Framing

Tie the walls to the foundation, the floor to the walls, and add shear strength for lateral support

Better insulation, drier walls, lower HERS scores, and labor savings.

A collection of five videos on a Passive House Retrofit in Sharon, CT (climate zone 5) executed by Ben Bogie, Built to Last, LLC

Keep mechanical equipment within the envelope to improve the quality of houses and homes

The most effective (and easiest) time to detail the air barrier is during the framing stage. If it isn't specified during design, ain't no way the framers are gonna get it right.

A collection of details that make sense for most framers to incorporate into their SOP—based on feedback from framers who do it a lot.

Six tips for clean and accurate decking cuts

18 Videos, articles, and animations showing you how to get through Section 1 of the Energy Star Thermal Bypass Checklist: continuity between the air barrier system and the thermal envelope.

The non-structural requirements are pretty simple for guard rails: if there's a fall hazard, make a guard, and keep it such that it will actually stop people from falling.