Insulation & Air Sealing

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

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Framing

Bucking Out a Door for Continuous Exterior Insulation

To provide nailing for flanges or door jambs, weave lumber bucks into the exterior insulation
April 25, 2023
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Tyvek Retrofit on a Wall with Windows Already Installed

Seal the WRB to the wall sheathing and window flashing, and add an apron detail at the bottom
Aug. 30, 2021
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Insulation & Air Sealing

The ptc@home Continuous Exterior Insulation Detail

The process for installing continuous exterior insulation over 1x6 T&G sheathing with existing windows
March 28, 2023
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Insulation & Air Sealing

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
Dec. 10, 2020
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Exterior Insulation Guide: Cold Climate

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
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WRB & Flashing

Innie Window Details for Walls with Thick Exterior Insulation

Recessed into thick layers of insulation, innie windows are protected from the weather
Nov. 7, 2016
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Insulation & Air Sealing

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
Oct. 10, 2016
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Roofing

Exterior Roof Insulation Retrofit (Vented Roof)

#ÜberRoof: A site-built ventilated SIP roof sandwich.
Sept. 17, 2015
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Insulation & Air Sealing

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.
Oct. 15, 2015

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

Installing Innie Windows Continuous Exterior Insulation
Windows & Doors

Innie Window Installation, Exterior Foam Insulation Retrofit

A deep energy retrofit in Concord, MA illustrates everything you need to know to bring a house to energy überville
July 21, 2022
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Insulation & Air Sealing

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.
March 29, 2018
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Insulation & Air Sealing

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

The second layer of foam is the air barrier and drainage plane.
Oct. 1, 2015
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Windows & Doors

Installing European Windows

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

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Roofing

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...
Jan. 15, 2016
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Insulation & Air Sealing

How Much Heat Really Leaks Out of the Attic Hatch of an Insulated Ceiling?

Dr. Bailes does the math
Jan. 30, 2024

How To Videos: Continuous Exterior Insulation for Outie Windows

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Insulation & Air Sealing

SuperInsulated Sunroom (5): Outer Foam and Airsealing Tapes

Offset the joints and seal the gaps to keep air leaks out of the thick walls
Sept. 12, 2016
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Superinsulated Sunroom (4): Installing Outie Flanged Windows

Windows cannot rest on the foam, so they hang from wood bucks
Aug. 15, 2016
Dan Morrison
Outie Window Installation Continuous Exterior Insulation 0
video

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
July 20, 2023
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Superinsulated Sunroom (3): Flashing an Outie Window

Wide tape spans the many layers of a thick wall to make an air tight and water tight seal
July 25, 2016
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Superinsulated Sunroom (1): Exterior Foam Layer

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
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Superinsulated Sunroom (2): Nail Bucks for (Outie) Flanged Windows

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

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Siding & Exterior Trim

Siding Installation Using Truexterior Nickle Gap (ptc@home 6)

A polyash shiplap siding that is environmentally polite and durable as heck
Sept. 16, 2023
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Siding & Exterior Trim

Exterior Window Trim Out on Walls With Exterior Foam Insulation (ptc@home part 5)

Window trimout is probably the trickiest part of installing exterior trim work over two inches of styrofoam
Sept. 3, 2023
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Siding & Exterior Trim

Exterior Trimout Strategy for Walls (ptc@home, IV)

Installing skirtboard, corners, window trim and utility blocks over two inches of foam insulation and rainscreen mesh
April 30, 2022
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Exterior insulation and Rainscreen Retrofit on a 1950's Cape (ptc@home, part 3)

How to install two layers of foam and Tyvek's Drainvent rainscreen over an old, lightly-insulated wall.
April 23, 2022
Insulation & Air Sealing

ptc@home: Exterior Insulation Retrofit and Siding Replacement

How to significantly cut energy use when residing a home
April 9, 2022
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Insulation & Air Sealing

Welcome to ptc@home Overview

Replacing the siding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to upgrade the energy performance of a home
Aug. 11, 2023
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WRB & Flashing

Retrofitting Tyvek on a House with Existing Windows (ptc@home part 2)

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

Dan Morrison
Replace A Window Wall Continuous Insulation Foam
WRB & Flashing

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...
Oct. 10, 2024
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Framing

How to Install A New Flanged Window into an Existing WRB, Part 3: Reframing and Flashing

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
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Siding & Exterior Trim

New Flanged Window in an Old Wall, Part 4: Final Insulating and Trim-Out

Replacing the exterior foam parts and trimming out the exterior
March 7, 2022
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WRB & Flashing

New Window, Old Wall 2: How to Surgically Remove An Old Window Without Destroying the Air Barrier

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
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WRB & Flashing

How to Install A New Flanged Window in an Old Wall 1: Overview

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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