BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Unvented Attic Insulation

Guide describing methods for insulating an unvented attic along the roof line.

Insulation Below Attic Platforms

Guide describing how to install insulation below attic platforms

Wrong – Insulation is misaligned

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air Sealed, Insulated Basements

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.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Corners

Guide describing how to frame and insulate corners to reduce heat losses and gains though structural framing.

Right – Insulation is properly installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Cantilever is not blocked or insulated.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Batt Insulation for Existing Vented Attics

Guide describing how to increase insulation in existing homes by installing batt insulation on the ceiling plane of a vented attic.

Stucco Over Rigid Foam Insulation

Guide describing how to install stucco over rigid foam insulation in new and existing homes.

Failure in attic insulation effectiveness caused by wind washing pushing insulation away from the edges of the attic space.

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Batt insulation is not an effective air barrier

The attic kneewall and the open floor cavities under kneewall are both sealed and insulated in one step with spray foam insulation

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Air Sealing and Insulating Ceilings in Vented Attics

Guide describing how to air-seal and insulate a ceiling where the insulation is installed on top of the ceiling (on the attic floor) in a vented attic.

Wrong – Insulation is misaligned with floor above

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Insulation is in contact with floor above

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Insulation is misaligned with air barrier

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Insulation has compression and misalignment

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Rigid Foam Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to apply an air control layer directly over existing wall sheathing and cover with two layers of insulating sheathing held in place by vertical furring strips.

Certified Insulated Siding: Quality, Comfort and Energy Performance

Author(s)

Dobson,

Brignati

Organization(s)

Vinyl Siding Institute,

Newport Ventures

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.

Wrong - This batt insulation is not aligned with the subfloor and joists.

Wrong--No insulation installed behind fireplace

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – The knee wall is properly insulated and air sealed.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Install insulation and an air barrier around skylight shafts.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Insulation properly installed before air barrier

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong - Sub-floor insulation is not properly installed or supported.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right - Sub-floor insulation is properly installed and supported.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Install an air barrier on the exterior of attic knee wall insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – The backing on this knee wall was air sealed prior to insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Rigid air barrier not installed to hold insulation in place

Right – Rigid air barrier is installed to hold insulation in place

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong - Sub-floor insulation has gaps, compression, and misalignment.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – The backing on this knee wall was not air sealed prior to adding insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Rigid backing was installed prior to insulating the attic knee walls.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Top and bottom plates were installed prior to backing and insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Insulation installed behind fireplace prior to air barrier installation

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Insulation meets RESNET Grade I prior to air barrier installation

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – The band joist over this wall was properly insulated and air-sealed.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong - Wind baffle installation will not allow insulation over the top plate.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

A site-built rafter roof with a raised top plate allows for more insulation underneath.

Publication Date

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 12:00

Limited attic access can make inspections for missing air barriers and insulation challenging

Publication Date

Wed, 04/01/2015 - 12:00

Install a continuous air barrier below or above ceiling insulation and install wind baffles.

Publication Date

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 12:00

Right - Wind baffle installation will allow proper insulation depth over the top plate.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

The wall behind the fireplace is an exterior wall and requires a thermal barrier that is continuous with the rest of the wall’s insulation

Right – Cantilever has been properly insulated, air sealed, and cavity has been blocked.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

The soffit dam and baffle allow air to flow through the vents without disturbing the insulation covering the top plates

Building America Existing Home Case Study: Insulated Siding Retrofit in a Cold Climate, New Paltz, New York

Author(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center

Organization(s)

BA-PIRC,

FSEC

Publication Date

April, 2015

Case study describing the application of insulated siding on an existing home.

Wrong – Insulation does not fill entire cavity nor is there an air barrier present between the double wall

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – This attic knee wall and the floor joist cavity openings beneath it are being sealed and insulated with spray foam.

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

After all holes through the ceiling are air-sealed and the baffles have been installed, then the insulation can be installed.

Publication Date

Thu, 06/28/2012 - 12:00

Wrong – The batt insulation on this knee wall is not properly supported and there is no air sealed rigid backing to provide a solid air barrier.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air seal and insulate double-walls that are half-height or full-height walls used as architectural features in homes.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air-seal and insulate the rim and band joists of walls separating an attached garage from the home’s conditioned space.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air seal the floor above an unconditioned basement or crawlspace and make sure floor insulation is in full contact with the underside of the subfloor.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right-- IR photo shows how effectively spray foam insulated/air sealed attic kneewall and the floor cavities under kneewall

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Limited attic access may make it necessary to use a bore scope when inspecting for missing air barriers and insulation in existing buildings.

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Air seal the top, bottom, and sides of a cantilevered floor cavity and ensure that insulation is in full contact with all sides without voids.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Stucco is installed over rigid insulation, which is installed over a drainage plane consisting of a drainage gap and building wrap layer over the sheathing

Baffles provide an air space over the insulation to guide ventilation air from the soffit vents up along the underside of the roof deck

Publication Date

Thu, 06/28/2012 - 12:00

Raised heel energy trusses extend past the exterior wall and are deeper at the wall allowing room for full insulation coverage over the top plate of the exterior walls.

Publication Date

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 12:00

Air-seal the floor above a garage when there is living space above the garage and make sure floor insulation is in full contact with the underside of the subfloor.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.

Floor Above Garage

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

Double-Wall Architectural Feature

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).

Attic Knee Walls

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

Vented versus Unvented Attic

Guide describing options for designing and locating the thermal boundary at either the attic floor or along the roof line in new and existing homes.

Continuous Air Barrier in Exterior Walls

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

Wind Washing

Guide describing wind washing and how to prevent it.

Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

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

Passive House Wall Assembly Mock | Hammer & Hand

Publication Date

March, 2015

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

Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

Guide describing how to air-seal attic access panels, doors, and stairs to provide a continuous air barrier at the ceiling.

Advanced Framing vs Traditional Framing

Publication Date

December, 2012

Author(s)

Risinger

Organization(s)

Build with Matt Risinger

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.

Cantilevered Floor

Guide describing how to air-seal and insulate a cantilevered floor.

Staircase Walls

Guide describing how to create a fully aligned air barrier behind a staircase.

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to walls behind showers and tubs.

Walls Behind Fireplaces

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

Garage Rim/Band Joist Adjoining Conditioned Space

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

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

Author(s)

IBACOS

Organization(s)

IBACOS

Publication Date

May, 2014

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.

Air Sealing Duct and Flue Shafts

Guide describing how to air-seal duct and flue shafts.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Complete and Fully Aligned Air Barrier

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

August, 2012

Case study describing the elimination of excessive humidity in the attic of a multi-floor, single-family home that was causing condensation and water damage along the roof and eaves.

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.

Attic Radiant Barriers

Guide describing application of a radiant barrier layer in the attic to block radiant heat transfer between hot surfaces and heat-absorbing surfaces.

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: Thrive Home Builders, Courtyard Rows, Lone Tree, CO

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2017

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2017 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 41 without PV and 8 with PV.

Air Sealing Attached Garage

Guide describing ways to air-seal an attached garage in new and existing homes.

The thermal boundary for a gable roof can be located at either a) the flat ceiling with a vented attic or b) the roof line for an unvented attic

A low-sloped shed roof with the thermal boundary located at either a) the flat ceiling with a vented attic or b) the roof line for an unvented attic

Are the Walls Closing In?

Author(s)

Kochkin

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Webinar describing research on moisture performance in high-R walls.

Six Corners Modern | High Performance Building Details

Publication Date

November, 2014

Video describing the high-performance building details of a new home construction project.

A 1- and ½-story home with a room located in the attic and the thermal boundary located at either a) the walls and ceiling of the attic room with small vented attic spaces or b) the roof line for an unvented attic

Wrong – No top plate was installed.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Moisture Management in Residential Construction - Building Enclosure: Managing Heat Flow

Publication Date

January, 2011

Author(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Video from Home Innovation Research Labs on managing heat transfer in the forms of radiation, convection, and conduction within the building envelope.

Wrong – No rigid backing was installed on the attic knee wall.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Moisture Management in Residential Construction Series - Brick Installation Drainage Cavity Wall

Publication Date

January, 2011

Author(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Video from Home Innovation Research Labs showing how to correctly install brick cladding on exterior walls with a drainage cavity behind it for moisture prevention.

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2020

Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Author(s)

Neuhauser Ken,

Gates Cathy,

Pettit Betsy

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

July, 2013

Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

DOE ZERH HIA 2014 Case Study: One Sky Homes, Cottle Zero Net Energy Home, San Jose, CA

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 69 without PV and -1 with PV.

Moisture Performance of High-R Wall Systems

Author(s)

Kochkin Vladimir,

Shah Nay B

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs,

HIRL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

May, 2018

The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because...

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.