Superinsulation Can't Work if the Windows Leak

[SpoofBowl]

It is funny how emphatic so many novice builders are about making a connection between the window and the other materials through extremely close tolerances and caulking materials. I can tell you that doing what many who aren’t familiar with new construction insist upon, will lead to seized windows after the house settles and shrinks. In a year the owner will wonder why his windows are so dammed hard to open!

[HomeEnergyNow]

Just plugged some numbers into Remdesign. Going from R-15 walls (standard) to R-19 w/r-10 contiuous foam board, double the R-value, will save an 1800sqft home about 21$/year. All the BS they are doing with the walls, 2x6, two layers of foam, and all the little things that are affected, would easily add 10,000$ in cost. GreenBuildingProfitor thinks you should spend 10k to save 21$/year! Two options, they are extremely stupid, or they think you are. .0021 ROI, what an investors dream! LOL idiots

[yakrafter]

@HomeEnergyNow

I am not seeing anyting in your calcs about how much fossil fuels we saved or how much cleaner the air is as a result. I love building with foam, I have built a number of homes with 4" foam over timber and they work great. I have also done 2" foam over timber alone and it works good, but even if the cost difference has a payback time that may put it into the next owner, the cumfort and sound isolation cannot be matched.

[HomeEnergyNow]

@yakrafter It is the poorest of the top three insulations for sound isolation. But timber is a difficult construction style, I scratch my had at people building large homes in cold climates concerned about energy efficiency. New homes heat and cool using less than half of the energy pie, all of the useage is up to the occupant, not the home. I don't like the idea of popularizing petroleum products, wood and glass are solid products that have proven themselves to really last, not foam

[HomeEnergyNow]

You did "water control" before there is siding? Cause your an idiot "engineer" that thinks you need two weather barriers, doesnt know how to side a house properly. This is some of the most wastefull slapped together sorry excuses for building techniques I have ever seen. This is what happens when a bunch of fat lazy "thinkers" build a house. Let the "builders" build! Stay in your offices and print some more stupid ideas, like two layers of plastic foam so you can have 2' deep window wells.

[yakrafter]

@HomeEnergyNow

As a custom builder these details are not difficult to pull off. I usually add more wood at the window bump out but if it works, it works. A production builder may have trouble properly communicating, convincing and enforcing such techniques. It depends on their crews. Remember, this is a above average home for above average energy consumers. It is t show off what you can do. Energy is not always about $, for many it is about conservation/health/environmen­t.

[HomeEnergyNow]

What is your solution for bringing in fresh air? Will it last as long as the house?

[yakrafter]

@HomeEnergyNow

As you know fans are used or designed air entry and exit points can be used. Often intake is part of the heating system, so if your heating system fails in the winter you will know, if it fails in the fall or spring, you likely have windows open, if it fails in the summer, again windows open or if your AC is same ducting, fresh air will still come in as it blows. It's a Y off the return duct to the extorior/one way damper/Tuned (mechanically).

[HomeEnergyNow]

@yakrafter Any a/c guy will tell you, dampers don't last. And that type of system doesn't bring fresh air 24/7 like it should while providing zero energy savings, .35 ach without and HRV ERV is .35ach, no gain. People dont use windows like they used to. The people at GBA or green building corporation aren't D.R. Horton or K.B. home, those places build tens of thousands/year and they have real world proof of designs and savings, places like GBA use custom builders as test dummies.

[yakrafter]

@HomeEnergyNow

I assume you drive vehicle on the roads. Once you are going 65 on the highway and see a KS deer ahead, what is your solution for stopping? Will it last as long as the car?

[HomeEnergyNow]

@yakrafter Brakes have built in alarms, a device that squeels, some are electronic and flash a light. There is no reliable system to date that sounds an alarm if a fresh air system gets tainted or stops working properly. Cars are more and more becoming dummy proof for safety, more dummies have dwellings than cars. Passive hause is far superior than these hacks, but still, no reliable ERV has been implemented in either design, and you shouldn't sacrifice safety for efficiency.

[HomeEnergyNow]

When building codes come out they are based on costs and savings using energy prices and material costs in an attempt to make sure people don't spend alot to save a little. Basically anything built past building codes are typically spending a dollar to save a dime, "energy experts" will put themselves out of business if they don't stop pissing away customers money. Treat every enrgy upgrade in your house like an investment, if it doesn't bring 3-6% DON'T invest in it or you will lose money.

[petervick]

I have a feeling the gooey stuff and black thingy comments are tongue in cheek considering this is one of the foremost experts on building an energy efficient home in the country...

[HomeEnergyNow]

@petervick There is no "foremost experts" on energy efficient building. These office jockeys don't get real world construction. The house is going to be so tight it will require mechanical ventilation, in 15 years what are the odds the new homeowners know that if a little motor breaks somewhere their will be no fresh air in your house and it might kill you slowly. Houses that are tighter than .35 air changes/hour are retarded because they require a motor that WILL fail to bring in fresh air.

[yakrafter]

@HomeEnergyNow

1. These guys are at the top of their field and have been for decades.

2. They do have real world experience, though I am sure there are employees that have other strengths with minimal thumb hammering experience.

3. I personally agree that there is less risk in not tighting up the home so much, if a homeowner decides to have a electric system to provide their air, they need to check it, like your brakes. Alarms can be installed. Etc. But I agree on ACH, medium.

[HomeEnergyNow]

@yakrafterThat is the thing, they created their own "field" and they are using the govt. to grow and not demand. Building has improved with builders, especially production builders, not "green building advisors" or anybody that spent 10 years getting a phd and not building homes. Homes are different than cars in that they are a luxury, not everybody can drive, most have shelter, many are fools, therefore shelters wisely built are fool-proof. Cars are becoming that way for "safety"

[senorjorgegonzales]

are you applying the drywall to wet caulk, or are you allowing the caulk to cure and then putting it under compression when you install the drywall?

[2112CODA]

after you put the gooey stuff and trim the black thingy . Give me a break you moron



[JoeyToxic69]

Just foam it. You're worried about airtight but once the drywallers come in they tear up the vapor barrier around your outlets and around your windows with their routers. Not only that but if you use a novice insulator that leaves rounded corners on the poly, the drywallers will just cut the seal even if Tremco is applied.

[ba19231]

amateur!!!!