BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Seal all drywall-to-top plate seams and penetrations at the attic floor

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Right – Metal or fiberboard duct is mastic sealed at junction with duct register box

Right – Metal or fiberboard duct is mastic sealed at junction with duct register box

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Roof/Attic to Exterior Wall Air Control Upgrade

Guide

Guide describing how to retrofit an exterior wall and/or attic to provide continuous air sealing.

Wrong - Foil air barrier was ripped to install wiring; foil should be replaced with a solid air barrier and wiring hole should be caulked.

Wrong - Foil air barrier was ripped to install wiring; foil should be replaced with a solid air barrier and wiring hole should be caulked.

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New Code Options for Insulating, Sealing, and Controlling Moisture in Unvented Attics in Residential Buildings

New Code Options for Insulating, Sealing, and Controlling Moisture in Unvented Attics in Residential Buildings

Presentation

Webinar explaining new code options for insulating, sealing, and controlling moisture in unvented attics in residential buildings.

The missing top plate in a kneewall was covered with lumber and rigid foam insulation and then sealed with spray foam

The missing top plate in a kneewall was covered with lumber and rigid foam insulation and then sealed with spray foam

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Technology Solutions Case Study: Sealed Crawl Space with Integrated Whole-House Ventilation in a Cold Climate

Case Study

Case study describing methods to seal crawl spaces in cold climate homes with integrated whole-house ventilation systems.

Air leaking through the home's envelope wastes a lot of energy and increases energy costs.

Air leaking through the home's envelope wastes a lot of energy and increases energy costs.

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Technology Solutions Case Study: Complete and Fully Aligned Air Barrier

Case Study

Case study describing the elimination of excessive humidity in the attic of a multi-floor, single-family home that was causing condensation and water damage along the roof and eaves.

Right – This attic knee wall and the floor joist cavity openings beneath it are being sealed and insulated with spray foam.

Right – This attic knee wall and the floor joist cavity openings beneath it are being sealed and insulated with spray foam.

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Seal seams in fiber board ducts with out-clinching staples, UL-181A-approved tape, and mastic

Seal seams in fiber board ducts with out-clinching staples, UL-181A-approved tape, and mastic

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The attic kneewall and the open floor cavities under kneewall are both sealed and insulated in one step with spray foam insulation

The attic kneewall and the open floor cavities under kneewall are both sealed and insulated in one step with spray foam insulation

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Insulating sheathing is extended up to the roof rafters and sealed around the framing with spray foam as part of this exterior wall retrofit

Insulating sheathing is extended up to the roof rafters and sealed around the framing with spray foam as part of this exterior wall retrofit

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Right - Attach exterior insulation with insulation washers and tape the seams of the insulation is used as an air barrier.

Right - Attach exterior insulation with insulation washers and tape the seams of the insulation is used as an air barrier.

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The home is sheathed with rigid foam insulation and all seams and holes are taped to provide a continuous air barrier.

The home is sheathed with rigid foam insulation and all seams and holes are taped to provide a continuous air barrier.

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Wrong - Wall cavities behind shower are not completely filled with insulation and are lacking the solid interior air barrier.

Wrong - Wall cavities behind shower are not completely filled with insulation and are lacking the solid interior air barrier.

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

CAD File

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

Wrong - Dark patterns on the Home's exterior siding show where warm air is leaking into the wall cavities.

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In this gut rehab, drywall was removed then a sprayer-applied sealant was used to seal all large cracks and seams and then the 2x4 walls were filled with spray foam.

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Wrong - Dark pattern on wall is showing where warm air is leaking into the wall cavity from interior of home.

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Right - Spray foam insulation has been sprayed onto the underside of the sloped roof and the gable end wall to provide a sealed, insulated attic for housing the HVAC ducts

Right - Spray foam insulation has been sprayed onto the underside of the sloped roof and the gable end wall to provide a sealed, insulated attic for housing the HVAC ducts

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Clean the attic floor of debris prior to installing new attic insulation. Use baffles to provide a path for ventilation air entering the attic from the soffit vents

Clean the attic floor of debris prior to installing new attic insulation. Use baffles to provide a path for ventilation air entering the attic from the soffit vents

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An IR camera image shows gaps around HVAC flue pipes allow conditioned air to leak through blown fiberglass into the attic

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Right - Closed-cell spray foam is installed as a skim coat to provide air tightness to an exterior wall cavity before installing batt or blown cavity insulation.

Right - Closed-cell spray foam is installed as a skim coat to provide air tightness to an exterior wall cavity before installing batt or blown cavity insulation.

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Unvented roof assembly at rake retrofitted with a filler piece and taped top edge of existing house wrap or building paper to seal the top of wall-to-roof transition

Unvented roof assembly at rake retrofitted with a filler piece and taped top edge of existing house wrap or building paper to seal the top of wall-to-roof transition

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Right - Foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulating rigid foam sheathing is installed below the floor framing of this house built on piers; however, the seams should be sealed with metal taped and the plumbing elevated and protected.

Right - Foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulating rigid foam sheathing is installed below the floor framing of this house built on piers; however, the seams should be sealed with metal taped and the plumbing elevated and protected.

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This kneewall has no top plate and the resulting gap provides a wide-open pathway for air and vapor to travel between the living space and the attic

This kneewall has no top plate and the resulting gap provides a wide-open pathway for air and vapor to travel between the living space and the attic

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Wrong – When insulating with spray foam, care should be taken to completely fill areas around piping and other penetrations to avoid leaving air gaps.

Wrong – When insulating with spray foam, care should be taken to completely fill areas around piping and other penetrations to avoid leaving air gaps.

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