Details in 4D

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

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