Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth
I have designed and built about a dozen solar and or super or well insulated homes.
In the real peak of it I insulated a number on the outside by putting 1.5" of blue styrofoam outside the concrete. We put metal over the exposed portions of the styrofoam to protect it from ultra violet light.
It is ideal from an energy performance standpoint but one of the homes got termites up under the styrofoam and into that part of the house.
After that I quit insulating on the outside.
|
There is always a fly in the ointment it seems. We have no termites here. Possibly the weather would freeze their private parts off.
Actually code here started this year is insulation both inside and outside on basement walls. No other option allowed. Most contractors set up a styrofoam block system that has lots of re rod in it and pour a six inch wall inside it for one and two story houses.
The styrofoam has devices that lock it into the outside and inside of the concrete. It is the concrete form as well. You then screw something on the outside. The styrofoam has screw retaining inserts made of plastic. You can carry this system to the roofline as well. For all practical purposes straight forming for household basement walls is dead here now. Also means that finished basements are pretty well a given as you must put something over the foam to meet fire codes.
Other code changes this year. Two by eight sidewalls mandatory if frame construction and low e argon filled glass on all exposures. Fifteen inches of insulation or r 50 minumin in attics
Actually I am just leaving to buy insulation and get the machine to blow an additional 8 inches of celalose into our own attic space tomorrow.