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Conceptual insulation at cape-style roof - ceiling and knee wall cavity insulation

Conceptual insulation at cape-style roof - ceiling and knee wall cavity insulation

CAD File

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

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

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Air Sealing and Insulating Walls to Reduce Heat Gain

Information Guide

Information guide listing Building America Solution Center guides that describe ways to air-seal and insulate a new or existing home's walls to resist heat gain.

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

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

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Key elements of a wall system clad with insulated vinyl siding

Key elements of a wall system clad with insulated vinyl siding

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Rigid Foam Board Interior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate closed crawlspace walls and band joist areas with rigid foam board insulation.

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

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

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

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

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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.

Insulating sheathing is installed on exterior of an existing framed wall with water control between existing sheathing and insulating sheathing

Insulating sheathing is installed on exterior of an existing framed wall with water control between existing sheathing and insulating sheathing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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Air sealing wall between a porch roof and attic with 1 inch of rigid insulation

Air sealing wall between a porch roof and attic with 1 inch of rigid insulation

CAD File

The Perfect Wall includes water, air, thermal, and vapor layers with continuous insulation exterior of the sheathing to reduce the condensation potential in the wall.

The Perfect Wall includes water, air, thermal, and vapor layers with continuous insulation exterior of the sheathing to reduce the condensation potential in the wall.

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Right - Walls and ceilings shared by the garage and living space must be air sealed and insulated.

Right - Walls and ceilings shared by the garage and living space must be air sealed and insulated.

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Wrong - Wall cavities behind shower are not completely filled with insulation and are lacking the solid interior air barrier.

Wrong - Wall cavities behind shower are not completely filled with insulation and are lacking the solid interior air barrier.

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

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

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Right – Closed-cell spray foam insulation in the shared wall between the garage and living space helps to air-seal the wall and protect occupants from garage pollutants.

Right – Closed-cell spray foam insulation in the shared wall between the garage and living space helps to air-seal the wall and protect occupants from garage pollutants.

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

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

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Right – The rigid insulation covers all exterior walls and all seams are taped to provide a complete drainage system

Right – The rigid insulation covers all exterior walls and all seams are taped to provide a complete drainage system

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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.

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.

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

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

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The attic knee walls were constructed from 2x6s and insulated with R-19 batt, backed with 1 inch of XPS foam board with taped joints to provide a solid air barrier over the insulated surfaces.

The attic knee walls were constructed from 2x6s and insulated with R-19 batt, backed with 1 inch of XPS foam board with taped joints to provide a solid air barrier over the insulated surfaces.

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Windows are installed as “outies” in this wall assembly using a self-adhered membrane water and air control layer with continuous exterior insulation

Windows are installed as “outies” in this wall assembly using a self-adhered membrane water and air control layer with continuous exterior insulation

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This house design in the Hot-Humid climate uses a slab foundation, masonry walls, and an Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) cladding.

This house design in the Hot-Humid climate uses a slab foundation, masonry walls, and an Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) cladding.

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The builder in this very cold climate installed three layers of unfaced mineral wool batt in the double wall with a code-required vapor barrier between the middle and inner layers of wall insulation that is taped to barriers in the ceiling and floor.

The builder in this very cold climate installed three layers of unfaced mineral wool batt in the double wall with a code-required vapor barrier between the middle and inner layers of wall insulation that is taped to barriers in the ceiling and floor.

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Right - These attic knee walls are insulated with rigid foam and sealed with spray foam to form a continuous air barrier at the gable end of this cathedral ceiling.

Right - These attic knee walls are insulated with rigid foam and sealed with spray foam to form a continuous air barrier at the gable end of this cathedral ceiling.

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