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Right – Ripped OSB provides furring strips for a ventilation gap behind the wood siding.

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Step 8. Attach the new cladding to the furring strips over the rigid foam for the exterior wall retrofit.

Step 8. Attach the new cladding to the furring strips over the rigid foam for the exterior wall retrofit.

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Right – This foil-faced foam sheathing has taped seams and proper flashing details so it can serve as a drainage plane.

Right – This foil-faced foam sheathing has taped seams and proper flashing details so it can serve as a drainage plane.

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Closed-cell spray foam fills the roof joist cavities forming an air barrier between the masonry parapet wall and the roof sheathing

Closed-cell spray foam fills the roof joist cavities forming an air barrier between the masonry parapet wall and the roof sheathing

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Right – Furring strips were installed to provide a 3/8-inch drainage plane over the rigid foam and under the fiber cement lap siding.

Right – Furring strips were installed to provide a 3/8-inch drainage plane over the rigid foam and under the fiber cement lap siding.

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Step 5. Install sheathing tape flashing over the duct or pipe and wood blocking on either side for later attachment of trim.

Step 5. Install sheathing tape flashing over the duct or pipe and wood blocking on either side for later attachment of trim.

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Step 6. Install vent hood trim block, metal cap flashing; seal top edge of flashing with sheathing tape.

Step 6. Install vent hood trim block, metal cap flashing; seal top edge of flashing with sheathing tape.

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Right - This foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid foam is installed on an existing exterior wall and the seams are taped so the rigid foam can serve as a water control layer

Right - This foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid foam is installed on an existing exterior wall and the seams are taped so the rigid foam can serve as a water control layer

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Closed-cell foam is sprayed into roof cavities along the masonry parapet wall to form a continuous air barrier between the wall and the sheathing of the flat roof

Closed-cell foam is sprayed into roof cavities along the masonry parapet wall to form a continuous air barrier between the wall and the sheathing of the flat roof

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New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Pine Mountain Builders, Pine Mountain, Georgia

Case Study

Case study describing a builder in Georgia that designs energy-efficient homes for a green community, yielding homes with HERS scores as lowas 59 and electric bills as low as $50 a month.

The exterior of the home is wrapped in a continuous layer of rigid foam with all seams taped to provide a thermal, air, and moisture barrier and serve as a drainage plane, eliminating the need for house wrap.

The exterior of the home is wrapped in a continuous layer of rigid foam with all seams taped to provide a thermal, air, and moisture barrier and serve as a drainage plane, eliminating the need for house wrap.

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Waverly Home Addition | Exterior Cladding Details

Video

Video describing the exterior cladding details of a residential home addition project.

The exterior walls of this home consist of two wall cavities: a 2x6 wall with plywood sheathing plus 8-inch I-joists sheathed with engineered wood; both cavities are dense-packed with cellulose for R-60 total.

The exterior walls of this home consist of two wall cavities: a 2x6 wall with plywood sheathing plus 8-inch I-joists sheathed with engineered wood; both cavities are dense-packed with cellulose for R-60 total.

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The builder installed 1.5 inches of soy-based spray foam on the outside of the walls over the OSB sheathing, then kept a ¾ inch gap between the foam and the brick veneer siding to allow moisture vapor from the bricks to dissipate.

The builder installed 1.5 inches of soy-based spray foam on the outside of the walls over the OSB sheathing, then kept a ¾ inch gap between the foam and the brick veneer siding to allow moisture vapor from the bricks to dissipate.

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These factory-built walls consist of 9.5-inch I-studs sheathed with coated OSB, faced with OSB, and dense-packed with cellulose; a second interior surface of drywall is added to provide a 1.5-inch cavity for electrical wiring.

These factory-built walls consist of 9.5-inch I-studs sheathed with coated OSB, faced with OSB, and dense-packed with cellulose; a second interior surface of drywall is added to provide a 1.5-inch cavity for electrical wiring.

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Right – R-23 of blown fiberglass fills the walls and unvented vaulted attic cavities of this marine-climate home while an additional R-20 (4-inches) of graphite-enhanced expanded polystyrene is installed above the roof sheathing.

Right – R-23 of blown fiberglass fills the walls and unvented vaulted attic cavities of this marine-climate home while an additional R-20 (4-inches) of graphite-enhanced expanded polystyrene is installed above the roof sheathing.

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Are the Walls Closing In?

Are the Walls Closing In?

Presentation

Webinar describing research on moisture performance in high-R walls.

Glasswood Commercial Passive House Retrofit: Air Barrier

Video

Video describing the air barrier installed in a passive house.

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.

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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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.

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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All About Water-Resistive Barriers

Reference

Article about different types of weather resistant barrier.

Wallingford Passive House | Exterior Assembly Details

Video

Video discussing the exterior assembly details of a passive house.

Right: All joints in the rigid foam are taped to keep stucco out of joints for even drying. Mesh tape (shown here) is used with expanded polystyrene (EPS); acrylic sheathing tape or self-adhered membrane is used with XPS

Right: All joints in the rigid foam are taped to keep stucco out of joints for even drying. Mesh tape (shown here) is used with expanded polystyrene (EPS); acrylic sheathing tape or self-adhered membrane is used with XPS

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Building in Extreme Cold, BSI-031

Reference

Article describing the control layers (air, thermal, and vapor barriers) needed to build homes successfully in very cold locations.

Exterior Walls (Air Sealing Sheathing)

Video

Video showing a technique for airtight sheathing installation on exterior walls using foam gasket strips.

Building America Building Science Advisor

Reference

Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.

Typical Concrete Tile Roofs in Florida

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2021 IBC and IRC Adopt Improved Vapor Retarder Requirements

Reference

Article describing vapor retarder requirements in the International Residential Code and International Building Code 2021.

When condensation forms on the interior side of wall sheathing and is not able to dry out, it can lead to mold growth and rotting of wall sheathing and framing

When condensation forms on the interior side of wall sheathing and is not able to dry out, it can lead to mold growth and rotting of wall sheathing and framing

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Unvented roof assembly at eave retrofitted with rigid foam, spray foam, and taped top edge of existing house wrap or building paper

Unvented roof assembly at eave retrofitted with rigid foam, spray foam, and taped top edge of existing house wrap or building paper

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