Builder - February 2009 - (Page 60) PRODUCTS fiberglass no longer supplies the kind of energy performance they desire. Architect John Dennis Murphey, for example, used to spec his homes with 2x4 studs and fiberglass insulation. He no longer does so. The problem, Murphey says, is that fiberglass batts do not completely fi ll wall cavities and leave too many spaces where air infi ltration can occur. “We’re in an area [of the country] where you don’t know what it’s going to be outside,” says Murphey, principal of Chevy Chase, Md.–based Meditch Murphey Architects. “We’re in the middle, so it could be cold, rainy, or hot and humid.” For this reason, Murphey switched to 2x6 studs in the 1980s, and he started using closed-cell foam insulation about a year ago. Murphey favors foam because it offers high-insulation value, tightly seals wall cavities, and prevents air leaks. “Leaks bring in humidity, and humidity brings in lawyers,” he says. Foam creates a superior air seal, which minimizes air leakage to deliver advanced moisture control, healthy air, and energy savings of up to 50 percent, says Ontario, Canada–based foam manufacturer Icynene. Valley Forge, Pa.–based CertainTeed, which recently added a foam product to its lineup of insulation offerings, says foam minimizes hot and cold spots and provides outstanding comfort. But foam is an expensive option, though architects who use the product say the energy savings pay for the extra cost. It’s also a petroleum-based product, the manufacture of which contributes to greenhouse gases, says Miller. “Petroleum-based [insulation] products have no future.” In recent years, blow-in cellulose has become popular, and many architects believe it’s a good alternative to fiberglass and foam. Architect Angela Dean, principal of AMD Architecture in Salt Lake City, is a fan. Dean specifies her walls with 2x6 framing and blown-in cellulose (she uses foam if the budget permits). “By code, you can still get away with 2x4 framing [and fiberglass], but it’s not a good idea,” the architect says. Jenison, Mich.–based Nu-Wool says its environmentally friendly cellulose insulation is made from recycled newsprint and FIBERO PTIC: UltraTouch is a Class A fire-rated natural cotton–fiber insulation that is made from 85 percent post-industrial denim and cotton fibers. The formaldehydefree, unfaced batt product is itch-free, easy to handle, and requires no protective clothing to install. The borate-treated product also inhibits insects, mold, and mildew. ▪ Bonded Logic. 480-812-9114. www .bondedlogic.com. offers a 40 percent savings on energy bills. Johns Manville says it has developed the ultimate insulation product, Spider. Offering the performance of a blow-in product and the value of fiberglass, Spider increases R-values and completely seals the nooks and crannies where air leakage and infi ltration may occur. The company says Spider is the product the industry has been waiting for. “Builders are increasingly seeking insulation products that provide minimal insulation gaps and voids to help them build more energy-efficient homes,” says Tony Fonk, residential channel leader for Johns Manville. “In addition, they are demanding systems that allow quicker and easier installation, fewer callbacks, and reduced risk of mold and mildew.” No matter what insulation you choose, there are a few things to remember. Installation is key. The product must completely fi ll the wall cavities, architect and building scientist Peter L. Pfeiffer explains. Pfeiffer, principal of Barley & Pfeiffer Architects in Austin, Texas, says the home building industry must not think simply about insulation but should instead think in terms of “total wall efficiency” based on regional climate. Because almost all homeowners in every region of the country use air conditioning in the summer, the house has to be tight and efficient to contain the cooling, he notes. Lastly, Miller says, ignore the building codes. “We’re not a proponent of insulating to code,” he says. “You should do as much as possible during new construction. Doing it (see page 62) later will only cost more.” NEWS PRINT: Nu-Wool premium cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspapers. Sprayed into wall cavities and attic spaces, it provides a 40 percent savings on energy bills. The nontoxic product is fire resistant, moisture absorbing, and mold resistant. It’s also good for creating a noise-resistant building. ▪ Nu-Wool. 800-748-0128. www.nuwool.com. GOT A NEW PRODUCT? E-MAIL NIGEL F. M AY NARD AT: nmaynard@hanley wood.com FOR MORE PRODUCT INFORMATION, VISIT EBUILD, HANLEY WOOD’S INTERACTIVE PRODUCT CATALOG, AT WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS OR EBUILD.COM. 60 ■ B U I LD E R f ebrua ry 2 0 0 9 W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM http://www.bondedlogic.com http://www.bondedlogic.com http://www.nuwool.com http://WW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS http://www.EBUILD.COM http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM
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