BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

This parapet wall has no blocking to prevent the convection of cold air through the insulation, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of the insulation.

Image

Wrong – An opportunity to use structural members as a natural air barrier was missed in this home and blocking was not initially planned for between the garage and living space.

Image

The stud cavities in this balloon-framed wall do not have blocking where the attic floor abuts it; this allows air to flow from inside the home to the attic above.

Image

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.

Image

Wrong: This wall cavity is open to the attic allowing unconditioned, attic air to enter the HVAC system, bypassing the filter, and degrading system life and performance

Image

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

Image

Right – the 2x6 walls are insulated with a flash-and-batt approach that includes spraying the wall cavities with one inch of open-cell foam to seal the sheathing to the framing then filling the wall cavities with R-19 fiberglass batts that are compressed

Image

Right - New flashing has been installed to complete the air and water control layers at the window openings of this wall retrofit that includes insulating the wall cavities with spray foam

Image

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

Guide

Guide describing how to correctly air-seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.

Sill Plates (1)

Video

Video describing how to properly air seal sill plates.

Spray Foam Upper Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Attics

Video

Video describing how to insulate skylight shafts and knee walls correctly.

Certified Insulated Siding: Quality, Comfort and Energy Performance

Presentation

This presentation will help you define insulated siding, understand R-value testing of insulated siding, describe proper installation of insulated siding, comply with energy codes and understand building energy performance program and software recognition.

Attic Knee Walls

Guide

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

Garage Rim/Band Joist Adjoining Conditioned Space

Guide

Guide describing the air-sealing of rim joists on walls connecting homes and attached garages.

Other Exterior Walls

Video

Video describing how to properly air seal exterior walls.

Walls Behind Fireplaces

Guide

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to wall framing behind fireplaces.

Install a sill gasket between the sill plate and the foundation wall

Image

Caulk or glue along top plates before installing drywall

Image

Technology Solutions Case Study: Predicting Envelope Leakage in Attached Dwellings

Case Study

Case study describing the measurement of envelope leakage in multifamily buildings.

This interior wall is intersected by two ceilings of different heights; without blocking installed at the level of the lower ceiling, a pathway for free airflow within the wall cavity or even into the attic is created.

Image

Rigid Foam Insulation Installed Between Existing House and Garage Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to upgrade walls that separate the garage from the house by providing a continuous air control layer on the garage side of the wall and adding rigid foam insulation.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Deep Energy Retrofit in the Pacific Northwest

Case Study

Case study describing a whole-house, deep energy retrofit project in the marine climate.

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Reference

Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

Flashing of Wall Penetrations in Existing Homes

Guide

Guide describing how to install flashing that is integrated with air and water control layers around piping, vents, and other wall penetrations as part of an exterior wall retrofit.