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Lower wall insulation installation

Lower wall insulation installation

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Upper wall insulation installation

Upper wall insulation installation

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Seismic and Insulation Retrofits of Solid Masonry Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to retrofit older solid masonry homes to withstand seismic activity while including energy-efficient retrofits.

Taped vertical joint of lower wall insulation

Taped vertical joint of lower wall insulation

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Air Sealing and Insulating Walls to Reduce Heat Gain

Information Guide

Information guide listing Building America Solution Center guides that describe ways to air-seal and insulate a new or existing home's walls to resist heat gain.

Upper wall insulation installation with butyl z-flashing

Upper wall insulation installation with butyl z-flashing

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Rigid foam insulating sheathing installed over an existing garage ceiling with retrofits to air seal exterior wall before adding exterior wall insulating sheathing

Rigid foam insulating sheathing installed over an existing garage ceiling with retrofits to air seal exterior wall before adding exterior wall insulating sheathing

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Insulating sheathing is installed on exterior of an existing framed wall with water control between existing sheathing and insulating sheathing

Insulating sheathing is installed on exterior of an existing framed wall with water control between existing sheathing and insulating sheathing

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

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

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Wall assembly with non-combustible brick cladding and fire-resistant or retardant rigid insulation, sheathing, framing and cavity insulation.

Wall assembly with non-combustible brick cladding and fire-resistant or retardant rigid insulation, sheathing, framing and cavity insulation.

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Right – The insulation has been located to the exterior of the thermal mass in this wall section

Right – The insulation has been located to the exterior of the thermal mass in this wall section

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Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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Insulating a crawlspace foundation with “cripple wall” in warm climates; in Climate Zones 5+ replace the foil- or plastic-faced fiberglass batt/roll insulation with impermeable rigid insulation or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam

Insulating a crawlspace foundation with “cripple wall” in warm climates; in Climate Zones 5+ replace the foil- or plastic-faced fiberglass batt/roll insulation with impermeable rigid insulation or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam

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Rigid foam provides the code-required insulation values for this floor and wall assembly so that fibrous cavity insulation can be avoided, reducing risk of floodwater damage

Rigid foam provides the code-required insulation values for this floor and wall assembly so that fibrous cavity insulation can be avoided, reducing risk of floodwater damage

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Ice dams formed by melting of snow on roofs can affect roofs, walls, ceilings, siding, and insulation.

Ice dams formed by melting of snow on roofs can affect roofs, walls, ceilings, siding, and insulation.

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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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Spray foam insulation was installed on the underside of the roof deck and on gable end attic walls to create an unvented attic

Spray foam insulation was installed on the underside of the roof deck and on gable end attic walls to create an unvented attic

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Wall assembly with non-combustible fiber cement cladding, metal hat-channel furring for air gap and fire-resistant or retardant rigid insulation, sheathing, framing and cavity insulation

Wall assembly with non-combustible fiber cement cladding, metal hat-channel furring for air gap and fire-resistant or retardant rigid insulation, sheathing, framing and cavity insulation.

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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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Right – The rigid insulation covers all exterior walls and all seams are taped to provide a complete drainage system

Right – The rigid insulation covers all exterior walls and all seams are taped to provide a complete drainage system

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This exterior insulated slab-on-grade monolithic grade beam foundation is protected from pests by termite shield at the sill plate, borate-treated framing, flashing at end of wall insulation, brick veneer over slab-edge insulation, and rock ground cover.

This exterior insulated slab-on-grade monolithic grade beam foundation is protected from pests by termite shield at the sill plate, borate-treated framing, flashing at end of wall insulation, brick veneer over slab-edge insulation, and rock ground cover.

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This house with interior insulated crawlspace is protected from pests with termite shield at sill plate, borate-treated framing, flashing at end of wall insulation, and a termite inspection gap at the top of the rigid foam

This house with interior insulated crawlspace is protected from pests with termite shield at sill plate, borate-treated framing, flashing at end of wall insulation, and a termite inspection gap at the top of the rigid foam

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Externally insulated concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Externally insulated concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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Step 5. Apply self-adhesive flashing over top edge of the wall flashing, diverter, and rigid foam insulation

Step 5. Apply self-adhesive flashing over top edge of the wall flashing, diverter, and rigid foam insulation

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Right - These raised heel roof trusses provide 16 inches of space over the outer walls for full insulation coverage at the attic perimeter.

Right - These raised heel roof trusses provide 16 inches of space over the outer walls for full insulation coverage at the attic perimeter.

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Step 4. Install insulating sheathing and vertical furring strips on the retrofitted exterior wall; seal around pipe or duct with urethane sealant.

Step 4. Install insulating sheathing and vertical furring strips on the retrofitted exterior wall; seal around pipe or duct with urethane sealant.

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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

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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Continuous rigid insulation coupled with thin (1/4-inch) spacer strips that provide drainage behind the wall cladding without increasing the fire risk of the assembly.

Continuous rigid insulation coupled with thin (1/4-inch) spacer strips that provide drainage behind the wall cladding without increasing the fire risk of the assembly.

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Right – The floor and wall system on this open-foundation home use rigid foam rather than fibrous cavity insulation to reduce risk of water damage.

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