Course Description:

The roof-to-wall connection is one of the most technically demanding transitions in the building enclosure. It’s where air barrier systems have to hand off across assemblies, where thermal continuity is most at risk of being broken, and where the sequencing of work has real consequences for long-term durability. It’s also the transition that tends to get resolved on the fly; often with results that are hard to inspect and harder to fix.

In this live studio broadcast, RDH Building Science specialist James Bourget deconstructs a roof-to-wall mock-up to show how air barrier transition detailing, thermal continuity, and ceiling penetrations all come together and where they commonly fall short. Participants will see how the sequence and timing of this transition affects buildability, and how to maintain venting for both the wall and the roof without sacrificing airtightness.

The session also covers airtight options for ceiling penetrations through polyethylene air/vapor barriers in vented attic assemblies, including practical approaches to screening and sealing that hold up over time. Drawing on field experience across a range of residential building types, James walks through the decision points that matter most and the details that are worth standardizing on your next project.

This session is ideal for builders, architects, and trades looking to get the roof-to-wall transition right the first time, and to understand why sequence and timing at this interface make all the difference.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the sequence and timing of air barrier transition detailing.
2. Understand how to maintain venting for both the roof and the wall to support long-term durability.
3. Identify airtight options for ceiling penetrations through the polyethylene air/vapor barrier with vented attic.
4. Recognize how the sequence and timing of roof-to-wall transition detailing affects thermal continuity and the overall effectiveness of the building enclosure air barrier strategy.

PRESENTED BY: James Bourget | RDH Building Science

This webinar is Part 5 of RDH’s five-part High-Performance Enclosures series.