InspectAPedia®   -   Search InspectApedia

Basement heat loss (C) Daniel Friedman Box Header Construction over Windows, Doors - Framing Tips Save Building Energy Costs

How to frame box corners & headers to save energy:

This article discusses building a thermally sound structural shell to save energy, using the two-stud corner and plywood box headers.

We explain the use of box headers over building openings as a way to reduce framing costs and improve building energy efficiency.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Box Header Construction Framing Details

Building framing details permit continus insulation and energy savings (C) Daniel FriedmanSketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

"The Two-Stud Corner and Other Tricks: these simple modifications in framing add insulation and and reduce costs" - links to the original article in PDF form immediately below are followed by an expanded/updated online version of this article.

This article explains how the two-stud corner framing detail permits full insulation to be installed to the building corner in a wood-framed structure. Included with the explanatory text are sketches such as shown at page top and at left.

The builder uses steel drywall clips or a 1x3 wooden backer to secure drywall in the building corner where the third stud is eliminated.

To improve the building insulation blanket at headers over windows and doors, the builder uses short cripple studs over the opening, converted into a structural beam by addition of 1/2" plywood sheathing on both sides, gluing and nailing the plywood in place to form a rigid box beam.

Don't forget to insulate between the cripple studs before nail-gluing the enclosing plywood. This box beam design can easily extend over a six-foot sliding door while meeting residential structural loads.

(See Technical note No. C 426 published by the American Plywood Association).

If you are using foil faced insulating sheathing on the building wall exterior, also see SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS.

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.

Original article in PDF form:


...

Continue reading at FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

Suggested citation for this web page

FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ENERGY SAVINGS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Questions & answers or comments about how to construct box headers over windows & doors: energy savings methods.

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.

Comment Form is loading comments...

 

IF above you see "Comment Form is loading comments..." then COMMENT BOX - countable.ca / bawkbox.com IS NOT WORKING.

In any case you are welcome to send an email directly to us at InspectApedia.com at editor@inspectApedia.com

We'll reply to you directly. Please help us help you by noting, in your email, the URL of the InspectApedia page where you wanted to comment.

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.


ADVERTISEMENT