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Insulation Air Leaks on Brick Veneer Walls InspectAPedia®  -     How do we install rigid foam insulation on a brick veneer wall without air and heat leaks at the punctures where the foam is tied to the wall studs? Puncturing foam board insulation causes heat loss? Insulation advice for interior walls, stairs, plumbing fixtures

This article discusses the installation of foam board insulation behind brick veneer walls, and the question of air leaks at the brick ties to the wall. The accompanying text is reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Our page top photo shows a brick veneer building undergoing demolition - the brick veneer wall ties are visible if you click to enlarge the photograph. No exterior insulation had been installed on this 1950's building at Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, NY.

Readers should also see the master list of insulation articles at INSULATION & VENTILATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT and also see AIR BYPASS LEAKS as well as AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION and finally, see AIR SEALING STRATEGIES.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

How Insulate Brick Veneer Walls

The link to the original Q&A article in PDF form immediately below is followed by an expanded/updated online version of this article.

• Q & A: How to Keep Brick Veneer Construction Airtight? - PDF form, what about the holes caused by the ties from brick to the wall studs?

The question-and-answer article about insulating a brick veneer wall using foam board, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article, (see links just above) from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

How do You Keep Brick Veneer Construction Airtight?

Question:

How do you keep brick veneer construction airtight and well insulated when the ties from the brick to the wall studs puncture the rigid foam insulation board and the building's vapor barrier? -- Harold Murray, Bowie MD

Answer:

With a high-density rigid foam board insulation such as extruded polystyrene (see POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION), or foil faced polyisocyanurate insulating board (see POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM INSULATION), the brick veneer wall ties can be placed on the surface of the foam sheathing and nailed through to the wall studs.

Our photo (left) of foam insulating sheating board was provided courtesy of Arlene Puentes.

This is in accordance with FHA Bulletin 71 for single- and two-family residences.

In especially windy conditions, it may be advisable to increase the number of brick veneer wall ties or use higher-density insulation.

Another option is to nail the ties directly to the studs between each 24-inch course of rigid insulation board.

In any case, the vapor barrier on the warm side of the building wall will not be affected.

Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

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INSULATION & VENTILATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
INTERIORS of BUILDINGS
ACOUSTICAL SEALANTS
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
AIR BYPASS LEAKS
AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS
AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION
AIR SEALING STRATEGIES
ANIMAL ALLERGENS
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS
ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD
ATTIC VENTILATION
BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
BASEMENT LEAKS Moisture or Mold
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
BATHROOM VENTILATION
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BRICK LINED WALLS
BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION?
CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT BUILDINGS
CRAWL SPACES
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
FIBERGLASS INSULATION
FIBERGLASS HAZARDS
FIBERGLASS MOLD
FIREPLACE Damage & Unsafe Hearths - Settlement
FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold
FLOORING TYPES & DEFECTS
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING
HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
HEAT LOSS CALCULATIONS
HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS
HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
Heat Tapes: Use on Roofs for Ice
HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
ICE DAM PREVENTION
Ice Dams: Comparing Two Houses
INSULATION CHOICES
INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE
INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENTS
INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES
INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM
INSULATION MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION MOLD
INSULATION R-Values & Properties
INSULATION & VENTILATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
  INSULATION R-Values & Properties
  Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking
  AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS
  AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION
  AIR SEAL STRATEGIES
  Asbestos Identification in Buildings
  ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
  BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
  Blocked Soffit Intake Vents
  BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
  BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION
  CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
  ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
  ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
  FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
  FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
  Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold
  Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold
  Inspect Building Exterior
  Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic
  Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic
  Insulation Air & Heat Leaks
  INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM
  INSULATION CHOICES
  INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE
  INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENTS
  INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES
  INSULATION R-Values & Properties
  Insulation Values of Log Home Walls
  POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM INSULATION
  POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION
  RADIANT BARRIERS
  RIGID FOAM USE INDOORS
  ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS
  ROOF VENTING NEEDED?
  PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN METHOD
  PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE
  PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS
  SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR
  Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UFFI
  VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
  VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
  URETHANE FOAM Deterioration, Outgassing
  Vermiculite Insulation
LOG HOME GUIDE
MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
Mold Growth Resistance of Foam Insulation
MOLD INFORMATION CENTER
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION
PLASTER & BEAVERBOARD & DRYWALL
RADIANT BARRIERS
RADIANT HEAT
RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid
RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES
RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
ROT, TIMBER FRAME
SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS
SEARS KIT HOUSES
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN METHOD
  PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE
  PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS
  SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR
  SOLAR COLLECTOR AIR or GAS COLLECTION
  SOLAR COLLECTOR FILMS
  SOLAR COLLECTOR WOOD HOUSINGS
  SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
  SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS
  SOLAR HOUSE EVALUATION
SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS
STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS
STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS
SUMP PUMPS GUIDE
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS
THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss
VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
WINDOWS & DOORS
WINTERIZE A BUILDING
WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves

• Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
  
• Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
  Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS, and other topics.
• Arlene Puentes is a licensed home inspector, past chapter president of the Hudson Valley chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors, an educator, and building failures researcher in Kingston, NY. Contact Arlene Puentes at: ap@octoberhome.htm or at 845-339-7984.

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