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Manufactured insulated header

Manufactured insulated header

CAD File

Insulated header made of two pieces of plywood that sandwich a layer of rigid foam insulation

Insulated header made of two pieces of plywood that sandwich a layer of rigid foam insulation

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Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

Guide

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

Site-built insulated header

Site-built insulated header

CAD File

Insulated header made of one piece of plywood aligned with exterior wall, with room for insulation to inside

Insulated header made of one piece of plywood aligned with exterior wall, with room for insulation to inside

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This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation to insulate truss-joist headers.

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation to insulate truss-joist headers.

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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.

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Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

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Pieces of rigid foam insulation are cut to size to be fitted into the garage door.

Pieces of rigid foam insulation are cut to size to be fitted into the garage door.

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Advanced framing details throughout house including insulated and open headers

Advanced framing details throughout house including insulated and open headers

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Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

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Right – Verify two member headers with rigid insulation between are installed

Right – Verify two member headers with rigid insulation between are installed

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Right – Verify single member headers with insulation on one side are installed

Right – Verify single member headers with insulation on one side are installed

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Instead of solid timber headers over windows, insulated headers can be used consisting of prefabricated structural insulated panels or site-fabricated with two sheets of plywood sandwiching a layer of rigid foam.

Instead of solid timber headers over windows, insulated headers can be used consisting of prefabricated structural insulated panels or site-fabricated with two sheets of plywood sandwiching a layer of rigid foam.

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How To Strengthen Your Home for Under $10,000 – Insulated Concrete Forms

Video

Video interview explaining the benefits of installing insulated concrete forms for both energy efficiency and disaster resistance in either new or existing homes for under $10,000. Recommendations from FLASH Strong Homes.

Exterior Doors Are Insulated, Impact Rated, and Fire Rated

Guide

Guide describing the use of doors that are insulated and are impact rated or have protective coverings for resistance to hurricane, high winds, wildfires, and thermal losses.

This garage door has been insulated with pieces of rigid foam and canned spray foam.

This garage door has been insulated with pieces of rigid foam and canned spray foam.

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An insulation dam was constructed out of 2x8s that sit on ceiling joists for this attic access hatch.

An insulation dam was constructed out of 2x8s that sit on ceiling joists for this attic access hatch.

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Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used to air-seal openings.

Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used to air-seal openings.

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Insulated headers can be hung with metal hangers instead of jack studs to reduce lumber usage

Insulated headers can be hung with metal hangers instead of jack studs to reduce lumber usage

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Measure the thickness of the space on the back of the garage door area where you will install the rigid foam insulation.

Measure the thickness of the space on the back of the garage door area where you will install the rigid foam insulation.

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Install an ENERGY STAR labeled insulated door with an automatic closer. Weather strip the door frame

Install an ENERGY STAR labeled insulated door with an automatic closer. Weather strip the door frame

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Right – The flashing is properly installed to create a complete drainage system with continuous rigid insulation sheathing/siding

Right – The flashing is properly installed to create a complete drainage system with continuous rigid insulation sheathing/siding

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When adding insulation to a garage door, measure your door framing to determine what thickness of rigid foam the space will allow.

When adding insulation to a garage door, measure your door framing to determine what thickness of rigid foam the space will allow.

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Install insulating foam sheathing and tape all seams to serve as a continuous drainage plane behind the home’s cladding.

Install insulating foam sheathing and tape all seams to serve as a continuous drainage plane behind the home’s cladding.

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Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

Guide

Guide describing how to air-seal attic access panels, doors, and stairs to provide a continuous air barrier at the ceiling.

Builders Challenge High Performance Builder Spotlight: David Weekley Homes, Houston, Texas

Case Study

Case study describing new home construction in the hot-humid climate, optimizing thermal enclosure, HVAC, water heating and lighting measures.

Mini truss header - section

Mini truss header - section

CAD File

Outset header with head plate

Outset header with head plate

CAD File

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

Guide

Guide describing how to minimize framing around doors and windows to reduce heat losses and gains through structural framing.