Which two strategies are commonly used to reduce thermal bridging in wood-framed walls?

• A. Using fiberglass batts only in the interior
• B. Continuous exterior insulation (CEI) and reduced-stud spacing or advanced framing
• C. Increasing stud spacing beyond standard
• D. Eliminating sheathing

Answer: (B)

Thermal bridging happens when wood framing, like studs, conducts heat more readily than the insulated cavities around it, creating cold spots and reducing the wall’s overall insulating performance. The most effective way to cut this bridging is to make the insulation continuous and reduce the amount of wood that interrupts it. Continuous exterior insulation wraps around the outside of the wall, so heat must pass through a long, uninterrupted layer rather than through individual studs. Advanced framing techniques further minimize bridging by reducing the amount of wood in the wall assembly (for example, using fewer studs or wider spacing), which lowers the total area where heat can bypass insulation.

Combining continuous exterior insulation with reduced-stud spacing or other advanced-framing techniques targets both the external path of heat flow and the internal framing, delivering a larger reduction in thermal bridging than either approach alone. Interior-only insulation or removing sheathing wouldn’t address the external bridging paths and would weaken the wall, while simply increasing stud spacing without the exterior insulation strategy doesn’t provide the same level of continuous protection.