LEED Points

Tag: insulation

  • Does Open-Cell Spray Foam Really Rot Roofs?

    Subtitle:  Researchers from Oak Ridge National Lab have said open-cell spray foam is risky — but what did they miss? Images:  Murmurs and hearsay about open-cell spray foam insulation have been gaining traction for a while. It rots roofs, people have told me. Not long ago, someone even told me that in Florida, roofing companies…

  • The History of Peeling Paint, Insulation, and Vapor Barriers

    Subtitle:  When painters objected to painting insulated houses in the 1930s, building scientists latched onto the wrong solution Images:  Back in the 1930s, a rash of paint-peeling showed up across North America. One thing that most of these homes had in common was insulation in the walls. Painters put two and two together and decided…

  • Spray Foam Insulation Is Not a Cure-All

    Subtitle:  Poor installation can negate the benefits of this popular insulation Images:  Spray foam insulation is a great product. Homes insulated with it can be some of the most efficient and comfortable homes built. I’ve been in plenty of homes insulated with spray foam and can tell you that, when done well, those homes are…

  • Spray Foam Insulation Does Not Work with All HVAC Systems

    Subtitle:  Before you use spray foam insulation in an attic, make sure the HVAC system is compatible Images:  Earl…

  • How to Solve Comfort Problems Caused by Attic Kneewalls

    Subtitle:  Insulation and air-sealing are key Images:  In Texas, they call them “hot walls.” My friend Mike Barcik likes to say they’re what separate you from the blast furnace. Down here in the warmer climate zones, where attics get up to 8,000°F (well, that may be a slight exaggeration), many people call them a liability.…