BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Drywall was removed and the existing 2x4 walls were filled with 3.5 inches of dense-packed cellulose. Outside, the ½-inch plywood was topped with house wrap, 1.5 inches closed-cell rigid foam, 1x3 furring strips, and fiber cement siding.

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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.

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.

Water Managed Existing Sill Beams and Sill Plates

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate the sill beam or sill plate on the exterior side in a way that allows drying to the exterior, as part of an exterior wall upgrade.

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

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Builders Challenge High Performance Builder Spotlight: David Weekley Homes, Houston, Texas

Case Study

Case study describing new home construction in the hot-humid climate, optimizing thermal enclosure, HVAC, water heating and lighting measures.

High Performance Builder Spotlight: Scott Homes Inc.

Case Study

Case study describing a new home construction project in the marine climate.

Corner installed plywood or OSB as shear bracing

CAD File

2-stud corner with 1x4 backer

CAD File

Garage Rim/Band Joist Adjoining Conditioned Space

Guide

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

High-Thermal-Mass Construction

Guide

Guide describing materials and methods for incorporating thermal mass into the construction of a home for temperature regulation, energy savings, and resistance to extreme heat and cold.

2-stud corner with drywall clips

CAD File

Air Sealing Drywall to Top Plate

Guide

Guide describing ways to seal drywall to the top plate of an exterior wall to air-seal the wall cavity.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Stand-Off Furring in Deep Energy Retrofits

Case Study

Case study describing a stand-off furring strategy that minimizes the physical connections to each existing wall stud, uses spray foam to encapsulate existing siding materials (including lead paint), and creates a vented rain screen assembly to promote drying.

Mini truss header - section

CAD File

Outset header with head plate

CAD File

ICF forms are filled with the use of a concrete pumper truck

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Building Materials with High Moisture Content Not Enclosed

Guide

Guide describing why and how to avoid using damp materials in construction.

The ICF consists of foam forms that are held in place with plastic or metal spacers and reinforced with metal rebar

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Cut Batts to Fit Irregular Cavities

Reference

Job Process sheet for the manufactured housing industry showing how to cut insulation batts to fit wall cavities in a factory production environment.

Fold-Form

Reference

Information sheet with manufacturer specifications about insulated concrete forms.

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: United Way of Long Island, United Veterans Beacon House, Huntington Station, NY

Case Study

Case study showing project and performance data and energy-efficiency measures for a DOE 2017 Housing Innovation Award winning home that was certified to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home criteria.

ROXUL Mineral Wool | Madrona Passive House

Video

Video describing the installation of mineral wool monolithic exterior insulation.

Burlingame Ranch Phase I

Case Study

Case study describing a building project in the cold and very-cold climate zones.

They All Laughed, BSI-026

Reference

Article describing the evolution of the IRC to permit class 3 vapor retarders (latex paint) in walls coupled with exterior continuous insulation to allow drying and reduce condensation risk.