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Whether using roof trusses or stick framing a roof frame, if you make space above the exterior walls, your energy performance will thank you.

 

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

Keep mechanical equipment within the envelope to improve the quality of houses and homes

A collection of details that make sense for most framers to incorporate into their SOP—based on feedback from framers who do it a lot.

Counting down the top pages of 2018. This one is #8. Roof valleys are like gutters with a steep pitch; but the stakes are higher for valleys than they are for gutters

 

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

 

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

 

A tight air barrier is the best way to build an energy-efficient house. Outside the sheathing are many chances to make it better.

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

 

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

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

Direct the heat toward the feet

Letting the brick dry evenly is the key for old masonry walls that want to leak less energy

Adding brick to the outside of a house complicates insulating outside a slab. So Insulate inside.

An affordable insulated slab foundation suitable for climate zones 4, 5, and 6

Protect the eave from ice dams and sideways rain

An affordable insulated slab foundation suitable for climate zones 1, 2, and 3

A tight path to the outdoors keeps the indoors fresh and you can call it a day because you’re one step closer to the Energy Star.