BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

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

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Retrofit of cantilevered wall with beam showing details at the outside corner for installing air sealing and rigid foam insulation plus water control membrane in the wall and overhanging floor

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Install a sealed enclosure over a non-IC rated recessed light fixture to air-seal the can and to prevent insulation from touching the recessed can light.

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Pipes and wires in a crawlspace or basement are often concealed by insulation which can be pulled back while wearing gloves, long sleeves, glasses, and a well-fitting dust mask.

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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.

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This IR camera image shows a cold spot (in purple) at an electrical outlet on an exterior wall due to lack of insulation; some streaking is also visible and indicates air leakage.

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Right - Foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulating rigid foam sheathing is installed below the floor framing of this house built on piers; however, the seams should be sealed with metal taped and the plumbing elevated and protected.

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Once window trim is removed around window, any fibrous insulation is removed and the opening is brushed before installing canned foam or backer rod and caulk to air seal the rough openings

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This basement is insulated on the exterior with rigid foam over dampproofing, with granular backfill and footing drains to facilitate drainage away from the foundation, a termite shield to protect from pests, and cellular PVC to protect the rigid foam.

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The dark purple areas and long streaks in this IR camera image show extreme cold spots along the top of the walls, indicating a lack of both air sealing and insulation above the top plates of these walls.

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Right - Permeable rigid mineral wool insulation and appropriate water-management flashing details are integrated with new rigid foam siding to keep water away from the sill beam above the foundation wall

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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

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Right - Reduce condensation risks to blanket insulation by installing perforated vapor retarder covered fiberglass blankets over rigid foam that is air-sealed at all edges; staple the blanket to nailers and top/bottom plates and tape over the seams.

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The fiberglass insulation stuffed into the large hole around this HVAC duct will not prevent air leakage from the unconditioned basement to the conditioned space above; the large gap should be sealed with a rigid air barrier and caulked or spray foamed.

Fiberglass insulation stuffed into the large hole around this HVAC duct won't prevent air leakage from the unconditioned basement to the conditioned space above; the large gap should be sealed with a rigid air barrier and caulked or spray foamed.

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Right – The window header is filled with spray foam and sealant is used to air seal wood-to-wood seams; however, it would be preferable to design the wall to avoid so many stacked studs around the windows because they prevent wall insulation installation.

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The very dark area around the recessed light fixture indicates significant heat loss while the purple streaks radiating out indicate air leakage; the purple area around the heating register to the left indicates heat loss likely due to missing insulation

The very dark area around the recessed light fixture shows significant heat loss while the purple streaks radiating out indicate air leakage; the purple area around the heating register (left) indicates heat loss likely due to missing insulation

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Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.

Walls Adjoining Porch Roof

Guide

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to separate the porch attic from the conditioned space.

Roof/Attic to Exterior Wall Air Control Upgrade

Guide

Guide describing how to retrofit an exterior wall and/or attic to provide continuous air sealing.

Attic Knee Walls

Video

Video describing how to insulate and air seal attic knee walls.

Encapsulated Ducts

Video

Video describing air sealing and insulation for encapsulated ducts.

Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal dropped ceilings and soffits to prevent air leakage.

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.

High-Performance Homes - A Simpler Design Strategy

Presentation

Webinar from Tom Patton of Fox Blocks on how changes to building codes are driving changes to framing assemblies and insulation, highlighting how ICFs can take over for traditional wood frame wall assemblies. Free EEBA login required.

Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

Guide

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

Encapsulated Ducts

Guide

Guide that illustrates how and when to encapsulate ductwork in unconditioned attics, increasing the R-value of duct insulation, mitigating condensation issues, and reducing air leakage.

Sill Plates (2)

Video

Video describing how to insulate and air seal sill plates.

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

Guide

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

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs (2)

Video

Video describing how to properly insulate walls behind showers and tubs.

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.