A Cold Climate Construction and Energy Blog
For the most part, I’m a fan of using a manufacturer’s family of products throughout an assembly. For instance, if I’m working with Huber’s Zip System sheathing, I prefer to use the Zip family of tapes throughout the assembly.
Continue reading “Do You Always Need to Stick with a Manufacturer’s Family of Products?”
This post first appeared on the Rockwool R-Class Website
The first time I visited one of Kyle Stumpenhorse’s (RR Buildings) jobsites was in December of 2022. I made the trip to Illinois to blower door test one of Kyle’s Barndominium projects, the project he calls “Building a Barndominium”. The barndo we tested was post and frame construction using closed cell spray foam (CCSF) as both the insulation and air sealing for the project. The home tested very well, 0.41 ACH50.
I got to know Kyle a little on that trip, I was very impressed by his attention to detail and willingness to learn. He pushes himself to do better on every new build. I wasn’t surprised to find out his next project he was planning on using Rockwool insulation. He also had a goal, beat the blower door score of the project using closed cell spray foam as the air barrier. Could it be done?
Continue reading “Energy Audit-Blower Door Testing a Barndominium”
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’m a big fan of Siga’s water and air sealing products, especially their tapes. Recently they came out with two products that substantially reduce the time it takes to flash window rough openings.
Continue reading “New Product-Siga’s Rissan Window Flashing System”
This post first appeared on the Green Building Advisor website. Residential Post-and-Frame Construction, Part 5: Insulation and Air-Sealing – GreenBuildingAdvisor
Cavity Insulation
I was brought on the barndominium construction team after many decisions were already in place. The design was, for the most part, finished. Many of the assemblies had been designed, such as the decision to use laminated posts six foot on center with the horizontal wall girts both inside and out. The original plan for the insulation was to use up to seven inches of closed cell spray foam in the walls. I was able to change the insulation strategy with a plan for a more “forgiving” assembly. We chose to go with Rockwool’s 7.25-inch ComfortBatt, which has an insulation value of R-30. Continue reading “Barndominium Part 4-Insulation and Air Control”
This post first appeared on the Green Building Advisor website.
When I first started planning the water and air control details for the barndominium project, I knew the windows were going to be one of the tougher parts. Window framing for a typical post and frame building consists of a simple 2x wood frame extending horizontally between two posts, which in the case of this structure are six feet on center, with two vertical boards fastened between the upper and lower horizontal frames. Once the basic frame is constructed inside the wall cavity, horizontal wall girts are placed over the framing, a kind of window buck, if you will. My original thought was to have the window buck placed around the window rough opening, flash the buck so I could extend the window flashing back to the Majvest WRB, then add the needed wall girts for fastening the cladding. In my mind, this wouldn’t be a difficult assembly to build, the framing crew didn’t agree. They insisted on not changing their usual assembly of having the exterior wall girts installed, then for me to have to figure out how to extend the window flashing to the WRB. Continue reading “Barndominium Part 3-Windows”
Guess what? I just won the lottery! (Not really, but for the purpose of this blog, let’s pretend.) I’m looking to build myself a new home. I have choices. I could build a McMansion with plenty of space I don’t need and will never use. I could concentrate only on the interior finishes and how the house looks. If you’ve ever read my blog, you already know what direction I’ll take. The house won’t be big, a couple thousand square feet is plenty for me, maybe a rambler with a second story over part of it built on a slab, no basement or crawlspace. Being a BS* guy, I would make an invest in the stuff that is hidden, those pesky control layers I often talk about. It would be based on the Pretty Good House concept. Continue reading “Construction Design-Randy’s Dream Design”
It’s been a while since I last posted about my home. Exterior work continues…north and west siding is complete and I’ve started work on the back yard Continue reading “My Cape-Window Installation”