Continuous Exterior Insulation Guide

Use continuous exterior insulation to wrap old homes with cold bones

Insulation & Air Sealing

November 04, 2022

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continuous-exterior-insulation-system.jpg

continuous-exterior-insulation-system.jpg

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

March 28, 2023

Updated: July 13, 2023

The ptc@home Continuous Exterior Insulation Detail

The process for installing continuous exterior insulation over 1x6 T&G sheathing with existing windows

Insulation & Air Sealing

October 10, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

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

Insulation & Air Sealing

Windows & Doors

November 7, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

Innie Window Details for Walls with Thick Exterior Insulation

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

Windows & Doors

April 25, 2023

Updated: July 13, 2023

Bucking Out a Door for Continuous Exterior Insulation

To provide nailing for flanges or door jambs, weave lumber bucks into the exterior insulation

Insulation & Air Sealing

December 10, 2020

Updated: June 15, 2023

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

Insulation & Air Sealing

September 17, 2015

Updated: June 15, 2023

Exterior Roof Insulation Retrofit (Vented Roof)

#ÜberRoof: A site-built ventilated SIP roof sandwich.

Insulation & Air Sealing

October 15, 2015

Updated: June 15, 2023

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.

Insulation & Air Sealing

August 30, 2021

Updated: January 3, 2024

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

Insulation & Air Sealing

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

June 11, 2015

Updated: June 15, 2023

Installing European Windows

These triple-glazed vinyl windows use brackets to secure the window to the framing. A "flashing flange" helps align the window

Windows & Doors

March 29, 2018

Updated: July 17, 2023

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.

Insulation & Air Sealing

Siding & Exterior Trim

October 1, 2015

Updated: July 17, 2023

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

The second layer of foam is the air barrier and drainage plane.

Insulation & Air Sealing

July 21, 2022

Updated: May 21, 2024

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

Windows & Doors

Jobsite Handbooks

How To Videos: Continuous Exterior Insulation for Outie Windows

July 11, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

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

Insulation & Air Sealing

July 20, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

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.

Insulation & Air Sealing

Windows & Doors

July 25, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

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

Insulation & Air Sealing

Windows & Doors

August 15, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

Superinsulated Sunroom (4): Installing Outie Flanged Windows

Windows cannot rest on the foam, so they hang from wood bucks

Insulation & Air Sealing

Windows & Doors

September 12, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

SuperInsulated Sunroom (5): Outer Foam and Airsealing Tapes

Offset the joints and seal the gaps to keep air leaks out of the thick walls

Insulation & Air Sealing

July 20, 2023

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

Windows & Doors

Insulation & Air Sealing

Jobsite Handbooks

Articles on Continuous Exterior Insulation: The Science Behind the Concepts

January 15, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

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 don't pick up their pens and trace at the design stage.

Insulation & Air Sealing

Siding & Exterior Trim

Glues, Sealants, Coatings

Zones 3, 4, & 5

January 30, 2024

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

Dr. Bailes does the math

Insulation & Air Sealing

Exterior Insulation Retrofit KEEPING the Existing Windows

August 11, 2023

Welcome to ptc@home Overview

Replacing the siding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to upgrade the energy performance of a home

Insulation & Air Sealing

Siding & Exterior Trim

August 19, 2023

Updated: August 21, 2023

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

April 22, 2022

Updated: July 26, 2023

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.

Insulation & Air Sealing

April 30, 2022

Updated: July 26, 2023

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

Siding & Exterior Trim

September 3, 2023

Updated: September 11, 2023

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

Siding & Exterior Trim

Trimwork & Cabinetry

September 16, 2023

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

A polyash shiplap siding that is environmentally polite and durable as heck

Siding & Exterior Trim

April 9, 2022

Updated: May 21, 2024

ptc@home: Exterior Insulation Retrofit and Siding Replacement

How to significantly cut energy use when residing a home

Insulation & Air Sealing

Siding & Exterior Trim

How To Videos: Replacing a Window in a Wall That Was Upgraded With Continuous Insulation 25 Years Ago

January 31, 2022

Updated: August 8, 2023

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)

Windows & Doors

February 7, 2022

Updated: August 8, 2023

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)

Windows & Doors

February 21, 2022

Updated: August 8, 2023

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

Windows & Doors

March 7, 2022

Updated: August 8, 2023

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

Replacing the exterior foam parts and trimming out the exterior

Siding & Exterior Trim

October 10, 2024

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 seen very often.

Windows & Doors

Jobsite Handbooks

Insulation & Air Sealing

Jobsite Handbooks