BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

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

Integrated Truss House - How to install inset windows

Publication Date

September, 2014

Author(s)

Benesch

Organization(s)

Cold Climate Housing Research Center,

CCHRC

Video describing how to install an inset window in an integrated truss house built in cold climates like Alaska.

The back dam of the window sill will force water out

Advanced framing details include minimal framing at windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Window has additional non-structural king stud

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Window framing has appropriate number of king studs

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

After installing the house wrap over the SIPS, window flashing is installed

Publication Date

Wed, 11/14/2012 - 12:00

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Window and door rough openings in the ICF wall are surrounded with pressure-treated wood

Publication Date

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00

Right – Appropriate use of framing members to support double windows and additional cripples for drywall purposes

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Proper flashing around windows is especially important when the rigid foam serves as the drainage plane in the wall

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00

Lay out the rigid foam sheathing joints so they do not align with the window and door edges

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00

Wrong - Stucco has rotted and cracked above a window because of water damage due to lack of proper flashing and drainage.

Publication Date

Tue, 11/12/2019 - 12:00

Right - New flashing has been installed to complete the air and water control layers at the window openings of this wall retrofit that includes insulating the wall cavities with spray foam

Spray Foam Insulation Applied over the Siding of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to install spray foam on the exterior of the existing home after framing over the existing siding.

Conceptual stack framing drawing

DWG

PDF

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

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

Metal strapping as shear bracing

DWG

PDF

Inset band joist at mudsill - 1 1/2 inch rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Structured insulated panels (SIPS) as band joist

DWG

PDF

Conceptual 3D advanced framing drawing

DWG

PDF

Conceptual 2 foot module house drawing

DWG

PDF

Inset band joist at wood floor truss

DWG

PDF

Corner installed plywood or OSB as shear bracing

DWG

PDF

Single top plate with centered joint splice

DWG

PDF

Single top plate splice with metal plate

DWG

PDF

Single top plate - interior wall with gusset

DWG

PDF

2 foot plan layout with wall elevation

DWG

PDF

Interior intersecting wall with 1x6

DWG

PDF

2-stud corner with drywall clips

DWG

PDF

3-stud corner with rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Interior intersecting wall with drywall clips

DWG

PDF

Interior intersecting wall with ladder blocking

DWG

PDF

Interior intersecting wall with 2 studs and rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Stucco Over Rigid Foam Insulation

Guide describing how to install stucco over rigid foam insulation in new and existing homes.

Advanced framing showing open headers

Publication Date

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:00

Single framed wall converted to double wall and insulated with closed-cell spray foam

Rigid Foam Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to apply an air control layer directly over existing wall sheathing and cover with two layers of insulating sheathing held in place by vertical furring strips.

Overview of Convection in Buildings

Publication Date

September, 2020

Author(s)

Dillon

Organization(s)

PNNL

This video provides an overview of convection in buildings, with an introduction to Newton's Law of cooling.

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: Thrive Home Builders, Lowry Plan, Denver, CO

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2017

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2017 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 38 without PV and 4 with PV.

Introduction to Heat Transfer

Publication Date

September, 2020

Author(s)

Dillon

Organization(s)

PNNL

This video provides an overview of heat transfer and discusses how heat transfer occurs in residential buildings.

Spray Foam Insulation for Cavities of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to insulate the walls of an existing home with spray foam insulation.

Certified Insulated Siding: Quality, Comfort and Energy Performance

Author(s)

Dobson,

Brignati

Organization(s)

Vinyl Siding Institute,

Newport Ventures

This presentation will help you define insulated siding, understand R-value testing of insulated siding, describe proper installation of insulated siding, comply with energy codes and understand building energy performance program and software recognition.

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)

Guide describing how to install insulated concrete forms to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Right – Appropriate door framing installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify SIP headers are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Excessive and structurally unnecessary framing at door

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute

Organization(s)

SEI

Publication Date

November, 2016

Fact sheet describing building envelope performance measures applicable to residential and small commercial construction.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

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

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

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

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

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Advanced Framing: Minimum Wall Studs

Guide describing how to frame a wall with minimal wall studs to prevent heat losses and gains through walls.

Continuous Rigid Insulation Sheathing

Guide describing continuous rigid insulation installation procedures to reduce thermal bridging and help provide thermal protection.

FEMA P-804 Envelope and Structural Assessment, Excerpted

Publication Date

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:00

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Author(s)

Ply Gem Siding Group

Organization(s)

Ply Gem Siding Group

Publication Date

April, 2015

Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

Builders Challenge Technology Information Packages - Cold Climate: Chicago

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE

Publication Date

December, 2008

Case study describing building in cold and very cold climates.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Insulating Concrete Forms

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

October, 2012

Case study describing the incorporation of insulating concrete forms (ICFs) into new home design and construction.

Extended Plate Wall System Expands Adoption of High-R Envelope Solutions

Author(s)

Burkett Lena,

Gunderson Patti

Organization(s)

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

August, 2020

Fact sheet describing the Extended Plate Wall (EPW) a system that incorporates a 2-inch layer of foam plastic insulative sheathing within the framing for top and bottom plates, streamlining air sealing, window and door installation, weather resistive barrier application, and cladding attachment for...

Technology Solutions Case Study: Preventing Thermal Bypass

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

October, 2012

Case study describing techniques used to prevent thermal bypass in new homes.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

This measure guides describes how to install structural insulated panels to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Tom Walsh & Co., New Columbia, Portland, OR

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

February, 2013

Case study describing a new construction building project of 20 homes that earned HERS scores that represent greater than 50% energy savings in heating and cooling over the 2004 IECC.

DOE ZERH HIA 2014 Case Study: M Street Homes, Smartlux on Greenpark Houston, TX

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2014

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2014 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 45 without PV and 32 with PV and is the first home in the world to use a tri-generation system to supply electricity, heating, and cooling on site.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Green Home 3 - Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

Author(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Organization(s)

HIRL

Publication Date

December, 2014

Case study describing the Green Home 3 project, which achieved a 44% whole-house energy savings over the Building America New Construction B10 Benchmark, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certification, and National Green Building Standard Gold-level certification.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Schneider Homes, Inc., Village at Miller Creek, Burien, WA

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

February, 2013

Case study describing new home construction in the marine climate that achieved 50% savings over the 2004 IECC.

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: United Way of Long Island, United Veterans Beacon House, Huntington Station, NY

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2017

Case study showing project and performance data and energy-efficiency measures for a DOE 2017 Housing Innovation Award winning home that was certified to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home criteria.