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If there are gaps larger than ¼ inch around a chimney in the attic, install sheet metal to cover the openings, secure the sheet metal to surrounding framing with screws or heavy staples, and seal all joints and seams with fire-rated caulk.

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A Thermally Broken Steel Connection

Reference

Article describing methods for thermally isolating a garage in a Passive House-certified multifamily building.

Spray foam on a stone or rubble foundation

CAD File

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.

No Sweat, BSI-094

Reference

Guide providing information on controlling attic ductwork sweating.

Pest proofing of this unvented crawlspace includes a metal termite shield that extends out from sill plate, metal flashing wrapping bottom of exterior rigid foam, and a termite inspection gap above interior rigid foam.

Pest proofing of this unvented crawlspace includes a metal termite shield that extends out from the sill plate, metal flashing wrapping the bottom of exterior rigid foam, and a termite inspection gap above interior rigid foam.

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The Larsen-truss 9-inch wall cavities were covered with a smart vapor membrane that was fastened to the trusses with furring strips, which also provide an air gap behind the wood siding; each truss cavity is then filled with blown cellulose.

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Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

Reference

Publication with installation guidance for vinyl siding.

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Fireplaces

Video

Video showing how to use an infrared camera to check for air leakage around a fireplace during a blower door test in winter.

Spray foam on concrete foundation wall with framed interior wall

CAD File

Six Corners Modern | High Performance Building Details

Video

Video describing the high-performance building details of a new home construction project.

Loyal Heights Home Addition Video #002: Framing Details

Video

Video of a contractor explaining details of properly framing a home in Seattle, WA using proper Hammer & Hand practices.

Multi-Family Construction Air Sealing Guide

Reference

Report providing guidance to air-sealing multifamily homes.

Drywall was removed and the existing 2x4 walls were filled with 3.5 inches of dense-packed cellulose. Outside, the ½-inch plywood was topped with house wrap, 1.5 inches closed-cell rigid foam, 1x3 furring strips, and fiber cement siding.

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After setting precast concrete basement walls on an 8-inch bed of trap rock, this builder sprayed 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam directly onto the ground then laid piping for radiant floor heating before pouring the concrete floor slab.

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The existing 2x8 roof rafters were topped with OSB; two layers of 2-inch rigid foam; plywood; ice and water shield at rakes, eaves, and valleys; underlayment; and fiberglass shingles, plus 6 inches of open-cell foam under the decking.

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Ice Dams, BSD-135

Reference

Article outlining the casuses and solutions for ice dam problems.

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Ceilings and Supply Grills

Video

Video describing how to use an infrared camera to check for air leakage in the ceiling during a blower door test in winter.

Attach the interior 2x4 wall to the exterior wall top plate with a flat metal connector plate

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Polyethylene is being attached to the crawlspace floor and walls with plywood furring strips

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Over the taped rigid foam board, 2x4 furring strips provide a ventilating air gap and drainage plane under the engineered wood lap siding. The furring strips were attached with structural screws to provide an attachment surface for the siding.

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If there are gaps larger than ¼ inch around a chimney in the attic, install sheet metal to cover the openings, secure the sheet metal to surrounding framing with screws or heavy staples, and seal all joints and seams with fire-rated caulk.

A Thermally Broken Steel Connection

Spray foam on a stone or rubble foundation

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

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

No Sweat, BSI-094

Pest proofing of this unvented crawlspace includes a metal termite shield that extends out from the sill plate, metal flashing wrapping the bottom of exterior rigid foam, and a termite inspection gap above interior rigid foam.

The Larsen-truss 9-inch wall cavities were covered with a smart vapor membrane that was fastened to the trusses with furring strips, which also provide an air gap behind the wood siding; each truss cavity is then filled with blown cellulose.

Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Fireplaces

Spray foam on concrete foundation wall with framed interior wall

Six Corners Modern | High Performance Building Details

Loyal Heights Home Addition Video #002: Framing Details

Multi-Family Construction Air Sealing Guide

Drywall was removed and the existing 2x4 walls were filled with 3.5 inches of dense-packed cellulose. Outside, the ½-inch plywood was topped with house wrap, 1.5 inches closed-cell rigid foam, 1x3 furring strips, and fiber cement siding.

After setting precast concrete basement walls on an 8-inch bed of trap rock, this builder sprayed 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam directly onto the ground then laid piping for radiant floor heating before pouring the concrete floor slab.

The existing 2x8 roof rafters were topped with OSB; two layers of 2-inch rigid foam; plywood; ice and water shield at rakes, eaves, and valleys; underlayment; and fiberglass shingles, plus 6 inches of open-cell foam under the decking.

Ice Dams, BSD-135

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Ceilings and Supply Grills

Attach the interior 2x4 wall to the exterior wall top plate with a flat metal connector plate

Polyethylene is being attached to the crawlspace floor and walls with plywood furring strips

Over the taped rigid foam board, 2x4 furring strips provide a ventilating air gap and drainage plane under the engineered wood lap siding. The furring strips were attached with structural screws to provide an attachment surface for the siding.

Zeroing In, BSI-081

Interior Spray Foam, BSI-116

Joni Mitchell, Water and Walls, BSI-071

Kick the Can! No Recessed Lights in the Building Envelope

Air Sealing Retrofits: Reduce Air Leakage at the Sill Plate with Canned Spray Foam

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Recess Lighting

All About Water-Resistive Barriers

Third Street