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Homes Under
Construction

> Front - Before Siding

This renovation project called for a reconfiguration of the kitchen and family room to create a modern open floor plan with the screen porch converted to finished space to expand the kitchen. The existing insulation was inadequate with high envelope air leakage, so the project includes a dramatic upgrade to the thermal envelope. The exterior walls have been wrapped with an air-tight, but breathable, adhesive membrane. Then two layers of polyisocyanurate foam board were installed to add a high level of continuous insulation to virtually eliminate thermal bridging. Finally, new fiber cement siding will be installed over 1x4 firring strips which creates a rainscreen detail to allow the siding and trim to dry quickly if any wind-driven rain finds its way in. Both 2lb and 0.8lb spray foam insulation will be sprayed into the rafter cavities, which have been strapped with 2x2's to complete the thermal envelope.

This package of envelope improvements will allow for a new geothermal heating system to be installed completely within the conditioned thermal envelope. The size of this system is much smaller than was installed previously because the heating and cooling loads have been reduced dramatically. This home, like all BPC homes, is expected to earn Energy Star certification. In addition, it has been registered with the USGBC for its LEED for Homes certification program.