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

Brick veneer wall building insulation specifications & advice:

Tthis 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.

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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 and IAQ), 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.

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

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2017-02-08 by M. Liota

What is the best insulation and vapor barrier for a brick veneer wood framed house that has Blackboard behind the brick?
Thank you


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BRICK VENEER WALL AIR LEAKS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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