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Ledger board, metal brackets, and vertical 2x4s have been installed in preparation for exterior spray foam in this retrofit exterior wall insulation technique

Ledger board, metal brackets, and vertical 2x4s have been installed in preparation for exterior spray foam in this retrofit exterior wall insulation technique

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Stucco is installed over rigid insulation, which is installed over a drainage plane consisting of a drainage gap and building wrap layer over the sheathing

Stucco is installed over rigid insulation, which is installed over a drainage plane consisting of a drainage gap and building wrap layer over the sheathing

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Fill in the hole left by the missing top plate with a rigid air blocking material or rolled batt insulation that is spray foamed in place

Fill in the hole left by the missing top plate with a rigid air blocking material or rolled batt insulation that is spray foamed in place

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On top of the ice-and-water shield, the builder installed horizontal beams that were raised 6 inches off the deck to allow room for spray foam insulation.

On top of the ice-and-water shield, the builder installed horizontal beams that were raised 6 inches off the deck to allow room for spray foam insulation.

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Structural insulated panels offer a continuous layer of thermal protection and draft resistance around the home and come from the factory precut for fast assembly.

Structural insulated panels offer a continuous layer of thermal protection and draft resistance around the home and come from the factory precut for fast assembly.

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Installing ladder blocking at interior-exterior wall intersections rather than three solid studs in the exterior wall as the supporting surface allows room for insulation in the exterior wall.

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Right- This concrete block home in the hot-humid climate is insulated on the interior with rigid EPS foam; all framing uses mold- and termite-resistant borate-treated lumber.

Right- This concrete block home in the hot-humid climate is insulated on the interior with rigid EPS foam; all framing uses mold- and termite-resistant borate-treated lumber.

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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

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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Right – A gap separates the two wall layers in this double-stud wall assembly allowing room for insulation to stop thermal bridging between the inner and outer wall

Right – A gap separates the two wall layers in this double-stud wall assembly allowing room for insulation to stop thermal bridging between the inner and outer wall

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The 2x4 wall studs are staggered along the 2x6 sill plate providing space to weave insulation around each stud to stop thermal bridging through the wall.

The 2x4 wall studs are staggered along the 2x6 sill plate providing space to weave insulation around each stud to stop thermal bridging through the wall.

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Ladder blocking where interior and exterior walls intersect uses less wood and provides more room for insulation than stacking studs in the exterior wall to nail the interior wall to.

Ladder blocking where interior and exterior walls intersect uses less wood and provides more room for insulation than stacking studs in the exterior wall to nail the interior wall to.

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Advanced framing details include open headers and reduced framing around windows and two-stud corners to allow more room for insulation in the wall cavities while reducing lumber costs.

Advanced framing details include open headers and reduced framing around windows and two-stud corners to allow more room for insulation in the wall cavities while reducing lumber costs.

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Brick veneer framed wall supported by a concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing insulated on its top surface, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Brick veneer framed wall supported by a concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing insulated on its top surface, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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The steel angles on left that will be used to support brick veneer on this multistory building are offset from the steel framing with bracket supports to reduce thermal bridging and allow room to install exterior rigid insulation

The steel angles on left that will be used to support brick veneer on this multistory building are offset from the steel framing with bracket supports to reduce thermal bridging and allow room to install exterior rigid insulation

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This home’s double-wall structure consists of two 2x4 walls set two inches apart, then sheathed on the exterior and netted on the interior to create a 9.5-inch wall cavity that is filled with blown fiberglass insulation.

This home’s double-wall structure consists of two 2x4 walls set two inches apart, then sheathed on the exterior and netted on the interior to create a 9.5-inch wall cavity that is filled with blown fiberglass insulation.

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The main trunk line of the ducts runs within an insulated duct chase installed in a notch designed into the roof trusses that runs the length of the home to provide supply air directly to most of the home’s ceiling registers.

The main trunk line of the ducts runs within an insulated duct chase installed in a notch designed into the roof trusses that runs the length of the home to provide supply air directly to most of the home’s ceiling registers.

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This Kalamazoo Habitat for Humanity affiliate installs one layer of foam exterior of the studs and a second layer in between the staggered studs which are set only 2 inches apart to simplify the installation of additional fiberglass batt insulation.

This Kalamazoo Habitat for Humanity affiliate installs one layer of foam exterior of the studs and a second layer in between the staggered studs which are set only 2 inches apart to simplify the installation of additional fiberglass batt insulation.

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The energy-saving double wall construction uses two side-by-side stud walls, providing an extra-thick wall cavity that can be filled with more than twice as much insulation as a 2x6 wall.

The energy-saving double wall construction uses two side-by-side stud walls, providing an extra-thick wall cavity that can be filled with more than twice as much insulation as a 2x6 wall.

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A floor cavity between the first and second floor can provide a conditioned space for HVAC ducts if the rim joists are insulated and air sealed, if sufficient space is available, and if open-web floor joists are used

A floor cavity between the first and second floor can provide a conditioned space for HVAC ducts if the rim joists are insulated and air sealed, if sufficient space is available, and if open-web floor joists are used

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Right – This home is framed with double walls – two 2x4 walls set next to each other then sheathed with OSB on the exterior and netted on the interior face to create an extra-deep wall cavity that can be filled with blown-in insulation.

Right – This home is framed with double walls – two 2x4 walls set next to each other then sheathed with OSB on the exterior and netted on the interior face to create an extra-deep wall cavity that can be filled with blown-in insulation.

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Specially designed roof trusses come with a two-foot by two-foot notch cut next to the center post providing space to install an insulated duct chase inside the home’s conditioned space but above the normal ceiling height.

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Right – This hot-humid climate home is constructed with concrete block that is insulated on the inside with rigid foam; the framing is borate-treated lumber; the roof design is a high-wind-resistant hip roof with only one small gable over the entry.

Right – This hot-humid climate home is constructed with concrete block that is insulated on the inside with rigid foam; the framing is borate-treated lumber; the roof design is a high-wind-resistant hip roof with only one small gable over the entry.

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Advanced framing techniques including 2x6 walls spaced at 24 inches on center and ladder blocking at wall intersections allow more space for insulation in the wall cavities while open-web floor joists provide space between floors for ducting.

Advanced framing techniques including 2x6 walls spaced at 24 inches on center and ladder blocking at wall intersections allow more space for insulation in the wall cavities while open-web floor joists provide space between floors for ducting.

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This Habitat for Humanity builder ordered roof trusses with a 2-foot by 2-foot notch next to the center post then lined the cutout with rigid foam to form an insulated central duct chase to bring the heating and cooling ducts within the conditioned space.

This Habitat for Humanity builder ordered roof trusses with a 2-foot by 2-foot notch next to the center post then lined the cutout with rigid foam to form an insulated central duct chase to bring the heating and cooling ducts within the conditioned space.

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Each floor of this two-story modular home is constructed in a factory, including the 2x6, 24-inch on-center walls, R-21 fiberglass batt cavity insulation, and rigid exterior foam, housewrap, windows, and trim, then connected on site.

Each floor of this two-story modular home is constructed in a factory, including the 2x6, 24-inch on-center walls, R-21 fiberglass batt cavity insulation, and rigid exterior foam, housewrap, windows, and trim, then connected on site.

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The highly efficient double wall system consists of two sets of stud walls set side by side to create a 12-inch-thick double-stud wall cavity that is filled with a continuous blanket of R-44 dense-packed cellulose insulation.

The highly efficient double wall system consists of two sets of stud walls set side by side to create a 12-inch-thick double-stud wall cavity that is filled with a continuous blanket of R-44 dense-packed cellulose insulation.

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The exterior walls are double walls consisting of two 2x4 stud walls set 3 inches apart to form a 10-inch-thick wall cavity that is filled with blown-in fiberglass to provide a continuous R-40 blanket of insulation around the home.

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Double-Wall Architectural Feature

Guide

Guide describing air barrier installation, insulation installation, and air-sealing for double walls (half or full walls included in a home design as an architectural feature that provides a more dimensional appearance).

Advanced Framing vs Traditional Framing

Video

Video describing traditional 2x4 16 inch on center framing versus advanced framing with 2x6 stud walls at 24 inch on center, insulated corners and headers, wall stud-ceiling joist alignment, etc. providing a strong wall with more room for insulation.

ICF bricks are stacked to form hollow walls that are reinforced with steel rebar before the concrete is poured in

ICF bricks are stacked to form hollow walls that are reinforced with steel rebar before the concrete is poured in

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