Build Science 101: #10 Wrapping Up with Thermal Insulation

Episode 10 of BUILD Science 101 concludes the series with a discussion on thermal management, specifically insulation. While insulation plays a vital role in controlling comfort and energy efficiency, its significance falls behind the other control layers for building longevity.
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[@bobainsworth5057]

Great series. "Build this one better than the last one", within budget. Great.

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Thanks for joining in

[@JayMcGinness574]

Good series. Looking forward to the 201 series!

[@T.E.P..]

stellar explanation ... thanks for doing vids like this too that are extremely educational in other ways .

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Thanks for joining in

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Thanks for joining in

[@greggoralogia7401]

Since night-time temps are usually much lower in temperate climates, I wonder how much might be gained with insulated shutters over windows (external or interior). In winter that might be 16 or more hours a day when its dark outside and shutters could be closed. I've seen gear driven shutters explored in places like Alaska in old literature, and interior shutters (though uninsulated) were somewhat common historically. Theoretically you could get away with an inferior window in a heating climate. Of course one should just "get a better window" but I'm sure stacking those together could be impressive in whole-envelope performance, and will probably last longer than the inert gas in the window.

[@tylerharkness3842]

Loved the whole series. How do ICF homes rank with these principles?

[@AngelMalakim]

Just started needing to enforce the 2021 energy code... so many builders aren't ready to do the extra insulation! R30 walls is hard to get... or start doing continuous exterior foam insulation, also not easy for mass-production builders. (in zone 5)

[@imtheonevanhalen1557]

If you haven't experienced the effect of polyiso R-Max sheathing,.....do it, just do it!

[@masoudnobar6314]

🙏

[@michaelschneider-]

+1 .. Excellent reference material/discussion. .. Download and save. .. Thanks, Gents!

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Thanks for joining in

[@frankminisplitking]

Super smart! Great video! Breaking down U vs R value, thermal bridging… great stuff!

[@boeing757pilot]

Thank you so much for this series! I'm looking to build my own home, so these videos have given me the basics to talk intelligently to a builder. Unfortunately, not many builders know these basics.. Thanks again, Steve and Matt.

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Get your builder to watch!! Thanks for joining in

[@boeing757pilot]

@stevenbaczekarchitect9431 That is the plan. I'm surprised how many builders are telling me that the "house must breathe." Thanks ahain..

[@1AlexanderCole]

I’ve had many multiple “reputable” contractors out to give bids and I’ve decided that just doing it on my own is going to be the only way to get it done correctly

[@boeing757pilot]

@@1AlexanderCole I'm surprised at the lack of knowledge or even interest in gaining knowledge. Many contractors apparently have never cracked a book or otherwise educated themselves. "Well, that's the way I was taught 25 years ago."

[@1AlexanderCole]

@@boeing757pilot I try to educate them and then they’re like “well we can’t do that, it will void the warranty, we’re going to bring in our crew of “guys” that don’t speak english and they’re going to knock it out in half a day” I’m just going to have to do it myself, I can not find a contractor who will agree to do it correctly. Kansas City KS area BTW

[@kneesusforjesus2879]

This is a great slow roll for beginners. Would love to see a class for experienced builders

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

We are working a number of more series

[@ct-max4751]

Steve, Matt, great content, learning a lot with your series, thanks! Interested in videos covering what can be done to improve efficiency and comfort in existing houses (e.g., circa 1950 New England), for Pro's and DIYer's without necessarily tearing walls... apart. There were a lot of these houses, built after WWII. FYI, If not mistaken at timeline 22:22 mis-stated 70% when 80%.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

tHanks for the video. I've always had trouble understanding Mr. Joe Insulattion. I'm glad you took the time to translate his knowledge into understandable segments. ,Merci Buckets! Have a great week everyone!

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Thanks for joining in

[@gregsidel3557]

Matt, I was just about to get ahold of you somehow and ask you what the best way to insulate inside or out.And then you guys turn right around three minutes later in this video and told me you said outside of the wall and I'd take it rockwool as tight as you can get, At that point can I put hardy board on the outside of the rock wall for my finished outside wall and will it be all right to sweat and let it sweat out the bottom, And then put some type of bug Mat or something on the bottom so the bugs can't get in.It would that be the correct way to build the wall?Keep it insulated, keep the bugs out and so on.Please let me know thank you very much for the video.

[@EM-qz8wj]

I enjoyed watching this whole series. You mentioned several times about the next "201" series. Is that still in the works? I hope so! I'm looking forward to it.

[@SnowyOwlPrepper]

Engineer build (design process). Conduction was mentioned and one if wants to understand thermal properties before the 200 series, look at radiant and convection in heat transfer.

[@EK--ry3lr]

I only plan on building one house in my life but I'm using inch and a 1/2 exterior foam on my studs thanks to you guys.

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Thanks for joining in the discussion

[@EK--ry3lr]

@@stevenbaczekarchitect9431 No problem, you're videos have taught me tons over the last few years.

[@seangilboy6053]

If windows and doors are R3 and the best you can do is R7.5 then spending a ton more money on windows and doors is a waste.

[@KPHVAC]

As a residential HVAC designer and sales guy windows are the enemy! I see lots of beautiful older homes with tons of windows that are very uncomfortable. I would much rather have comfortable home that is more basic and has less windows!

[@georgewelker853]

Enough time and money into a HVAC System and duct work our old houses full of glass can be very comfortable. More thermal mass and a very mellow way to add heat and you’ll be wonderfully comfortable 😊😊

[@KPHVAC]

@@georgewelker853 It's always possible to make an old home efficient, but it's usually expensive. I think it's best to make the house more efficient first. Add insulation, seal up the house, and potentially install new windows.

[@adamw2785]

You can buy vacuum insulated glass panels now, that go in window frames, even a single pane window has an R14 rating with this stuff.

[@KPHVAC]

@@adamw2785 That a higher R value window than I've ever heard of. I wonder if that's with a 14 inch wall assembly. I think trapped air is roughly R1 per inch.

[@kneesusforjesus2879]

The Patagonia jacket has under arm zips so it can breath

[@2point..0]

Steve and Matt, thank you so much for the content, as always Liked#52 N Subscribed !!!

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

Thanks for joining in

[@2point..0]

Maybe some where down the road I can say hi to the both you guys???@@stevenbaczekarchitect9431

[@christianfontaine2946]

Where is the 201 series?

[@YIQUANONE]

Do Zip-R panels use a radiant barrier on their foam insulation panels ?.

[@sabregunner1]

this series has really helped me figure out what i do and dont understand. Steve and Matt's vid have educated me in how i want to build a dream house. basically a 5k-6k sq ft house that would only require the amount of of HVAC as a house 1/3 the size. I want to encorpate a bunch of principles from passive house, perfect wall, and net zero building

[@buildshow]

Fantastic! Appreciate the feedback. Stay tuned for BS201 coming in about 60 days. Starting to film that in January

[@JoseRubenGaleana]

Thank you for sharing 🙌

[@YIQUANONE]

All this R-value is not much use when the sun is beating down on the roof or wall, it is like a big heating pad in the summer.

[@gssuper1438]

yup. puttin all dat insulation on the walls is useless when the sun is shining. absolutely nothing you can do to resist that heat. absolutely nothing. nothing at all.

[@charlesjedlicka2725]

Put ice in a Yeti cooler and in that sun and do the same with just a cardboard box. That should prove how wrong you are.

[@stevenbaczekarchitect9431]

@@charlesjedlicka2725 Thank you - perfect

[@matthewm8021]

Your heat gain in the warmer months is generally lower than the heat loss in the winter. Insulating the envelope will help keep the warm air in the home in the winter and keep it out in the summer. At the end of the day, it’s all about heat transfer. In the summer, heat is trying to get in the home and in the winter it is trying to escape. Better insulation will improve both.