BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Install the starter strip for the vinyl siding along a chalk line

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This kneewall has no top plate and the resulting gap provides a wide-open pathway for air and vapor to travel between the living space and the attic

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Right: All joints in the rigid foam are taped to keep stucco out of joints for even drying. Mesh tape (shown here) is used with expanded polystyrene (EPS); acrylic sheathing tape or self-adhered membrane is used with XPS

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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

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Cantilevers, Technical Bulletin F2

Reference

Information sheet containing images and descriptions of cantilevers.

How to Design a Home for a Cold Climate

Reference

Article summarizing for potential homeowners items to check or demand from the builder in designing a home for a cold climate.

AY-126 Thermal and Ignition Barriers For The SPF Industry

Reference

SPFA website signup page to access SPFA documents.

Adding weatherstripping to a door

Video

Video describing different types of weatherstripping and how to install them to properly air-seal doors from Columbia Water and Light.

All About Larsen Trusses

Reference

Website article interviewing the inventor of the Larsen truss, a history of its use, and a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages.

CCHRC - Cold Climate Housing Research Center

Reference

Website of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center.

gutters and good drainage

Video

Video from Cold Climate Housing Research Center explaining how to correctly 'fur' and outside wall for maximum insulation protection.

Deep-Dish Retrofits, BSI-079

Reference

Report covering exterior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Moisture Management in Residential Construction Series - Managing Water Vapor Flow

Video

Video from Home Innovation Research Labs on materials and design principles to mitigate moisture issues in homes.

Flow-Through Assemblies, BSI-091

Reference

Article discussing flow-through assemblies of walls.

Passive Cooling

Reference

Article from Smarter Homes NZ on home building techniques that incorporate passive cooling.

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Crawlspaces and Basements

Information Guide

Information guide describing things to consider when considering home retrofits in the basement or crawlspace including HVAC, wiring, or structural systems.

EIFS - Problems and Solutions, BSD-146

Reference

Report on problems and solutions with EIFS stucco wall cladding systems.

Interior wall post support detail side view

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Pumpkin Ridge Passive House Video #012: Interior Attic Air Barrier

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Video describing the interior attic air barrier details in a passive house.

Wrong – Spray foam installed with voids

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Wrong – No top plate was installed.

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Providing a Thermal Break in Gut Rehabs

Reference

Information sheet about how to reduce thermal bridging in walls.

Vulnerability of Vents to Wind-Blown Embers

Reference

Report covering the migration of wind-blown embers in roof vents.

Venting Vapor, BSI-088

Reference

Guide providing information on controlling attic ductwork sweating.

Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings

Reference

Report analyzing results in crawlspace retrofits in multifamily buildings.

Concrete Floor Problems, BSI-003

Reference

Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.

Retrofit Contractor Case Study: Energy Saving Services, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Case Study

Case study describing the origins and operation of a Kalamazoo-based home performance contractor.

There is no polyethylene sheeting installed in the crawlspace

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Polyethylene sheeting covers the aggregate and extends down and under the footing to provide a capillary break between the ground and the slab and monolithic footing

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Thermal bridging is eliminated at the rim joist with the use of joist ledgers that are anchored in the wall

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