Oakes winner
Janna Diggs
| Roof vents New roof vents allow moisture to vent in the winter and lessen heat buildup in the summer in the attic. |  |
| Attic bypass Brandon Swanson Construction sealed this attic bypass with sheet metal and high-temperature caulking to reduce heat loss and condensation. |
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| New windows Blower door tests indicated severe cold air infiltration through upstairs windows. Replacement windows in the Diggs home reduce air leakage from the outside and hold in heat. |
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| Reinstalled window Installing windows properly is critical. This window now functions properly and stops cold air infiltration the way it's supposed to. Brandon Swanson Construction of Oakes , North Dakota , removed the window because of cold air leaks and properly reinstalled it for greater energy efficiency. |
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| Rim joist area In one step, sprayed-on urethane foam seals off cold air infiltration from the outside and helps hold heat inside the Diggs home. |
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| Attic access Insulation and weather stripping added to this attic access door reduce energy loss from the heated living space to the cold, unconditioned attic. |
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| Exterior doors - before Entry doors in the Oakes, North Dakota, home leaked air and lacked any internal insulation properties. |
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| Exterior doors - after New entry doors featuring steel construction with foam insulated cores seal the home from cold-air leaks. The large insulated glass area with southern exposure allows the homeowner to take advantage of solar heat gain. |
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| Attic insulation Brandon Swanson from Brandon Swanson Construction blows cellulose insulation into the floor joist cavities after first sealing each joist space between the unheated attic and the conditioned living space with two-inch extruded polystyrene insulation. Using urethane foam from a spray can to seal around each piece of insulation further prevents warm air from escaping from the heated living space into the cold attic space. Insulating the floor joist cavities behind upstairs knee walls is an excellent way to reduce heat loss, save energy, and help reduce ice dam problems. |
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