist above a shared wall between the garage and living space.

Right – Closed-cell spray foam insulates and air-seals the rim joist above a shared wall between the garage and living space.

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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.

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Right – Joists between floors are air sealed to the ceiling drywall with canned spray foam along each joist-to-drywall-seam.

Right – Joists between floors are air sealed to the ceiling drywall with canned spray foam along each joist-to-drywall-seam.

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The rim joists and top plates are air sealed and insulated with open-cell spray foam while the walls are filled with blown fiberglass.

The rim joists and top plates are air sealed and insulated with open-cell spray foam while the walls are filled with blown fiberglass.

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Right-- IR photo shows how effectively spray foam insulated/air sealed attic kneewall and the floor cavities under kneewall

Right-- IR photo shows how effectively spray foam insulated/air sealed attic kneewall and the floor cavities under kneewall

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This typical dropped ceiling hallway chase shows a complicated air sealing scheme where chase ceiling drywall meets sidewall top plates

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This builder applied an air-sealing layer of spray foam along the underside of the roof deck and the inside of the walls before filling the wall cavities with blown cellulose.

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For homes with heating registers in the ceiling or floor, air seal where the duct boots meet the ceiling drywall or the flooring to prevent heat loss around the register.

For homes with heating registers in the ceiling or floor, air seal where the duct boots meet the ceiling drywall or the flooring to prevent heat loss around the register.

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Rigid foam insulating sheathing installed over an existing garage ceiling with retrofits to air seal exterior wall before adding exterior wall insulating sheathing

Rigid foam insulating sheathing installed over an existing garage ceiling with retrofits to air seal exterior wall before adding exterior wall insulating sheathing

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The builder installed this OSB under the roof rafters and air sealed the seams with tape then added a dropped drywall ceiling to provide a service cavity for ducts and wiring, while minimizing holes into the attic.

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The dark purple areas and long streaks in this IR camera image show extreme cold spots along the top of the walls, indicating a lack of both air sealing and insulation above the top plates of these walls.

The dark purple areas and long streaks in this IR camera image show extreme cold spots along the top of the walls, indicating a lack of both air sealing and insulation above the top plates of these walls.

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Sealing Duct Boots to Floor or Drywall

Guide

Guide describing how to air seal around duct shafts and flues installed through ceilings, walls, and flooring in new and existing homes.

Recessed can not caulked and sealed

Recessed can not caulked and sealed

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Wrong - Bathroom fan not caulked and sealed

Wrong - Bathroom fan not caulked and sealed

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The ceiling drywall is sealed to the top plates with caulk.

The ceiling drywall is sealed to the top plates with caulk.

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Air Leakage in Recessed Lighting

Reference

Article describing recessed lighting, which if installed incorrectly may contribute to air leakage and compromise building envelope efficiency.

Roof/Attic to Exterior Wall Air Control Upgrade

Guide

Guide describing how to retrofit an exterior wall and/or attic to provide continuous air sealing.

Your Northern Home: Attics/Air leakage/Stack effect

Video

Video from Cold Climate Housing Research Center on how warm air typically leaks out of homes through attics via the stack effect and how to mitigate these effects through building practices.

The purple streaks in this IR camera image indicate air leakage along the top plates, which is allowing cold air to be pulled from the attic into the wall cavities of this interior wall.

The purple streaks in this IR camera image indicate air leakage along the top plates, which is allowing cold air to be pulled from the attic into the wall cavities of this interior wall.

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The attic kneewall and the open floor cavities under kneewall are both sealed and insulated in one step with spray foam insulation

The attic kneewall and the open floor cavities under kneewall are both sealed and insulated in one step with spray foam insulation

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Wrong - When ceiling joists over a garage run perpendicular to the adjoining wall, the joist bays must be blocked and sealed to prevent garage fumes from entering the living space

Wrong - When ceiling joists over a garage run perpendicular to the adjoining wall, the joist bays must be blocked and sealed to prevent garage fumes from entering the living space

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This kneewall has no top plate and the resulting gap provides a wide-open pathway for air and vapor to travel between the living space and the attic

This kneewall has no top plate and the resulting gap provides a wide-open pathway for air and vapor to travel between the living space and the attic

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After cleaning the exhaust fan, the gap around the fan between the fan housing and the drywall should be caulked to stop air leakage from the house to the attic

After cleaning the exhaust fan, the gap around the fan between the fan housing and the drywall should be caulked to stop air leakage from the house to the attic

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Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces

Guide

Guide describing how to correctly air-seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.

Floor Above Garage

Video

Video describing best practices for air-sealing floors above garages.

Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Video

Video describing how to air-seal soffits below attics.

Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal dropped ceilings and soffits to prevent air leakage.

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