Design & Construction Resources
How to install dense-pack insulation with interior airtight membranes
There are several common questions regarding the installation of dense-pack cellulose in conjunction with the installation of INTELLO PLUS, INTELLO X, and DB+ airtight membrane(s) / humidity dependent vapor retarders. ...
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The Smoketight Sanctuary
Wildfire smoke is on the rise across the U.S., with some studies suggesting a 27-fold increase in exposure over the past decade. And the threat isn’t limited to the West...
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Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Foundation to Wall
This blog is part of a series about air barrier transitions to help continuity. Check out Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Applied Rafter Tails, and Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Floor Transitions The...
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Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Floor Transitions
This blog is part of a series about air barrier transitions to help continuity. Check out Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Applied Rafter Tails, and Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Foundation to Wall...
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Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Applied Rafter Tails
This blog is part of a series about air barrier transitions to help continuity. Check out Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Floor Transitions, and Air Barrier Transitions Simplified: Foundation to Wall...
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Exterior Window Taping
This blog is part of a series about high-performance window installs: Part 1: How to Prep the Rough Opening Part 2: Positioning the Window in the Rough Opening Exterior Sill...
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Prefab & Panelized On The Rise
Constructing a home is chaos management. Disparate trades struggle to coordinate ever-changing schedules and budgets. The uncertainties can be endless, and the entire process can feel overwhelming and intimidating. Enter:...
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Positioning the Window in the Rough Opening
This blog is part of a series about high-performance window installs: Part 1: How to Prep the Rough Opening Part 3: Exterior Window Taping After the window’s rough opening has...
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How To Prep Rough Openings
This blog is part of a series about high-performance window installs: Part 2: Positioning the Window in the Rough Opening Part 3: Exterior Window Taping Apply WRB The window/door rough...
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How to Seal Air Barrier Penetrations
In even the tightest building envelope there will always be intentional holes in the air barrier. Common penetrations are plumbing pipes, vent pipes, wire penetrations, and outlet boxes. 475 offers...
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How To Use The AEROFIXX Spray And Seal Airtightness Tool
The AEROFIXX spray and seal application tool makes quick work of difficult and hard-to-reach air sealing jobs. It connects to standard compressors to easily apply liquid-applied airtight membranes anywhere from...
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Four Key Reasons for Building with a Vented Rainscreen
When looking for the essential nature of construction, the architect Louis Kahn famously said: 'What do you want, brick?' Today, in looking at the nature of high-performance building enclosures, we...
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5 Tricks of the Trade For Thick, Dense-Packed Walls Behind Pro Clima Membranes
With contributions by Matthew Brennan, National Sales Manager at Thermocell; Jesse Matthews, Quality Control at RDH (formerly carpenter at The Fourth Pig Green and Natural Construction). At 475, a large...
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The Ten Golden Rules for Foam-Free Flat Roofs
When insulating a flat roof wood structure, 475's goal, as always, is to do it in the most healthy, structurally sound, durable, and ecologically friendly way—achieving truly high performance. This...
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The Double-Stud Wall Simplified: Low Cost, High Performance
Low Cost High Performance Simplify. The double-stud wall is a well established method for creating a very economical, durable and high R-value assembly in new construction - and is one...
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How To Prepare For High Performance Windows
Windows might make you nervous. They're often big and heavy, yet fragile. And in a high performance building, windows are the most expensive components. But that investment in great windows...
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An Interior Air Barrier Does It Better
Ever tempted to wear your underwear over your pants? Neither are we! But when it comes to buildings, we’re seeing a lot of common practices that are equally backwards. It...
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How To Make that Old Leaky Masonry Row House Airtight
The historic masonry row house (or "brownstone" as we call it here in New York) is a common contributor to the character in many cities and small towns. When renovating...
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How to Keep Floor Beams Where They Should be - Inside the Airtight Layer
You know the air barrier must be continuous, without interruption around the entirety of the conditioned space - inboard of the main insulation layer, thereby keeping the conditioned air within...
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5 Steps For Sealing Intentional Holes in Your Air Barrier
A continuous air barrier is one of the defining design details of Passive House and high-performance building. The red line that many of us draw on blueprints to indicate the...
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