Building Envelope Handbook

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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Framing

A Slick Transition from Foundation Insulation to Wall Sheathing

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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Framing

Air Seal Wall Sheathing to the Foundation

One of the biggest air leaks in a house is where the wood meets the concrete

Jan. 7, 2021

Concrete & Masonry

Handbook: A Floating Insulated Subfloor For Slab On Grade Construction

Five videos about how to install a subfloor over thick insulation without sleepers.

May 13, 2022

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Concrete & Masonry

Drone Zone 2: Foundation Waterproofing and Drainage Solutions

A peek at interior and exterior foundation waterproofing in one single house

June 7, 2017

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Concrete & Masonry

Monolithic Slab Edge Insulation for Warm and Hot Climates

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

May 9, 2016

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Concrete & Masonry

Frost-Protected Monolithic Slab

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

July 11, 2016

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Concrete & Masonry

How to Pour an Insulated Floating Slab

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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Concrete & Masonry

Retrofitting Hydronic Heating into an Uninsulated Basement Slab

Direct the heat toward the feet

Aug. 10, 2016

Engineering and Design Considerations

Insulation & Air Sealing

Air Barriers: 7 Minutes of BS—Building Science, Syncopated

You can't simply go down to the hardware store and buy a box labeled air barrier

Aug. 22, 2018

Roofing

Vapor Permeance: 7 Minutes of BS—Building Science w/a Beat

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

Insulation & Air Sealing

Thermal Bridging: A Podcast About BS (#buildingscience)

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

HVAC & Mechanicals

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): 7 Minutes of BS

A three-pronged solution to indoor pollution: Isolate, eliminate, and ventilate

Oct. 18, 2017

Insulation & Air Sealing

Flood Resistant Construction: 7 Minutes of BS

If you can't build to stay dry, build to tolerate wet

Sept. 30, 2024

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Design

Lstiburek on Water: It is Unbalanced, Crazy—and Beautiful

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

WRB & Flashing

ViscoElasticity: 7 Minutes of BS (#BuildingScience)

The science of stickiness: a molecular look at tape's adhesive and cohesive properties

Oct. 6, 2018

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Sitework

How Groundwater Moves

This sand-and-water model confirms mathematical predictions about how groundwater moves through soil

July 5, 2021

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Roofing

Hot Roof, Cold Roof: Where Did the Terms Come From? (7 Minutes of BS)

Vented roofs are often called cold roofs because they are—(theoretically) cold from ventilation air

May 30, 2023

Window Openings

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WRB & Flashing

A Window Install in a Thick ZIP Wall

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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WRB & Flashing

Liquid Flashing a Window Opening in a Double-Stud Wall

A monolithic layer of protection for holes in walls

Feb. 22, 2020

Construction Phase

A Better Way to Let Windows Drain

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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WRB & Flashing

The Model ReModel Show: Plugging Holes in the Wall

Putting a window in the hole means sealing around the edges, too

Jan. 22, 2018

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Insulation & Air Sealing

Innie Window Installation On an Exterior Foam Retrofit

A deep energy retrofit in Concord, MA illustrates everything you need to know to bring a house to energy überville

July 5, 2016

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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

Floor and Wall Construction Details

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Framing

Airseal the Rim Joist and Wall Framing Connection

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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Framing

Basic Wall Framing (2): Sheathing Framed Walls

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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Insulation & Air Sealing

Flashing Pipes, Framing, and Exhaust Vents in Exterior Walls

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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Insulation & Air Sealing

Airtight Drywall: Step by Step

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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Framing

Weaving a Deck Ledger into a Wall With Thick ZIP Panels

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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Siding & Exterior Trim

Awesome Wall: Because Sometimes We Screw Up

Belt, suspenders, rainscreen, and redundancy make this wall awesome.

Sept. 18, 2020

Framing

Double Wall Framing Guide

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