BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

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

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Unfaced batt insulation completely fills the wall cavities.

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Rigid Foam Insulation Installed Between Existing House and Garage Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to upgrade walls that separate the garage from the house by providing a continuous air control layer on the garage side of the wall and adding rigid foam insulation.

Right – Spray foam insulates the walls and ceilings separating the garage from the home.

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Air barrier at garage band joist - 1 inch rigid insulation with 1x3 wood furring

CAD File

Air barrier at garage band joist - 1 inch rigid insulation with 2x2 wood furring

CAD File

Air barrier at garage band joist - 1 1/2 inch rigid insulation with 2x4 sleepers

CAD File

Wrong - Rigid insulation blocking is installed but not air-sealed with spray foam around edges.

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Right - Walls and ceilings shared by the garage and living space must be air sealed and insulated.

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Rigid foam insulation is installed on the garage side of the shared garage wall and roof of an existing home

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Wrong - The faced batt insulation does not provide an air barrier in the joist bay between the garage and the conditioned space of the home.

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To ensure a complete air barrier between the garage and the house, the wall between the garage and the house was insulated and air-sealed with four inches of high-density spray foam.

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Side view showing air-sealing and rigid foam insulation is installed over existing wall and ceiling under a room above, then covered with new gypsum board.

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Side view showing how the existing garage wall and ceiling are air-sealed prior to installing rigid foam insulation on the garage side of the shared wall of an existing home.

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Right – Closed-cell spray foam insulation in the shared wall between the garage and living space helps to air-seal the wall and protect occupants from garage pollutants.

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Plan view (from above) showing how the existing garage wall gypsum board is cut away to air-seal the shared wall before adding rigid foam insulation on the garage and exterior walls of the home.

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Garage Rim/Band Joist Adjoining Conditioned Space

Guide

Guide describing the air-sealing of rim joists on walls connecting homes and attached garages.

Air Sealing Attached Garage

Guide

Guide describing ways to air-seal an attached garage in new and existing homes.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Nelson Construction: Hamilton Way, Farmington, CT

Case Study

Case study describing the design and testing of 10 high-performance homes in Farmington, Connecticut.