This Old House | Ramp Up the R Value (S40 E5) | FULL EPISODE

Insulation is crucial to a net zero house. Kevin finds Jeff and the apprentices starting the work. Dana shops for efficient yet decorative lighting. Tom and Jeff work with the apprentices to build false rafter tails and then they install them.
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Progress on the 1920’s bungalow continues. Kevin walks through the newly framed first floor. Outside, Jeff has come up with a special formula for insulating the house. Today he starts with a warm blanket of rigid insulation over an air and water barrier on the outside of the sheathing. Jeff and the apprentices nail in the panels. Finding the right balance between efficiency and aesthetics is crucial to Dana and Donald. Kevin drops in as Dana and her mother, an interior designer, are shopping for some lighting. The goal is to find a style that dresses each room like a jewel and at the same time doesn’t break the budget. The showroom manager shows them some options. With a tight house, real rafter tails poking through the insulation would act as a bridge for heat to escape to the outside. In this house, the rafter tails are cut off inside the attic at the exterior wall. The homeowners like the rafter tail look, which is a common feature of bungalows, so Jeff and Tommy are working with the apprentices in Jeff’s shop to create an ascetically pleasing alternative.
Decorative Lighting
Circa Lighting
www.circalighting.com
Air and water barrier
GCP Applied Technologies
gcpat.com/en
Rigid insulation
Huber ZipSystem
www.huberwood.com/zipsystem/ho...
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This Old House | Ramp Up the R Value (S40 E5) | FULL EPISODE
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[@davidrobins4025]

I have always loved This Old House - thank you for hanging around.

[@nedsdeclassified]

I love how Mary waits for the cue at 1:10 fumbles a bit and just goes. Like these people are workers not actors feels more real.

[@ilichiregius2884]

When the apprentices get to participate in the show outro with their names.. It must be a pretty cool feeling.

[@andru451]

almost as cool as getting to do an SNL opening... or maybe cooler

[@packers45678]

Andru much much cooler

[@markymarc136]

Just like Tommy said in season 39 to those apprentices, "you are now and forever part of the TOH crew". Yeah it must be pretty cool i agree!

[@OhanaFilms]

So happy the show is on KZbin now.

[@PatrickPoet]

Love Mary -- a role model for so many. Good job. She didn't have a background in construction but just went for it. Amaze. Fire.

[@PatrickPoet]

@Zachary Johnston yes. It's a thing all the _cool_ kids say these days, someone is fire, instead of someone is cool.

[@johnames6430]

she could barely hold the air nailer, but at least she's willing to try

[@kkknotcool]

simp

[@kkknotcool]

@@johnames6430 If the nails in the wood, in a reasonable time. That's all that matters.

[@johnames6430]

@@kkknotcool we found the p-ssy hat wearing incel 😂

[@PoeCompany]

lol the intro shot you can see her waiting for the camera so she can get her cue to walk across the room passed Kevin

[@ricks.1318]

LOVE when the team works local to me .... Practically in my backyard !!!! GREAT WORK :) :) :) Impressive job on the exposed rafter detail !!

[@cleasonleasure4832]

Nothing drives a electrician crazier than a interior designer and a architect. 45 years in the trade, own shop 15 yrs.

[@samhklm]

That soffit idea is great.

[@nighteyeswolf]

that subtle Young Frankenstein reference "walk this way"

[@Blue60]

Great show

[@mainlawcafewv7681]

"A perfect fit, somewhere" doesn't make a whole lotta sense.

[@joelcaldwell4852]

Finally using Joe Lstiburek’s building science. 👍

[@cptspinach]

I would love to do this to my house. I live in a farmhouse foursquare. No insulation in the walls (lathe and plaster) and it's drafty as heck in the windy Kansas winters. It'll be a few years until I can save up enough, but that's the goal!

[@AneudiD78]

When you do get around to insulate your farmhouse, film it, then upload onto here.

[@Lewis.Alcindor]

Most important part is properly airsealing the entire structure and around all openings. Also, try to eliminate as many thermal bridging as possible. The insulation is most important in the roof, because heat rises up.

[@morlamweb]

@@Lewis.Alcindor Heat gos to cold in any direction, including down, so insulation is important in the basement/crawlspace and walls, too, not just in the attic.

[@Lewis.Alcindor]

@@morlamweb You're correct. However, in terms of "bang for the buck", super insulating the attic is your best bet when done with thoroughly air-sealing the entire building envelope. This is because in addition to heat rising, we need to deal with stack effect, in which cold air pushes warm air up in a building (which is common during cold weather).

[@randomrazr]

ur old house is designed to breathe. sealing it is not goof

[@KJSvitko]

Love the Net Zero home information. No utility bills every month. I bet utilities hate them.

[@Tagout10593]

Small house coupled with net zero tech makes it to where you can live with your only expense being food and property tax.

[@fuckterrorists853]

Only have to live 200 years to justify all the added expense.

[@zack9912000]

They will still have utility bills. lower bills sure, but they absolutely will have them

[@KJSvitko]

@@zack9912000 Net Zero means that the home generates more energy than it uses.

[@zack9912000]

@@KJSvitko Yea I know the meaning of that marketing wank. The house even after all the updates will use more power then their "green energy" will produce for them, FACT. They will still have their utilities hooked up and even IF they have a month where they don't need the utilities, they still have fees to keep connected to them and they will still have sewer and water hook up, so Not a true "net zero" "off grid" house, a termed coined by the companies pushing their products

[@larrymoore6640]

I think its great that TOH is involved in teaching and hands on learning for our next generation trade. Personally I would haven't have that lamp they chose for the house.

[@innessanin9264]

Couldn't call that the camera was rolling everyone has to pass by in the beginning

[@lhattongames5745]

Wouldn't you get an energy consultant on board to check the U-values and ensure that the property provides the best energy performance via insulation of the external facade rather than going by the zoning as all buildings are different? Would this normally be provided with the Architect's appointment?

[@timyowell4278]

I have always loved watching the show for many years. The only thing I wish that they would do. I wish that they would actually do a house that more typical Americans build. Not just these people that can afford to do. According to. styles and trends and new products that are available that most home owners can't really afford to do usually they could show the new products but not necessarily go with it

[@drpfaff]

The affordability of this home is not in the design, but the future potential. Net zero homes or similar will exceed typically building materials for longevity in most cases and over that time use far less energy than "traditional" homes. For instance, spray foaming which is becoming more typical over fiberglass batt instulation will save a newer home (something 10-20-30 years old) around 15% of heating/cooling costs. Older homes sometimes even up to 30%. When you consider that over the life cycle of the home, you would end up saving thousands of dollar over time for an initial hit that might be double the cost.

[@Lewis.Alcindor]

@@drpfaff You also have to consider the lifespan and performance over time of the insulation. All of the foams (spray foam, EPS, XPS), for example, have a tendency to lose their initial stated R-value over time. Also, different insulation can have different R values at different temps. So before you drive head first, you should do some deep research into how insulation performs over time and at different temps. And for spray foam, you want to make sure all parts are coated at an even thickness. Parts that are coated thinner than others basically become a thermal bridge.

[@MDFRESCUER]

Nicely.

[@kidcruz]

Alright Mary right in the square.

[@t.regnerus301]

Hits outside the square almost every time.

[@lucid484]

SInce they have the opportunity I think it would have been better to install a rainscreen instead of fabric between the siding and zip panels

[@Ramdodge582]

why are you using zipr instead of just using poly-iso and taping? seems like a huge cost adder to use zip when your not using the zip as a shear panel anymore.

[@quint7394]

might be because there going to shingle the house, foam sucks for nailing . 2 its this old hous, there is no kill like an overkill. 3 the plans speced it

[@johnmitchell7574]

The real question is why not use strapping instead of two layers of sheathing? And there’s no good reason (that I’m aware of) to add two WRBs.

[@werdnarotcorp8991]

I'm not sure why this house is referred to as a bungalow since it clearly has two floors. Does the word mean something different in Rhode Island?

[@stevebengel1346]

You might want to check the actual definition of bungalow

[@rovert94]

Here you go: "a low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows."

[@PatrickPoet]

I didn't like the remove the foam and replace with low bridging r-value 2x because it just puts the problem back

[@czogg99]

Whatever happened to Norm the master carpenter?? I hope he is alive. Never see him anymore on TOH

[@Thomica1]

You cannot saw foam plates outside without a vacuum 🧐 especially not when you are building an environment friendly house

[@kenbode8806]

Great Wall system!

[@thomasfreer580]

Between special nail guns to custom fasteners and forget about the extra labor!!...How long after the house is completed do they actually get in the black?

[@thaitichi]

How can a membrane prevent air and water from passing through, but still allow water vapor to pass through?

[@diltzm]

Google how goretex works.

[@ElectricGears]

It's not completely air proof. Their purpose is to dramatically slow down the rate of air movement and halt liquid water drops. A droplet contains thousands and thousands of water molecules grouped together by surface tension. The membranes have pores that are too small to allow droplets through and may also have hydrophobic coatings. The pores are large enough to allow individual water molecules dissolved in air (water vapor) to slowly migrate through. A dog walker can easily go through a garage door with one or two dogs. If they had a pack of 1000 dogs all leashed together it would be different story.

[@austinblackburn]

With all the sheeting that thing would just roll in tornado rather than fly into pieces lol!

[@JesusJuenger]

It's in Rhode Island, they have basically never had a strong tornado.

[@randomrazr]

most builders would just use ZIP and thats it. this guy has OSB sheathing plus a wrap plus a zip-R and on top of that whatever brick or exterior finish they choose. builtover code for sure

[@harveypost7799]

I figure old small house 1000 sq ft.buy 1" insulation board.then 1"x1" strips.frame inside of house inner walls ceiling put in insulation then wall board . Sure u lose 1" but ur got sum insulation.or just screw to walls. Then u can fill the wall board cracks paint or wall paper 🤔..

[@cspbrooks]

"Do ya think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?" I can't keep track of all the layers of OXB, vapor barriers, various forms of insulation, etc. used to sheath this house. Who knows how all of these layers are going to interact and perform in ten to twenty years?

[@PatrickPoet]

They showed it, but wish they'd mentioned that gorilla glue needs moisture to cure.

[@johnwhite2576]

ZIp iS NOT vapor permeable-in fact if detailed properly with standard zip tape its perm is around only 1 !!

[@davidbruce5377]

Is that Polyiso zero perm? I bet it is. How will that allow vapor to make it through?

[@AnthonyBrusca]

Why remove foam around the window? Why not just widen the opening by the width of 2x on each side and install a window buck?

[@roscocsa]

The oddest thing about TOH is workers wearing spotless white shirts.

[@madcow3007]

And then there is the chick carpenter who can barely lift the nail gun...

[@halgerson]

What is the need for 2 layers of OSB? When I did framing 10 years ago, the rigid insulation was attached directly to the 2x6 studs, with the wind barrier stapled to the outside and followed by the siding. The OSB seems completely unnecessary.

[@deborahfont8697]

We just boughta house from the 1800s, it needs work. Maybe TOH can help us with samples from manufacturers.

[@petergwitzig]

what brand of tool belt is Jeff wearing?

[@1sttigertiger426]

Wouldn't have ben less costly (and end up being more energy efficient) to just demo the original house? I did not see any historic features designs.

[@JasonBroaddus]

Maybe it's easier as a remodel with zoning/regulations?

[@mjlyco9752]

Why not just use regular zip on the house, add insulation, then add furring strips so you can add shingles? Seems like there are 2 layers of sheathing and air barrier for no reason.

[@paintballer7171986]

9:29 RUN DONALD!!

[@davidstanmore9621]

Why does it fade and then the piano plays?

[@772777777777777]

That zip system should have interior osb foam then exterior..designed for larger vertical sheets...to be applied after the stud wall and the secound floor joist and 2nd floor deck is on erected.. faster install windows cuts are done once...and its fitted to the building shell as required

[@xedasxedas]

I think it's because the fact that the (first) sheating it's a structural part of the house and no having it directly nailed to the framing walls would not meet code. Although one could pearce throught the outside sheating and insolating and them "plug it".

[@772777777777777]

@@xedasxedas i would use a premium exterior construction adhesive...and screw it to the studs ..sheets should be design to cover basment sill plate to top second story decking for quick installs. I would not use reg 2x6 but insulated T studs 2x6 at 24" centers also.

[@sinnombresanchez2579]

is it Dominque Verona? or Dominique ?

[@shoebert31]

next house I buy will have not 1,but 2 music nooks

[@ShainAndrews]

Speaking from experience, two is really not enough. Three should be considered the minimum.

[@johnseelman839]

I don’t know but isn’t polyiso vapor closed?

[@stevenbashus919]

Yes it is, the builder is way "overbuilding" just to be able to charge more; NOT ONLY THAT, they are in a cold climate where an interior vapor barrier needs to be used to help keep moisture out of the insulated exterior walls during winter. You will never be able to completely prevent this and that is why in cooler climates your exterior wall need to be able to dry to the outside. When you go and put 2 inches of polyiso (WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW VAPOR THROUGH!!!) you are trapping the moisture that does make past the interior vapor barrier during winter in the exterior wall and making it almost impossible to dry. Congratulations, you will have a mold problem but you can use all the money you will be saving on you energy bill to take care of that. Oh, and because your new home is so sealed up you will need to install a fresh air exchanger that will need to run constantly bringing in air from the exterior into your home. Don't get me started on the weather barrier they are putting behind the Huber Zip panels with the 2 inches of polyiso.

[@Lewis.Alcindor]

@@stevenbashus919 I'm still trying to figure out some good wall assembly designs that will allow water to dry out to the correct side during each season. This is one of the trickiest parts for me. As for the fresh air system, I think it's a good idea to install high quality HRV/ERV in any building (and not just airtight ones). You're just kidding yourself if you think that your usual "breathable" building is giving it's occupants nice clean air when all the windows and doors are closed.

[@wild-radio7373]

🤜👍🤛♡♡♡

[@BobbyBaloney]

Hate the lighting choices, good enveloppe details. Nice to see TOH catch up with building science

[@diltzm]

This video brought to you by the festering stool I mean festool.

[@thebigmacd]

Were you brought here by AvE? :D

[@zack9912000]

@@thebigmacd their tools suck in quality.

[@aaqilian5.085]

Zing! The wit! 🖕🏾

[@tackyman2011]

Two-story bungalow. Hmm.

[@PatrickPoet]

The music nook is too small for a music nook. There should be room for at least three standing people, the amplification they may need and room for their instruments including a drum set, a keyboard, and an upright bass. That's bare minimum, but really 2x that for a realistic music nook.

[@mikecampanella1990]

Adding zip r sheathing and a wrb is redundant. When the zip sheathing is taped and rolled, it gets airtight, passive homes. While it's not a bad thing, just a waster of money.

[@ShainAndrews]

I was thinking the same thing. Could be a bit overkill, not sure if the ceder is playing into that decision. If it is I don't see how another layer will mitigate anything.

[@BobbyBaloney]

Two layers is better than one layer I guess

[@JesusJuenger]

When I first saw this title, I thought it meant the R number of coronavirus, like how fast it spreads, and I was like, "why would you want to ramp that *up* ?" 😂

[@daveretter3839]

Y

[@ShakespeareCafe]

The audio is wrong on this episode. 1.25 is normal. I watch all these videos at 2.0x speed...who has time to sit through a lot of these long-winded episodes

[@2405pembroke]

They rely on Mary a lot!

[@ricks.1318]

Its "scripted" to show the Female apprentice a lot .....

[@diltzm]

@@ricks.1318 Maybe but she's also brand new to carpentry and the best way to get a new apprentice to learn quickly is have them do everything.

[@devan2462]

Was this filmed before covid? Because I don't see anyone 6 feet apart! 😷

[@MaryS2022]

It was filmed long before Covid19

[@kevinford8682]

Yeah obviously

[@89Ayten]

Wait. Having two vapor barriers means you're going to have a pocket of intermediate conditioned space between the outside and inside. As such a pocket for moisture to condense on either side of the foam between the vapor barriers because it's inevitable that some humidity will get through either barrier, but now it has no where to escape. For the same reason you don't want to line your interior studs with plastic in very humid areas.

[@TheJube97]

There's also two layers of osb 😅😅

[@Ramdodge582]

holy crap balls!!! she's got some brand new bags!

[@jamesmaclean793]

Tuia Oahu's

[@KarlBunker]

1:14: I think that tool belt weighs more than she does. 🙂👍

[@kronk358]

"The problem is is"

[@derschraubenkopf8923]

You as Americans need so much to learn about insulation. You're basically makeing the same mistakes we made in Germany in the 80s to the 2000s. Insulation materials on the one side and layers on the other. Heavy insulation and clay for example provide great r value, excellent heat protection in the summer and superb noise insulation while you don't necessarily need to use vapour barriers or retarders.

[@raymondt817]

Can you elaborate or provide a link for some related reading?

[@TheGuyThatEveryoneIgnores]

The Screwhead?

[@SORGIGERMANICO]

I think mary has it going on

[@Minininja249]

1st

[@stevenbashus919]

Sorry, the builder is way "overbuilding" just to be able to charge more; NOT ONLY THAT, they are in a cold climate where an interior vapor barrier needs to be used to help keep moisture out of the insulated exterior walls during winter. You will never be able to completely prevent this and that is why in cooler climates your exterior wall need to be able to dry to the outside. When you go and put 2 inches of polyiso (WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW VAPOR THROUGH!!!) you are trapping the moisture that does make past the interior vapor barrier during winter in the exterior wall and making it almost impossible to dry. Congratulations, you will have a mold problem but you can use all the money you will be saving on you energy bill to take care of that. Oh, and because your new home is so sealed up you will need to install a fresh air exchanger that will need to run constantly bringing in air from the exterior into your home. Don't get me started on the weather barrier they are putting behind the Huber Zip panels with the 2 inches of polyiso.

[@Arieeeee]

Yeah this house isn't even close to being practical for most people and I seriously doubt that they'll recover the extra $100,000 (probably even more) they're spending on the Netzero upgrades in utility savings for the life of the house. The more conventional building styles may not be as energy efficient but the cost up front is much lower and more importantly, we know how long they'll last and any problems that may arise have already been worked out. With this, who knows what's going to happen 10-20 years down the line when the cameras are gone. And the more specialty work that goes into a house means you'll have to find someone who is familiar with it later. I see it in lighting automation all the time. Houses that had fancy systems are pretty much obsolete now as there is nobody to work on them and no parts so they have to spend a fortune to make it more conventional after the fact.

[@fantasma1decostarica499]

Muy lentos

[@ChibiPanda8888]

Yeah, the husband will definitely have a man cave in the barn thingy they're building. I know this is an old episode, but a man will always have a man cave somewhere if his wife AND mother in law did all the decorating, and he basically has no say in anything. 😬

[@pratikswar6490]

HOW TO REPLACE DAMAGE BRICK FROM WALL SYSTEM HOUSE EXTERNAL WALL?

[@bstiger6482]

Producer needs to proof check the videos. Contractor stated that Zone 6 was up north, and Zone 4 is south. It is the opposite. He diminishes his expertise for understanding net zero construction.

[@Lewis.Alcindor]

No, they're correct. Check out the ASHRAE Climate Zone map. The higher number zones are up north.

[@davidfrankhauser1666]

Net zero seems a little gimmicky to me. There is so much more money in labor and materials that go into building the house that it seems it would take 100 years to pay for itself.

[@aaqilian5.085]

People who do this obviously are considering their environmental impact too you numpty. Not everything is about immediate returns.

[@gfy2979]

Who's Mary???

[@gordonalexander1639]

That Kevin is just a glorified labourer.....he just helps and gets in the way...

[@emilys9782]

Thanks to Tommy for mansplaining measurements. 🙄

[@bp4170]

Emily is over sensitive with a complex. Must be a real hoot at parties!

[@ryanhopkins9310]

Take it as coronavirus don’t apply to this old house

[@ElectricGears]

Original air date of this episode was November 3, 2018.

[@thomasfreer580]

net zero sounds politically correct...and I get it but why don't they tell us price per sheet of this ridiculous overkill??

[@pepino735]

a waste of lot of money

[@t.regnerus301]

Fools like to part with it.

[@Arieeeee]

You gotta admit whoever sold them on this was a great salesman: "Hey, spend 100's of thousands of dollars now so you can save $200 a month on utilities later...until our unproven construction methods fail and you have to spend more money on fixing the mold later"

[@gfy2979]

@@Arieeeee Oh.

[@dougvankirk1332]

Don't forget, a lot of the materials used on TOH are donated by the manufacturers. So some of the "overbuilding" may be to take advantage of the materials available to them.

[@shephusted2714]

inaccurate nailing - you can set the trigger up different to make nailing much more precise and it needs to be - amateurs- this is not roofing! better yet have a better fastener schedule and use grk screws. - the condensation concerns are more for the roof areas - much more temp variation there #flashing #coil stock #air gapped #soffit vents #ridge

[@harveypost7799]

Have u been smelling sumthin strange in the air during this pandemic...clean air, took a walk downtown said go to river 5 blocks away I smell river.. downtown Portland ..amazing ..I will miss it..also a dentist open cute females almost walked in said yank snaggletooth don't need my oil changed just pull this tooth.

[@zomgosz1503]

The interior designer's choices in light fixtures suck

[@mitchellkrouth5083]

Bull