Cellulose insulation has been blown into the walls behind netting.

Cellulose insulation has been blown into the walls behind netting.

The exterior walls of my house feature three layers of insulation.  The first layer of insulation is installed between the 2×6 studs. The cavities are filled with cellulose, an insulation product made from recycled newsprint and cardboard (and a favorite of many green builders). The interior face of the studs is covered with a tough, non-stretch fabric, which was stapled to the studs so as to be drum tight. The cellulose was blown into the walls at high pressure, ensuring that the insulation stays in place permanently. The “R” value of this installation is 20 and meets the code standard for an exterior wall all by itself.

Outside, the plywood sheathing joints were taped to make the walls air-tight. Then 2” of polyisocyanurate (polyiso), a rigid foam board insulation product, was installed between 2×3’s that run horizontally and are bolted to the wall studs. The final layer of insulation, 3.5” of polyiso, was installed continuously over the first. The two layers of polyiso together virtually eliminate thermal bridging, or “heat bleed” through the framing.

Finally, 1×3 wood strips were bolted through the 3.5” polyiso into the 2×3 studs. The 2×3’s are necessary because the siding is heavy and can’t be installed over the full 5.5” of polyiso. The exterior siding was then nailed to the wood strips, with a ¾” drainage plane between the polyiso and the siding to ensure drying and durability. The overall “R” value of this assembly is roughly 55, much higher than the code minimum of 18 for this type of wall. Insert pictures of 1st and 2nd layers of insulation.

Plywood sheathing joints have been taped, and the first layer of foam board insulation is partially installed.

Plywood sheathing joints have been taped, and the first layer of foam board insulation is partially installed.

Why build a wall that is insulated to an “R” value three times the building code minimum?  Well, it cost my family about $200 worth of electricity to heat the 1,650sf house this winter, with the interior temperature at 70 degrees, day and night. A high level of comfort was assured because the interior surface temperature of the floors, walls and roof was the same as the room air temperature, and air leakage was non-existent.  It’s a night and day comparison to conventional code-based construction.

 

The second layer of foam board insulation has been installed and is fastened to the house by vertical wood firring strips.

The second layer of foam board insulation has been installed and is fastened to the house by vertical wood firring strips.