Guide
Description
Guide describing how to insulate a basement to improve the overall thermal performance of the building and provide more dry, usable conditioned space for home occupants and HVAC equipment.
Guide
Description
Guide describing techniques for installing insulating sheathing as a continuous drainage plane on walls.
Video
Description
Video describing how to properly insulate walls behind showers and tubs.
Video
Description
Video describing exterior rigid foam insulation.
Guide
Description
Vapor retarder plastic should not be installed over fibrous insulation on basement or crawlspace walls; rigid foam or spray foam should be installed directly against the concrete, behind the blanket insulation.
Guide
Description
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.
Video
Description
Video explaining a design option for homes in the case of a flood that would negate the need for gutting the home post-flood. Recommendations from LSU AgCenter.
Case Study
Description
Case study describing research about using exterior, vapor permeable insulation of retrofit walls with vapor permeable cavity insulation.
Case Study
Description
Case study describing a 2013 DOE Building America Top Innovation for the installation of rigid foam insulation on the exterior of home roofs and walls as a thermal, air, and moisture barrier.
Reference
Description
Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.
Guide
Description
Guide describing how to apply water management strategies to below-grade walls.
Reference
Description
Case study describing novel technique for installing exterior spray foam on foundation walls that uses high-pressure water sprayer and a “hydro vac” to remove dirt along the foundation wall.
Case Study
Description
Case study describing a basement retrofit of a 1916 home in Madison, Wisconsin that involved installing dimple drain mat and closed-cell spray foam on interior of basement wall and an interior footing drain to manage moisture before finishing an existing basement.
Reference
Description
Measure Guideline research report providing simple, long term, and durable solutions when using tapes and flashing membranes in conjunction with the exterior face of rigid polymeric foam sheathing to create the drainage plane of a wall system.
Guide
Description
Guide describing installation of a fully sealed continuous weather resistant barrier to provide a drainage plane to keep rainwater out of above-grade walls.
Reference
Description
Case study describing foundation wall moisture studies at a research facility in Minnesota run by Building America team NorthernSTAR.
