Build Your Home Ideas

Completed Air Barrier So here is a run though of the important connections of our air barrier as we begin to prep for our 1st blower door test: 1) Sub Slab Radon Barrier  - We installed a complete single sheet radon barrier before we laid down the sub slab insulation. This barrier was sealed and taped to the ICF foundation wall --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Basement Wall - The inner most EPS foam of the ICF will serve as the air barrier from the radon barrier to the rim joist.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Rim Joist - (See previous Post on the Rim Joist  HERE ) Before laying the flooring system we draped Solitex Mento over the poured ICF wall. This is what us Passive House Tradesmen call the " Floppy Bit ". The Mento wrapped the rim board and was sealed to our above grade wall with Vana Tape....

Trusses and Roof Structure Truss design plays an important role in the passive house envelope. Mainly to allow the high levels of insulation required, a very tall "heal" is required. We will need 24 inches of insulation in our entire attic - outside edge of outside wall to outside edge of outside wall.  So here is our list of design characteristics:  24" heal height at outer wall 24" over hang from outer wall interior wall is load bearing simple design (cost savings) Flat ceiling In order to meet the heal height requirement of 24" (and still leave space for attic ventilation) we need the roof pitch to be greater than 34 degrees. This led us to a 10/12 pitch on our roof - and the Grater Architects recommended it to us for aesthetics. And I must agree, it fits the house very well! The trouble with such a large truss, is shipping limitations. The manufacturer (Morse Lumber ) can only ship a maximum of 12 feet, so we had to do a "piggy back" truss on the ...