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INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT

ACOUSTICAL SEALANT CHOICES
AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS
ATTIC VENTILATION

BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER
BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION?

CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION
CEILINGS, DROP or SUSPENDED PANEL
CRAWL SPACES

DEHUMIDIFICATION PROBLEMS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT
DUCT INSULATION, ASBESTOS PAPER

FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION
Fiberboard Insulation Sheathing Mold
FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD
Fireproofing containing Asbestos
FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
FRAMING METAL STUD PERFORMANCE
FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING

HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET

ICE DAM PREVENTION
INSULATION AIR & HEAT LEAKS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
INSULATION CHOICES
INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
INSULATION MOLD
INSULATION R-Values & Properties

LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOG HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY

MOLD in FOAM INSULATION, RESISTANCE
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS

NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE

PASCAL CALCULATIONS

RADIANT BARRIERS
REFLECTIVE INSULATION
RIGID FOAM USE INDOORS

SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS
SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR
STAINS on & in BUILDINGS, CAUSES & CURES
STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION
STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS

Thermal Expansion Cracking of Brick
THERMAL IMAGING, THERMOGRAPHY
THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss
TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF

VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS

WALL CONSTRUCTION BARRIER vs CAVITY
WIND WASHING INSULATION At EAVES
WINTERIZE A BUILDING

More Information

  (C) Daniel Friedman Insulation Air Leaks on Brick Veneer Walls
     

  • BRICK VENEER WALL AIR LEAKS - 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
  • BRICK FOUNDATIONS & WALLS - separate article
  • BRICK STRUCTURAL WALLS Loose, Bulged - separate article
  • BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged - separate article
  • BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES - separate article
  • BRICK WALL INSULATION RETROFIT - separate article
  • BRICK WALL THERMAL EXPANSION CRACKS - separate article
  • Questions & Answers about brick veneer wall insulation & air leakage
  • References

Click to Show or Hide Related Topics

  • INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE - home
  • INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT - home
  • INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT - home
  • ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings
  • ASBESTOS-FREE INSULATION MATERIALS
  • ASBESTOS PIPE INSULATION
  • BALSAM WOOL BATT INSULATION
  • BLOCK WALL INSULATION RETROFIT
  • BLOWN-IN INSULATION
  • BRICK LINED WALLS
  • BRICK VENEER WALL AIR LEAKS
  • BRICK WALL INSULATION RETROFIT
  • CELLULOSE LOOSE FILL INSULATION
  • CERAMIC INSULATION
  • CONCRETE INSULATION, light-weight
  • COTTON INSULATION BATTS
  • DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE
  • FIBERGLASS INSULATION
  • FIBERGLASS HAZARDS
  • FOAM BOARD Insulation
  • FOAM INSULATION TYPES - Visual Id
  • FOAM INSULATION & INSECTS
  • HOMASOTE & OTHER INSULATING BOARDS
  • ICYNENE FOAM SPRAY INSULATION
  • MINERAL WOOL - ROCK WOOL INSULATION
  • PAPER INSULATION on DUCTS
  • PERLITE INSULATION
  • PHENOLIC FOAM INSULATION
  • POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM INSULATION
  • POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM BELOW SLABS
  • POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION
  • RADIANT BARRIERS
  • REFLECTIVE INSULATION
  • RIGID FOAM USE INDOORS
  • STRESS SKIN INSULATED PANELS
  • STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
  • SUPER HI-R INSULATION
  • SUPERINSULATION RETROFIT
  • UREA FORMALDEHYDE FOAM INSULATION UFFI
  • URETHANE FOAM
  • VERMICULITE INSULATION
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Brick veneer wall building insulation specifications & advice: 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. 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.

Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.

How Insulate Brick Veneer Walls

The question-and-answer article about insulating a brick veneer wall using foam board, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article 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:

Foam board insulation (C) Arlene Puentes Daniel FriedmanWith 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.

Readers should also see BRICK or BLOCK WALL CAVITY INSULATION and see our master list of insulation articles at INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT and also see AIR BYPASS LEAKS as well as AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION and finally, see AIR SEALING STRATEGIES.

Also see BRICK WALL THERMAL EXPANSION CRACKS.

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

  • Q & A: How to Keep Brick Veneer Construction Airtight? - PDF version, use your browser's back button to return to this page

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about how to insulate a brick veneer wall

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

  • 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."
  • Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
    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
  • 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.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • Home Reference Book - Carson DunlopThe Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

    Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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