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Not
long ago, very little
thought was given
to the type of insulation
installed in homes.
But, families today
face problems that
weren’t even
issues when conventional
insulation was developed:
rising energy costs,
unwanted noise, allergies,
asthma and mold.
What’s more,
today’s insulation
should address a real
threat to occupant
comfort and health
– that real
threat is air leakage.
It has been documented
that enough air escapes
from a typical house
every day to fill
two Goodyear blimps
(www.urbanoptions.org)
and, extra insulation
means little without
an effective air barrier!
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High
efficiency
HVAC system |
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What is meant by air
leakage? The high
air permeability of
conventional fiber
insulation, regardless
of R-value, allows
air to easily pass
through walls where
the gaps and seams
exist. Temperature
difference between
the inside and outside
of home creates convection
air currents within
the wall cavities.
Air infiltration and
convection currents
in the walls and ceiling
are what reduce the
thermal performance
of traditional insulations.
In addition to higher
energy costs, this
can lead to the transfer
of airborne pollutants
and pollens into your
home and when warm
outside air meets
cool air-conditioned
inside air, or when
heated inside air
meets cold outside
air, condensation,
moisture build-up,
and a host of other
problems, such as
the growth of mold
or mildew within the
building cavity can
occur.
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Premier
dual pane
Low-E windows |
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Uncontrolled air leakage
has proven to create
the greatest energy
loss in almost any
home. The U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) reports
that up to 40 percent
of the energy cost
of heating and cooling
a home is wasted by
uncontrolled air leakage.
In addition, uncontrolled
air leakage contributes
to premature building
deterioration, spelling,
and ice damming, poor
indoor air quality
(IAQ) and mold growth.
Most homeowners notice
the problem through
accompanying comfort
issues such as chilly
drafts, cold floors,
or excessively dry
or damp conditions.
Building science experts
agree that an effective
air barrier system
is the best way to
substantially reduce
both air leakage and
the passage of moisture
through the building
envelope. In response,
Grace Custom Homes
has created a program
called Engineered
Energy Efficiency
(EEE) that insures
a 40% to 60% utility
costs saving over
traditional home construction!
The hallmark of our
EEE program is foam
insulation.
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| Hardiboard
continuous soffit
system |
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Foam insulating air
barrier systems eliminate
costly uncontrolled
air leakage by providing
a seamless, self-adhering,
air-tight building
envelope system. The
spray-applied technology
is engineered on the
molecular level to
suit this specific
purpose. Using the
versatility of polyurethane
chemistry to combine
a superior effective
insulation R-value
(closed cell over
6.0 per inch) with
almost zero air permeability,
the insulating air
barrier systems increase
building energy efficiency,
durability, occupant
comfort, health and
safety.
Better Air Quality.
Improving indoor air
quality is a goal
of many new home buyers,
especially for those
suffering from allergies,
asthma or other respiratory
problems. Foam offers
the ability to completely
seal the building
envelope. By eliminating
random air leakage,
the penetration of
dust, allergens and
pollutants can be
significantly reduced.
It allows you to develop
a controlled indoor
environment so you
can design your heating
and cooling equipment
to maximize air quality.
Fresher air should
ensure a better night’s
sleep and you won’t
have to open your
windows to achieve
it. Humidity can be
better controlled
so you can eliminate
the health concerns
about mold and mildew.
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Quiet
Brace Structural
Wall Sheathing |
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It has long been recommended
for individuals who
are chemically sensitive.
It contains no formaldehyde
and does not emit
any detectable emissions
after you move into
your new home. Foam
is inert. It does
not shrink, sag, settle,
slip, turn to dust
or decline in R-value
over time. It offers
no food value to bacteria,
fungus, termites,
carpenter ants or
rodents.
Better Sound Control.
Cell foam insulation
is a smart, effective
way to insulate walls
to absorb sound waves
at varying frequencies,
making it possible
to design cost effective
wall and ceilings
with a Sound Transmission
Class (STC rating)
of 50 or more. With
a STC rating of 50,
noises from outside
are not easily heard.
Ceilings and walls
absorb sound, not
make it. A fairly
quiet room has between
30-50dB of background
noise. A home theatre
boasts of up to 100dB,
which means your walls
need a STC rating
of 50 or more to give
the rest of your home
a little peace and
quiet. A 100dB theatre
system would produce
an overwhelming 70dB
of sound in a typical
wood stud construction
room. But a wall built
with foam under the
same conditions would
produce a noise level
of just 50dB, that’s
75% quieter.
The obvious and immediate
impact to a home using
foam is lower utility
costs but as you have
read foam insulation
does much more. Its
energy efficient,
healthier, quieter
and improving of overall
comfort makes foam
the choice for performance
and comfort minded
buyers. |
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