Building Envelope Handbook

This Best Practice Handbook covers the roof, walls, and floor assemblies of the building envelope.
Oct. 12, 2023
Add Us On Google
66fd8206e76dba6798949535 Roof20deck20420taping20sequence20and20sizes

A collection of our best content related to the building envelope, thermal envelope, and air control through the building enclosure that we have. The compilation of videos, animations, podcasts, articles, and construction details relating to the building envelope is divided into five sections:

  • Foundation Details
  • Engineering and Design
  • Window Openings
  • Floor and Wall Construction Details
  • Roof details

We will update this page annually, but check the home page for recent building envelope content.

  

Foundation Details

Outside insulation is an effective way to keep heat in. The devil is in the details, such as this one
May 3, 2018
One of the biggest air leaks in a house is where the wood meets the concrete
Jan. 7, 2021
Five videos about how to install a subfloor over thick insulation without sleepers.
May 28, 2026
A peek at interior and exterior foundation waterproofing in one single house
June 7, 2017
An affordable insulated slab foundation suitable for climate zones 1, 2, and 3
May 9, 2016
An affordable insulated slab foundation suitable for climate zones 4, 5, and 6
July 11, 2016
Work the surface with a series of trowels to bring the water to the surface for a smooth finish
Jan. 21, 2016
Direct the heat toward the feet
Aug. 10, 2016

  

Engineering and Design Considerations

7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
You can't simply go down to the hardware store and buy a box labeled air barrier
Aug. 22, 2018
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
Vapor barriers cause a lot more harm than good in many parts of North America. Understanding vapor barriers begins with knowing what it means to be one
June 28, 2018
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
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.
April 16, 2021
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
A three-pronged solution to indoor pollution: Isolate, eliminate, and ventilate
Oct. 18, 2017
ProTradeCraft
7-min-bs-logo-cropped
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
If you can't build to stay dry, build to tolerate wet.
Sept. 11, 2026
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
Bulk water's job description is literally to rot houses, but the REAL danger occurs when it changes phase from liquid to solid, and gas...
Dec. 11, 2023
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
The science of stickiness: a molecular look at tape's adhesive and cohesive properties
Oct. 6, 2018
This sand-and-water model confirms mathematical predictions about how groundwater moves through soil
July 5, 2021
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
Vented roofs are often called cold roofs because they are—(theoretically) cold from ventilation air
May 30, 2023

  

Window Openings

The general idea of installing windows is to plug the big hole that you just cut in the wall.
Nov. 7, 2017
A monolithic layer of protection for holes in walls
Feb. 22, 2020
Water often finds its way into holes in the wall. It is your job to help it get out.
Feb. 23, 2018
Putting a window in the hole means sealing around the edges, too
Jan. 22, 2018
A deep energy retrofit in Concord, MA illustrates everything you need to know to bring a house to energy überville
July 5, 2016
The complete video collection on insulating, air sealing, and installing windows in a superinsulated sunroom addition in Wayland, MA
July 20, 2023

  

Floor and Wall Construction Details

Glue the rim joist, caulk the gaps, and overhang the wall sheathing to tighten this leaky building assembly
Sept. 29, 2017
Snap a line, put the panel on the line and nail it, tape the seams, and where to snap that line in the first place.
March 21, 2019
For walls with a pre-applied weather barrier, make sure the tape is compatible with the WRB coating—or use a primer
April 25, 2017
With blower door tests in the building code, it is up to more than just the insulators or the GC to deliver results: many trades have a stake.
July 30, 2026
Peel and stick Z-flashing and some padding pushes a ledger flush with the face of the thick panels. A cover sheet of peel and stick completely waterproof the ledger before the...
Jan. 20, 2020
Belt, suspenders, rainscreen, and redundancy make this wall awesome.
Sept. 18, 2020
Framing double stud walls-3.jpg
Framing Double Stud Walls 3
This collection of videos and animations covers basic wall framing as the first stages of a double wall house with 12-inch thick exterior walls. The jobsite was in Scarborough...
Feb. 4, 2021

  

Roof Detailing

Overlapping tapes with gravity in mind keeps water out of the house
April 24, 2018
Roofs peel off from the edges, so it is critical to hold them tight
May 22, 2018
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
Moving air keeps unwanted heat and moisture out of your roof system
Dec. 13, 2017
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
Like an out-of-plumb wall, an insulated and unvented roof can work well—or not.
May 1, 2018
Snap a line and stick to it
Nov. 16, 2023
Decking the field and delegating responsibility
June 13, 2018
The nuances of measuring are what separates the kids from the carpenters
March 7, 2024
Tape layers should overlap shingle-style up the roof
June 19, 2018
Flashing must extend all the way from the wall to the outside. Oh yeah, and it has to be watertight and eight people have to work on it...
Sept. 1, 2022

  

Related Content

Sign up for our eNewsletters
Get the latest news and updates

Related