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Insulate a post-tensioned monolithic concrete slab: A) Install rigid foam in form before pouring concrete for slab, B) After concrete cures, install a second layer of rigid foam and protection board on the exterior perimeter of the wall

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Right – Insulated concrete form (ICF) blocks are stacked like bricks, then rebar is set horizontally and vertically in the plastic spacers, then concrete is poured; the rigid foam and spacers stay in place to add support and thermal resistance to the wall

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Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.

Floor Above Garage

Guide

Guide describing how to create an air barrier between the garage and the conditioned space above it to prohibit pollutants from entering a home's interior.

Floor Above Unconditioned Basement or Vented Crawlspace

Guide

Guide describing how to air-seal and insulate the floor above an unconditioned basement or crawl space.

Double-Wall Architectural Feature

Guide

Guide describing air barrier installation, insulation installation, and air-sealing for double walls (half or full walls included in a home design as an architectural feature that provides a more dimensional appearance).

Reducing Thermal Bridging in Mass and Steel-Framed Multifamily Buildings

Guide

Guide describing common areas of thermal bridging in mass (concrete) and steel-framed multistory buildings and methods and materials for addressing those points of thermal bridging.

Attic Knee Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal attic knee walls and floor joist cavities under knee walls.

Vented versus Unvented Attic

Guide

Guide describing options for insulating and air sealing at either the attic floor or along the roof line in new homes.

Monolithic slab with a grade beam

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Slab independent of foundation wall

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Continuous Air Barrier in Exterior Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to install continuous air barriers in exterior walls.

Lay out the rigid foam sheathing joints so they do not align with the window and door edges

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Passive House Wall Assembly Mock | Hammer & Hand

Video

Video showing a mock wall assembly used in Hammer and Hand’s passive houses.

Proper flashing around windows is especially important when the rigid foam serves as the drainage plane in the wall

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Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal dropped ceilings and soffits to prevent air leakage.

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Guide

Guide describing the design and installation considerations for recladding of above grade walls using insulated vinyl siding.

Advanced Framing vs Traditional Framing

Video

Video describing traditional 2x4 16 inch on center framing versus advanced framing with 2x6 stud walls at 24 inch on center, insulated corners and headers, wall stud-ceiling joist alignment, etc. providing a strong wall with more room for insulation.

With a quality installation, tape can last a long time

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Increase Seismic Resistance and Thermal Performance of Basement, Crawl Space, and Crawl Space with Cripple Wall Foundations

Guide

Guide describing different options for providing seismic and thermal resistance for homes with basement foundations, crawlspace foundations, or crawlspace foundations with a "cripple" wall.

Two layers of XPS are installed with staggered seams over a liquid-applied membrane on the structural sheathing

Wrong – Either this tape was not pressed down firmly or the surface was wet or dirty so the tape is not sticking properly even during construction.

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Insulate a post-tensioned monolithic concrete slab: A) Install rigid foam in form before pouring concrete for slab, B) After concrete cures, install a second layer of rigid foam and protection board on the exterior perimeter of the wall

Right – Insulated concrete form (ICF) blocks are stacked like bricks, then rebar is set horizontally and vertically in the plastic spacers, then concrete is poured; the rigid foam and spacers stay in place to add support and thermal resistance to the wall

Skylight Shaft Walls

Floor Above Garage

Floor Above Unconditioned Basement or Vented Crawlspace

Double-Wall Architectural Feature

Reducing Thermal Bridging in Mass and Steel-Framed Multifamily Buildings

Attic Knee Walls

Vented versus Unvented Attic

Monolithic slab with a grade beam

Slab independent of foundation wall

Continuous Air Barrier in Exterior Walls

Lay out the rigid foam sheathing joints so they do not align with the window and door edges

Passive House Wall Assembly Mock | Hammer & Hand

Proper flashing around windows is especially important when the rigid foam serves as the drainage plane in the wall

Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Advanced Framing vs Traditional Framing

With a quality installation, tape can last a long time

Increase Seismic Resistance and Thermal Performance of Basement, Crawl Space, and Crawl Space with Cripple Wall Foundations

Two layers of XPS are installed with staggered seams over a liquid-applied membrane on the structural sheathing

Use flashing tape to seal around any pipes or vents that penetrate through the foam

Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

Ducts in Raised Ceiling Sections

Wrong – Either this tape was not pressed down firmly or the surface was wet or dirty so the tape is not sticking properly even during construction.

Staircase Walls

The Perfect Wall Explained

Cantilevered Floor

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces