BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Windows and Doors are Fully Flashed

Guide describing how to install flashings to help direct water down and out of windows and doors openings in exterior walls.

Wrong – There is no flashing installed at the top of the window

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Window and door openings fully flashed

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Formable pan flashing and back dam for window

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:00

Wrong – There is no flashing installed along the sides of the window

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Before installing the windows, the window rough openings are sealed with a liquid-applied flashing that provides a seamless moisture and air barrier to protect the wall from water intrusion.

Publication Date

Sun, 01/01/2017 - 12:00

Wrong – For proper detailing of vinyl around windows and other obstacles, use utility trim, punch snaplocks into siding, and do not overlap directly beneath a window.

Publication Date

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:00

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

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00

Wrong - Stucco has rotted and cracked above a window because of water damage due to lack of proper flashing and drainage.

Publication Date

Tue, 11/12/2019 - 12:00

Right – There is flashing installed along the top of the window and the water-resistant barrier is layered over to create a complete drainage system

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

A piece of siding is used as sill extension and to provide slope in the opening for the window, which is deeper because exterior rigid foam has been added

Publication Date

Mon, 02/20/2017 - 12:00

Right - Tape flashing keeps moisture out around and below the window; extra tape reinforces the corners to prevent tearing of the house wrap and to keep water out of this critical juncture.

Publication Date

Fri, 12/31/2021 - 12:00

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

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

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

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

Case study describing a new home builder that strives to address health, safety, and durability issues in a hot and humid climate.

Foundation wall interior polyisocyanurate, foil-faced, exposed

DWG

PDF

Termite shield with exterior rigid foam above and below

DWG

PDF

Foundation wall interior rigid insulation with furring strips

DWG

PDF

Spray foam on a stone or rubble foundation

DWG

PDF

Spray foam on concrete foundation wall with framed interior wall

DWG

PDF

Foundation wall interior rigid insulation with framed wall

DWG

PDF

Foundation Wall Exterior board insulation without above-grade wall insulation

DWG

PDF

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

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

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.

Proper shingling of drainage plane materials

Publication Date

Thu, 11/01/2007 - 12:00

Dry Floodproofing

Publication Date

November, 2016

Video from LSU AgCenter describing dry floodproofing and how to dry floodproof your home.

Right – Side flashing extends over the pan flashing

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Install all layers of the drainage plane to overlap, not underlap, to direct bulk water down and out of the wall.

Publication Date

Thu, 11/01/2007 - 12:00

Wrong – The corners are not properly flashed, leaving a vulnerable area in the drainage system

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Right – The flashing is properly installed to create a complete drainage system with continuous rigid insulation sheathing/siding

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes

Guide describing techniques for installing insulating sheathing as a continuous drainage plane on walls.

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Author(s)

Ply Gem Siding Group

Organization(s)

Ply Gem Siding Group

Publication Date

April, 2015

Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

Building America Case Study Technology Solutions for Existing Homes: Concord Four Square Retrofit

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2012

Case study describing a four-square Concord home retrofitted by Building Science Corporation in Massachusetts.

Builders Challenge Technology Information Packages - Cold Climate: Chicago

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE

Publication Date

December, 2008

Case study describing building in cold and very cold climates.

Drainage Plane Behind Exterior Wall Cladding

Guide describing installation of a fully sealed continuous weather resistant barrier to provide a drainage plane to keep rainwater out of above-grade walls.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: New Traditions Homes, Landover Commons, Vancouver, WA

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

Case study describing energy efficient new home construction that also incorporated moisture management techniques for durability in the damp Northwest climate.

DOE ZERH HIA 2014 Case Study: M Street Homes, Smartlux on Greenpark Houston, TX

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2014

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2014 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 45 without PV and 32 with PV and is the first home in the world to use a tri-generation system to supply electricity, heating, and cooling on site.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Green Home 3 - Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

Author(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Organization(s)

HIRL

Publication Date

December, 2014

Case study describing the Green Home 3 project, which achieved a 44% whole-house energy savings over the Building America New Construction B10 Benchmark, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certification, and National Green Building Standard Gold-level certification.