CEUs for Contractors: The What, How and Why of Thermal Envelope Improvements

PTC's Award-Winning Continuing Education Tour covers difficult new energy code requirements for roofs and walls

February 16, 2023

Read time: 1 min

By

This award-winning collection of ProTradeCraft video resources was used in the Continuing Education classes, HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING, taught in partnership with Northstar Associates, for the State of Minnesota and Wisconsin Contractor Certification February 16, 2023.

Building Blocks of Building Science
Airtight Walls in the Real World
Four Superinsulated Walls
Windows in Thick Walls
Roof Improvements

Following the 40-45 minute classes are the individual videos, animations, podcasts, and articles used in the classes.

Also included at the bottom is info on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

1: The Building Blocks of Building Science

February 12, 2021

Heat Flow: 7 Minutes of BS (#buildingscience)

Three mechanisms usually work together to move electrons from more to less. These three mechanisms can conspire to move heat AROUND your insulation.

Insulation & Air Sealing

April 16, 2021

Thermal Bridging: A Podcast About BS (#buildingscience)

A thermal bridge is an area of the building enclosure—whether it be the walls, roof, or foundation—that has significantly higher heat flow than intended.

Insulation & Air Sealing

August 22, 2018

Air Barriers: 7 Minutes of BS—Building Science, Syncopated

You can't simply go down to the hardware store and buy a box labeled air barrier

Insulation & Air Sealing

June 4, 2020

Moisture Management Guide: Three Design Rules

When plumbing lines burst, people notice. Unfortunately, a lot of the moisture damage in houses has nothing to do with bulk water.

Siding & Exterior Trim

Zones 3, 4, & 5

October 16, 2018

The Psychrometric Chart: 7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)

This chart explains how moisture behaves in the air as temperatures rise and fall—rainstorms, flooding, and glaciers in wall cavities are distinct possibilities.

HVAC & Mechanicals

December 14, 2015

Understanding Relative Humidity: It's All Relative

But some buckets are *more* relative

HVAC & Mechanicals

Insulation & Air Sealing

Kitchens & Baths

January 15, 2016

The Pen Test for Air-, Water- and Thermal-Tightness

Water and air leaks in a building shell are difficult enough to detail on simple buildings. Complex structures can cause headaches for builders, remodelers, and architects who don't pick up their pens and trace at the design stage.

Insulation & Air Sealing

Siding & Exterior Trim

Glues, Sealants, Coatings

Zones 3, 4, & 5

March 28, 2016

Building Performance Begins on the Blueprints

Thermal shorts and good design don't mix

Concrete & Masonry

Insulation & Air Sealing

Glues, Sealants, Coatings

2: Airtight Walls in the Real World

January 30, 2023

How To Install House Wrap #TheRightWay

Stop rot with house wrap

March 7, 2016

Weather Barrier #DoneRight

Weather Barriers done right means weather barriers that go to work on more than just sunny days

Insulation & Air Sealing

February 3, 2023

Weatherization Nation 4: The WRB is a BFD

The Tyvek weather-resistive barrier can be a water barrier and an air barrier, but it is NOT a vapor barrier

October 6, 2018

ViscoElasticity: 7 Minutes of BS (#BuildingScience)

The science of stickiness: a molecular look at tape's adhesive and cohesive properties

April 25, 2017

Flashing Pipes, Framing, and Exhaust Vents in Exterior Walls

For walls with a pre-applied weather barrier, make sure the tape is compatible with the WRB coating—or use a primer

Insulation & Air Sealing

January 7, 2021

Air Seal Wall Sheathing to the Foundation

One of the biggest air leaks in a house is where the wood meets the concrete

Insulation & Air Sealing

Glues, Sealants, Coatings

May 12, 2015

Air Sealing Basics—Begin at the Plate

It's easy to air seal the middle of the wall where there are no gaps, cracks, or joints. The edges are a different story, especially when one edge is wood and the other is concrete.

Insulation & Air Sealing

Glues, Sealants, Coatings

Zones 3, 4, & 5

June 23, 2018

Model Remodel Show: Four Smart Energy Upgrades for Compact Houses

Simple upgrades to steps you take anyway can significantly boost the energy performance of a home

Insulation & Air Sealing

3: Four Superinsulated Walls

December 10, 2020

Exterior Roof and Wall Insulation Retrofit (Unvented Roof)

Wrapping an old house in a blanket of insulation is a no-brainer when you're replacing the roofing and siding anyway

Insulation & Air Sealing

March 29, 2018

Exterior Foam Insulation Retrofit: How To Install Polyiso Panels

The first layer of foam is mostly an insulation layer; the outer layer is the air barrier and drainage plane. This video is about the first layer.

Insulation & Air Sealing

Siding & Exterior Trim

October 1, 2015

Exterior Foam Insulation Retrofit: How To Install Polyiso Panels, Part 2

The second layer of foam is the air barrier and drainage plane.

Insulation & Air Sealing

February 4, 2021

Framing Double Stud Walls

Transfer the layout, and frame the openings a little bigger—just in case

February 13, 2017

A Modified Larsen Truss Using I-Joists on a Passive House Retrofit

Screwing I-joists to the outside of a wall—really—makes a lot more room for insulation on a deep energy retrofit in NW Connecticut

September 18, 2020

Awesome Wall: Because Sometimes We Screw Up

Belt, suspenders, rainscreen, and redundancy make this wall awesome.

Siding & Exterior Trim

Windows & Doors

4: Windows in Thick Walls

September 7, 2016

Window and WRB: Integration Keeps Water Out of Walls

Sealing the layers—and overlapping them right—is how high-performance building gets done

Windows & Doors

December 10, 2020

Exterior Roof and Wall Insulation Retrofit (Unvented Roof)

Wrapping an old house in a blanket of insulation is a no-brainer when you're replacing the roofing and siding anyway

Insulation & Air Sealing

June 12, 2015

Innie vs. Outie Sill Details for Thick Foam

The WRB is a BFD when choosing where to put the window

Windows & Doors

November 7, 2016

Innie Window Details for Walls with Thick Exterior Insulation

Recessed into thick layers of insulation, innie windows are protected from the weather

Windows & Doors

August 4, 2015

How to Flash an Innie with Non-Stretch Tape (#TheHardWay)

The least expensive window flashing tape is also the most complicated to install. Unless you've done it a bajillion times

October 10, 2016

Outie Window Details for Walls with Thick Exterior Insulation

A thermal break and solid backing puts the window on the outer face of a thick wall. Now, there's room on the inside window sill for cats and bowling trophies

Insulation & Air Sealing

Windows & Doors

July 20, 2023

Outie Window Installation: Weave It Into The Continuous Exterior Foam Insulation

The complete video collection on insulating, air sealing, and installing windows in a superinsulated sunroom addition in Wayland, MA

Windows & Doors

Insulation & Air Sealing

Jobsite Handbooks

July 4, 2016

In-Betweenies: Installing a Flangeless Window in the Middle of a Thick Wall

Three videos covering the step by step process for flashing, installing, and airsealing an in-betweenie window in a Passive House Retrofit

Windows & Doors

5: Roof Improvements

June 19, 2018

Decking A StormProof Roof (4 of 4): Sealing the Seams

Tape layers should overlap shingle-style up the roof

April 24, 2018

Stormproof Roof: Design and Construction Advice

Overlapping tapes with gravity in mind keeps water out of the house

October 29, 2016

Dormer Flashing Details in 4D

Concentrate on the corners and think like water when overlapping the layers

September 20, 2016

Kickout Flashing That Won't Leak

Ground zero for roof rot is often where roofs meet walls.

Siding & Exterior Trim

February 6, 2017

How Ice Dams Form, and How To Stop Them

Four ways to prevent ice dams in three types of roof, for two climates in one video. Boom.

Insulation & Air Sealing

October 15, 2015

Exterior Roof Insulation Retrofit (Unvented Roof)

Covering the roof of an old house with a blanket of insulation makes the house more comfortable and it cuts energy use.

Insulation & Air Sealing

September 17, 2015

Exterior Roof Insulation Retrofit (Vented Roof)

#ÜberRoof: A site-built ventilated SIP roof sandwich.

Insulation & Air Sealing

The Classes

March 11, 2021

The Building Blocks of Building Science (PTC's Continuing Education Tour, Part 1)

The basic BS boils down to "stuff goes from more to less," more or less

Insulation & Air Sealing

January 13, 2022

Airtight Walls in the Real World (PTC's Continuing Education Tour, Part 2)

Every layer you add has two sides that can become air pathways to the inside of a building

Insulation & Air Sealing

January 20, 2022

Four Superinsulated Walls (PTC's Continuing Education Tour, Part 3)

Fat walls mean skinny energy bills

Insulation & Air Sealing

January 27, 2022

Windows in Thick Walls (PTC's Continuing Education Tour, Part 4)

Innies, outies, and in-betweenies

Windows & Doors

February 4, 2022

Typical Roof Trouble Spots (PTC's Continuing Education Tour, Part 5)

Flashing, ventilation, and ice dams

Insulation & Air Sealing

The 2021 Energy Code Minimums Are Even Steeper

February 28, 2022

2021 Energy Code Survival Guide

The updates are really only a big deal if you live in climate zones 4 or 5, like 65% (or so) of America does. But don't worry, climate change is making it smarter than ever to exceed the code minimum.

HVAC & Mechanicals

Insulation & Air Sealing

Jobsite Handbooks

December 20, 2021

Exterior Insulation Is Required in Zones 4 and 5, and Other 2021 IECC updates

There are new words and numbers in the energy code, like "tested for tightness," R-60, and 20+5

Construction Phase

Historical Content Type Reference

Answers to Questions asked after class

July 28, 2022

Replacing a 30-Year Old Replacement Window in a 100-Year-Old Wall That Was Upgraded With Exterior Foam Insulation 25 Years Ago

Protradecraft traveled to the home of Building Science Corporation founders Betsy Pettit and Joseph Lstiburek, aka Dr. Joe, to film a replacement window replacement scenario not seen very often.

Windows & Doors

Jobsite Handbooks

Insulation & Air Sealing

Jobsite Handbooks