Building Envelope Handbook

This Best Practice Handbook covers the roof, walls, and floor assemblies of the building envelope.
Oct. 12, 2023
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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

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Outside insulation is an effective way to keep heat in. The devil is in the details, such as this one
May 3, 2018
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One of the biggest air leaks in a house is where the wood meets the concrete
Jan. 7, 2021
Dan Morrison
Floating Subfloor Insulated Slab
Five videos about how to install a subfloor over thick insulation without sleepers.
May 13, 2022
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A peek at interior and exterior foundation waterproofing in one single house
June 7, 2017
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An affordable insulated slab foundation suitable for climate zones 1, 2, and 3
May 9, 2016
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An affordable insulated slab foundation suitable for climate zones 4, 5, and 6
July 11, 2016
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Work the surface with a series of trowels to bring the water to the surface for a smooth finish
Jan. 21, 2016
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Direct the heat toward the feet
Aug. 10, 2016

  

Engineering and Design Considerations

You can't simply go down to the hardware store and buy a box labeled air barrier
Aug. 22, 2018
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
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
A three-pronged solution to indoor pollution: Isolate, eliminate, and ventilate
Oct. 18, 2017
If you can't build to stay dry, build to tolerate wet
Sept. 30, 2024
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
The science of stickiness: a molecular look at tape's adhesive and cohesive properties
Oct. 6, 2018
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This sand-and-water model confirms mathematical predictions about how groundwater moves through soil
July 5, 2021
Vented roofs are often called cold roofs because they are—(theoretically) cold from ventilation air
May 30, 2023

  

Window Openings

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The general idea of installing windows is to plug the big hole that you just cut in the wall.
Nov. 7, 2017
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A monolithic layer of protection for holes in walls
Feb. 22, 2020
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Water often finds its way into holes in the wall. It is your job to help it get out.
Feb. 23, 2018
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Putting a window in the hole means sealing around the edges, too
Jan. 22, 2018
Outsulation Exterior Insulation Retrofit Innie Windows
A deep energy retrofit in Concord, MA illustrates everything you need to know to bring a house to energy überville
July 5, 2016
Dan Morrison
Outie Window Installation Continuous Exterior Insulation 0
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

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Glue the rim joist, caulk the gaps, and overhang the wall sheathing to tighten this leaky building assembly
Sept. 29, 2017
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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
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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
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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.
March 14, 2016
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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
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Belt, suspenders, rainscreen, and redundancy make this wall awesome.
Sept. 18, 2020
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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

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Overlapping tapes with gravity in mind keeps water out of the house
April 24, 2018
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Roofs peel off from the edges, so it is critical to hold them tight
May 22, 2018
Moving air keeps unwanted heat and moisture out of your roof system
Dec. 13, 2017
Like an out-of-plumb wall, an insulated and unvented roof can work well—or not.
May 1, 2018
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Snap a line and stick to it
Nov. 16, 2023
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Decking the field and delegating responsibility
June 13, 2018
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The nuances of measuring are what separates the kids from the carpenters
March 7, 2024
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Tape layers should overlap shingle-style up the roof
June 19, 2018
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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

  

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