BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Foundation wall exterior board insulation with above-grade wall insulation

Guide to Insulating Sheathing

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2007

Guide providing information on using exterior foam insulating sheathing in building wall assemblies to enhance thermal performance.

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

Publication Date

Sun, 01/01/2017 - 12:00

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

Publication Date

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 12:00

Insulation Below Attic Platforms

Guide describing how to install insulation below attic platforms

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.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Corners

Guide describing how to frame and insulate corners to reduce heat losses and gains though structural framing.

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

Publication Date

Mon, 02/01/2010 - 12:00

Double Walls for More Insulation

Guide describing construction and insulation techniques for double wall framing.

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

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:00

Batt Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to achieve RESNET Grade 1 installation standards, and meet/exceed code using batt insulation in existing walls.

Truss wall with cellulose insulation

Publication Date

Sun, 03/01/2009 - 12:00

Batt Insulation for Existing Vented Attics

Guide describing how to increase insulation in existing homes by installing batt insulation on the ceiling plane of a vented attic.

Stucco Over Rigid Foam Insulation

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

3-stud corner with rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Right – Framing allows corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Framing allows corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Double-stud wall with cellulose insulation

Publication Date

Sun, 03/01/2009 - 12:00

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation between studs to insulate this connecting garage wall.

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:00

Interior intersecting wall with 2 studs and rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Wrong – Framing does not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Framing does not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Framing does not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Excessive framing will not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

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.

Wrong - Insulation does not fill double wall cavity

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

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Structured insulated panels (SIPS) as band joist

DWG

PDF

Advanced Framing: Insulated Interior/Exterior Wall Intersections

Guide describing how to frame and insulate exterior-to-interior wall intersections to reduce heat losses and gains though structural framing.

The builder staggers 2x4 studs on 2x6 top and bottom plates which provides gaps to fill in insulation around the framing for a continuous blanket of insulation.

Insulating and Air Sealing Existing Floors above Unconditioned Spaces

Guide describing how to insulate a floor over unconditioned space with conditioned space above by adding insulation and air-sealing.

Builders Guide to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for all Climates

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2015

A book about structurally insulated panels.

Stud Walls With Continuous Exterior Insulation for Factory Built Housing

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE

Publication Date

January, 2014

Case study describing a panelized construction method for stud walls with continuous rigid foam insulation.

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.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

Right – Gap in framing will allow corner to be filled with insulation

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Double-stud wall with spray foam and cellulose insulation

Publication Date

Sun, 03/01/2009 - 12:00

Key elements of a wall system clad with insulated vinyl siding

Right – Ladder blocking allows for insulation behind the wall intersection

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Corner framing is placed to allow room in the corners for wall insulation.

Right – Strips of SIP panels are used to sheath and insulate the rim joists.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

This 2x6 wall is advanced framed and filled with dense-packed cellulose insulation.

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.

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

DWG

PDF

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

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 details throughout house including insulated and open headers

Publication Date

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:00

The improved three-stud corner allows insulation to be installed later, in sequence

Reference

Building America Best Practices Series - 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Cold and Very Cold Climates, Volume 12

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Guide describing measures that builders in the cold and very cold climates can take to build homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

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

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

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.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

Existing stud wall filled with open cell spray foam cavity insulation

Windows are installed in new framing in preparation for adding exterior spray foam insulation

Existing stud wall filled with closed-cell spray foam cavity insulation

Wrong – The vinyl siding at this gable was installed over plastic foam insulation

Publication Date

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:00

This home’s double-wall construction provides a 9-inch wall cavity for insulation.

Closed-cell spray foam insulation is added to the wall cavities of an existing exterior wall

Right – Ladder blocking allows the exterior wall to be insulated where intersected by an interior wall.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

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

Right - Raised-heel roof trusses allow more room at the eaves for attic insulation.

Wrong – Conventional T-post detail is extremely difficult to insulate and usually doesn't happen

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Conventional three-stud corners leave a cavity that must be insulated by the framers—not good

Reference

Building America Best Practices Series - 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Cold and Very Cold Climates, Volume 12

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Guide describing measures that builders in the cold and very cold climates can take to build homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 12:00

Impact Resistance of Advanced Framed Wall Systems with Insulating Sheathing as the Primary Sheathing, RR-0603

Author(s)

Baker Peter,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Research study describing the impact resistance performance of advanced framed wall systems with insulating sheathing as the primary sheathing from wind blown debris.