BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Manufactured insulated header

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Baffles will keep insulation out of the soffit vents and wind out of the insulation in this vented attic.

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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

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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.

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Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

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Right – Rigid foam insulation is installed in the window header.

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Instead of solid timber headers over windows, the headers can be insulated by using a sheet of plywood or one piece of solid timer on the exterior with a layer of insulation to the inside.

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Advanced framing details throughout house including insulated and open headers

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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

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

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The 12-inch-thick double walls provide plenty of space for insulation.

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Headers over windows and doors are insulated rather than solid wood.

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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.

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

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

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Wrong - Insulation beneath window is compressed and there are more support studs than necessary to left of window.

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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

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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

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Outset header with head plate

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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.

Advanced framing showing open headers

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Framing is built around the window before exterior rigid foam is installed on the exterior walls around the window.

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Structural headers are not needed on nonbearing walls

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New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Imagine Homes: Stillwater Ranch, San Antonio, TX

Case Study

Case study describing a new home builder that strives to address health, safety, and durability issues in a hot and humid climate.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Insight Homes: Deep Creek, Seaford, Delaware

Case Study

Case study describing a home builder that has refined its home designs to achieve HERS scores of 49 to 56 on 40 to 70 homes per year.