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How XPS Sheathing Meets Builders’ Energy Efficiency Needs

 

Exterior insulated sheathing may seem like an added expense for some of your builder customers, but continuous insulation provides a tremendous value for elevating homes’ energy efficiency, reducing thermal bridging, easing homeowner costs, and, more recently, meeting code requirements.

The most recent version of the International Energy Conservation Code continued to bolster the requirements for wall R-value, with prescriptive requirements that, in some climate zones, can only be met by combining interior cavity insulation with a layer of exterior XPS insulation such as DuPont Styrofoam Brand Residential Sheathing.

What the Experts Are Saying

According to Builder magazine, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requires the following wall insulation levels:

  • Climate zones 6, 7, and 8: R-30 in the wall cavity or an R-20 cavity plus R-5 exterior insulation (R-20+5).
  • Climate zones 4 and 5: R-20+5 or R-13+10
  • Climate zone 3: R-20 cavity, R-13+5, or R-0+15
  • Climate zones 1 and 2: R-13 cavity or R-0+10

The requirement for continuous insulation has been loosely adopted in a few markets, but acceptance is expected to continue to grow.

Builders can only get so much R-Value out of a 2×4 stud cavity, so a +R-5 exterior offers an option for those builders to increase efficiency of the wall without changing their framing practices.

Protection Against the Elements

DuPont Styrofoam Brand Residential Sheathing provides sturdy protection against the impacts of moisture and air and boosts effective R-value in exterior walls by 20%. With an R-value of 5.0 per inch, the sheathing makes it easy for your customers to add continuous insulation and meet the R-value requirements of the IECC. Even for areas where the most recent codes haven’t been adopted, exceeding current codes can help homeowners save on energy costs and increase the comfort level of their homes.

Selling the Value

For some of your customers, foam board might feel like an afterthought or an unnecessary add-on. But the benefits can improve the performance of their homes and the long-term savings for their home buyers.

Here are a few strategies to help you sell Styrofoam Brand Residential Sheathing:

  • Sell the value of continuous insulation:Adding XPS insulation board over the OSB sheathing provides an extra layer of insulation while reducing thermal bridging from the wood framing. XPS insulation can increase a home’s effective exterior wall R-value by up to 20%, translating into energy savings for the homeowner—enough to pay for itself in just a few years.
  • Understand code requirements:Prescriptive codes for wall assemblies continue to favor greater energy efficiency, so dealers have an opportunity to help builders easily meet increased insulation levels—whether their jurisdictions have adopted the latest versions of the code or not. With the latest version of the IECC, some climate zones require exterior insulation to meet minimum R-values.
  • Connect customers with experts:DuPont’s robust network of Building Envelope Specialists provide field support to builders and architects to answer questions, deliver training, and provide solutions.
  • Sell the whole package:When it comes to the building envelope, the whole is just as important as the parts to ensure durability and performance. Work with your manufacturer representatives to understand how products work together and sell builders on a systems approach where products work together to protect the home and save energy. XPS insulation not only adds additional R-value but provides another layer of moisture protection to the wall system.

Weyerhaeuser Distribution is committed to delivering the reliable, consistent products you can rely on. Connect with your Weyerhaeuser representative today about insulation solutions available in your market. 

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