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Why Seal and Insulate?

Reference

Introductory guide to air sealing the envelope of a home to reduce wasted energy and save on energy costs.

No insulation at window 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.

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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Adding Insulation when Re-Siding

Reference

Fact sheet poster describing how to add exterior, continuous, rigid insulation to the exterior walls when replacing siding on an existing home.

Performance of Windows in Walls With Continuous Insulation

Reference

Technical report describing research aimed to provide window manufacturers with foundational guidance for installing windows in walls with continuous insulation (CI), addressing critical aspects such as evaluating common installation methods, establishing acceptance criteria for window performance...

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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Installing European Passive House Windows #006: Exterior Over-Insulating

Video

Video describing how to insulate the exterior of European passive house windows. This video is part of an eight-video series by Hammer & Hand.

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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Energy Code - Module 2: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 1,2)

Presentation

Webinar that discusses code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements for climate zones 1 and 2.

Energy Code - Module 3: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 3,4,5)

Presentation

Webinar that discusses code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements for climate zones 3, 4 and 5.

Energy Code - Module 4: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 6,7,8)

Presentation

Webinar that discusses code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements for climate zones 6, 7 and 8.

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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Extension boxes of plywood built around the windows on this wall retrofit will be flush with the outer layer of exterior rigid insulation

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Windows are installed as “outies” in this wall assembly using a self-adhered membrane water and air control layer with continuous exterior insulation

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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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Manufactured insulated header

Why Seal and Insulate?

No insulation at window header

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

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

Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

Site-built insulated header

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

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

Adding Insulation when Re-Siding

Performance of Windows in Walls With Continuous Insulation

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

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

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.

Installing European Passive House Windows #006: Exterior Over-Insulating

Advanced framing details throughout house including insulated and open headers

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

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

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

Energy Code - Module 2: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 1,2)

Energy Code - Module 3: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 3,4,5)

Energy Code - Module 4: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 6,7,8)

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.

How To Strengthen Your Home for Under $10,000 – Insulated Concrete Forms

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

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

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

Extension boxes of plywood built around the windows on this wall retrofit will be flush with the outer layer of exterior rigid insulation

Windows are installed as “outies” in this wall assembly using a self-adhered membrane water and air control layer with continuous exterior insulation

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