Continuous Exterior Insulation Guide

Use continuous exterior insulation to wrap old homes with cold bones
Nov. 4, 2022
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Bringing an old house up to date energy-wise can improve comfort and energy performance. Adding continuous exterior insulation over the exterior walls and roof makes a continuous thermal barrier while burning your thermal bridges.

It makes sense when replacing the siding or roofing because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Wrapping a house with continuous exterior insulation can cause headaches if not done thoughtfully: make sure that the air, water, and thermal barriers work together, not against each other, because trapping moisture in a tight house means #BugsMoldRot.

A solid collection of continuous exterior insulation content

Below you'll find many videos, animations, podcasts, and articles under the following headings:

  • Exterior Continuous Insulation Details
  • How To Videos: Continuous Exterior Insulation for Inset (Innie) Windows
  • How To Videos: Continuous Exterior Insulation for Outie Windows
  • Articles on Continuous Exterior Insulation: The Science Behind the Concepts
  • Exterior Insulation Retrofit KEEPING the Existing Windows
  • How To Videos: Replacing a Window in a Wall That Was Upgraded With Continuous Insulation 25 Years Ago

Exterior Continuous Insulation Details

To provide nailing for flanges or door jambs, weave lumber bucks into the exterior insulation
April 25, 2023
Seal the WRB to the wall sheathing and window flashing, and add an apron detail at the bottom
Aug. 30, 2021
The process for installing continuous exterior insulation over 1x6 T&G sheathing with existing windows
March 28, 2023
Wrapping an old house in a blanket of insulation is a no-brainer when you're replacing the roofing and siding anyway
Dec. 10, 2020
Everything* you need to know about wrapping old homes with cold bones: climate zones 5, 6, and 7Bringing an old house up to date energy-wise can improve comfort and energy performance...
Jan. 4, 2018
Recessed into thick layers of insulation, innie windows are protected from the weather
Nov. 7, 2016
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
Oct. 10, 2016
#ÜberRoof: A site-built ventilated SIP roof sandwich.
Sept. 17, 2015
Covering the roof of an old house with a blanket of insulation makes the house more comfortable and it cuts energy use.
Oct. 15, 2015

How To Videos: Continuous Exterior Insulation for Inset (Innie) Windows

A deep energy retrofit in Concord, MA illustrates everything you need to know to bring a house to energy überville
July 21, 2022
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.
March 29, 2018
The second layer of foam is the air barrier and drainage plane.
Oct. 1, 2015
These triple-glazed vinyl windows use brackets to secure the window to the framing. A 'flashing flange' helps align the window
June 12, 2015

Articles on Continuous Exterior Insulation: The Science Behind the Concepts

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...
Jan. 15, 2016
Dr. Bailes does the math
Jan. 30, 2024

How To Videos: Continuous Exterior Insulation for Outie Windows

Offset the joints and seal the gaps to keep air leaks out of the thick walls
Sept. 12, 2016
Windows cannot rest on the foam, so they hang from wood bucks
Aug. 15, 2016
The complete video collection on insulating, air sealing, and installing windows in a superinsulated sunroom addition in Wayland, MA
July 20, 2023
Wide tape spans the many layers of a thick wall to make an air tight and water tight seal
July 25, 2016
A superinsulated sunroom might sound like an oxymoronic idea, but it is not. Just use triple glazed windows and thick foam over the wall framing and roof
July 11, 2016
Window banks need to line up neatly for the trim to work out. Foam walls add the extra possibility of compressing the backing. So there's that.
July 20, 2016

Exterior Insulation Retrofit KEEPING the Existing Windows

A polyash shiplap siding that is environmentally polite and durable as heck
Sept. 16, 2023
Window trimout is probably the trickiest part of installing exterior trim work over two inches of styrofoam
Sept. 3, 2023
Installing skirtboard, corners, window trim and utility blocks over two inches of foam insulation and rainscreen mesh
April 30, 2022
How to install two layers of foam and Tyvek's Drainvent rainscreen over an old, lightly-insulated wall.
April 23, 2022
How to significantly cut energy use when residing a home
April 9, 2022
Replacing the siding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to upgrade the energy performance of a home
Aug. 11, 2023
Integrating a new WRB with existing windows keeps the water- and air-control layers continuous
Aug. 19, 2023

How To Videos: Replacing a Window in a Wall That Was Upgraded With Continuous 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...
Oct. 10, 2024
Removing the old window frame and weight pockets, reframing the rough opening, and flashing a new-construction flanged window into the old existing WRB
Feb. 21, 2022
Replacing the exterior foam parts and trimming out the exterior
March 7, 2022
Replacing a 30-Year old replacement window in a 100-year-old wall that was upgraded with exterior foam insulation 25 Years ago (part 2 of 4)
Feb. 7, 2022
Replacing a 30-Year old replacement window in a 100-year-old wall that was upgraded with exterior foam insulation 25 Years ago (part 1 of 4)
Jan. 31, 2022

About the Author

Dan Morrison

Dan Morrison is a founding editor of ProTradeCraft.com, where he is also the editor-in-chief. Fun fact: Dan is also a founding editor of Green Building Advisor and executive editor of Fine Homebuilding.

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