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IN DEPTH: Insulation and Housewrap

Changes to insulation techniques and products also are being driven by homebuyers, adds Deb Pyle, residential marketing manager at DuPont. “The energy perspective is what is driving builders and consumers these days,” she says. “Interestingly enough, we’re getting as many consumer inquiries about products, and they are telling their builders and contractors to use more insulation in their homes for remodeling and new construction both. They’ve been good advocates for us.”

Allen Sealock, ZIP system product manager at Huber Engineered Woods, agrees but notes that awareness is not yet universal. “Everyone is getting smarter about energy efficiency, but mainstream homebuyers still don’t know or care about their blower-door scores. There is a long way to go to achieve full awareness of how building materials and systems play a role in reducing energy use or increasing long-term performance of the overall structure as well as its parts.”

That push from homebuyers encourages builders to consider new options. “Builders want to know about new products that can help them build more energy-efficient, comfortable and durable homes,” says Bob Murphy, manager of product development for Universal Forest Products, the North American distributor for ThermalStar products. “Some builders are in a quandary of sorts now trying to figure their path forward with so much change occurring to energy codes and more change on the horizon.”

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The result of these questions is that builders are turning to experts for answers and considering new techniques. “We’re seeing new approaches to meeting the code and how insulation is installed,” says CertainTeed’s Winslow. “Many builders are leaving it to their insulation contractor to achieve the requirements as long as they fit the design and framing. In some cases, the insulation contractor serves as a building-envelope expert and consults to evaluate the home’s thermal efficiency and suggest how to reach the right requirements.”

More Variety Used
That approach has expanded the types of insulation being used, he adds. “There’s definitely more variety in the types of insulation being used due to the wider variety of applications that are needed and the desire to better insulate everywhere. No one size or material fits all uses, especially with the variety of needs and construction techniques used.”

LiquidArmor CM Flashing and SealantDow Building Solutions has introduced LiquidArmor-CM Flashing and Sealant, a spray-on sealant that can seal tough areas like awkward corners and complex details using an airless paint sprayer. Up to 1/4-inch gaps can be sealed with one or two passes, with no cutting or worries about rough or uneven surfaces. The formulation is flexible and tolerant of settling.

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