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Discussing Insulation and Efficient Building Technology

Bob and Mark continue their tour of an unit under construction at the Cobb Hill Co-Housing project. Mark explains to Bob that the moisture barrier on the wall is reinforced polyethylene with a dense packed cellulose blown behind it. The insulation provides an R-Factor of R-25. The wall is a 2" by 8" using studs manufactured in Canada. These "open web studs", which are finger jointed spruce on the side with an OSB web in the middle, provide a very efficient use of materials at a cost comparable to an eastern 2" x 8" stud.

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Clip Transcript For:

Discussing Insulation and Efficient Building Technology

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Now what kind of moisture barriers is this. That -- in a law this is a reinforced polyethylene. We have dense packed cellulose blown behind it. So why does it have to have the reinforcing. It's just a strengthening mechanism and it gives a little more purchase to these staples that are stapled in on the side of the stud here why they stapled on the sides instead of just on the face of the stud well if you were stapling them into the face. And blowing the cellulose behind them it would have a tendency to bridge over the the face of the stud and make the sheet rock got your application bumpy bumpy OK so what's the r-factor you get here. This will give about an R-25 25 when what what size wall is it It's a two by eight by wall. Two by eight. Okay that's a lot of is it this system here this is a stud Quote that we use that's manufactured in Canada. It's finger jointed spruce on the sides and and OSB web in the middle. So that the weight is not much. No it's a very efficient use of -- material well the cost of probably affordable it's comparable to an eastern two by eight stud coming tell me what it's called again. It's an open web stud open web studs great. All right so then we're in the kitchen here the rest of the space is all open planned great room fabulous back ."

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Spraying in Closed-Cell Insulation

Bob is joined by Jim Remick of Nickerson -Remick insulation contractors. Remick tells Bob that this NCFI-Honeywell insulation technology is more and more in demand from builders and contractors. When the liquid insulation hits the wall, the two chemicals react causing it to expand. This closed-cell foam is a moisture, vapor, and air barrier that sets up in a matter of seconds. It will be 95 percent cured in 4 hours, and 100 percent cure in just 24 hours. Once cured, it will give an R Value of 21, which is exceptional. It can only be applied in open cavities because it expands away from the exterior wall and would completely blow off existing wall treatments. There is no need for an added moisture barrier with this closed-cell insultaion. It will provide twice the insulation value, or R factor, but cost three to four times as much to install as average insulation. But the heat savings should be 30 to 50 percent over any other insulation product, bringing rapid payback for intitial installation costs.

2x4 R15 Factor

When insulating typical 2x4 wall construction an R factor of R11 or R13 is used. To comply with Energy Star requirements, use an R15. This is the highest r value you can have in a 2x4 wall. The higher rating is achieved by adding more fiberglass to the blanket, allowing it to trap more cold air.

Blowing In Cellulose Insulation

Bob meets up with Joe Sheridan from Energy Guard to learn more about the US Greenfiber Cocoon cellulose insulation application that is taking place in the barn. This is not a do-it-yourself process. A mesh material is first attached behind the wall cavities to hold the cellulose in place until the drywall is applied. The cellulose is essentially ground up newspaper treated during the manufacturing process with borates to resist fungus growth. It's mixed with a litle moisture and blown into the stud cavities. Product that falls onto the ground is vacuumed up and sucked back to the truck where it is remixed and blown back out. While one installer blows the insulation in, a second man follows with a stud scrubber, leveling the cellulose with the studs. The goal is to create a tight fit eliminating air movement through the wall. One can achieve an R-factor of R-13 in a 2 x 4 wall and an R-21 in a 2 x 6 wall, R-factors that will be maintained even in extreme temperatures. Within 24 hours after application the moisture content drops below 25% allowing sheetrocking to proceed. Another benefit of the product is sound attenuation. Upstairs in the attic, Joe's crew is doing a dry application. The cellulose is blown in under pressure. The hose is fed down to the bottom of the cavity and pulled back as it fills up. A proper vent in the ceiling is not necessary because the insulation is so dense that air doesn't travel through the insulation and miosture therefore never gets out to the roof sheathing. The price of the Cocoon product is comparable to fiberglass insulation.

Precast Concrete Foundation Installation

Bob Vila meets with Jim Costello from Superior Walls of America to discuss the difference between precast panels delivered to the site and a traditional poured concrete foundation. The precast panel is made of an outside shell wall of high strength concrete combined with rebar reinforced concrete pillars. The ten-inch thick pillars give a look similar to a traditional stud wall with Styrofoam insulation. Pressure treated furring strips attached to the pillars make drywall or paneling easy to attach. The panels have an R factor, the measure of a materials resistance to the passage of heat, of 5 (concrete block has an R factor of about 2). Polyurethane caulk with special concrete adhesives is added between each panel to insure a tight seal. The panels are attached to each other and the base with pre-installed saddle bolts. A typical home�s installation takes about five hours and without having to wait for the foundation to set or dry, contractors can begin framing immediately. The walls are guaranteed for 15 years compared to poured concrete walls, which generally have a warranty of one year.