Overview:

Our wall system is designed to outperform typical 2x6 wall construction. Dow Styrofoam has an excellent pamphlet* that is available on the Web showing the benefits of using Styrofoam on the exterior of a wall, as we do with our wall system. They summarize with, “Compared to walls consisting of OSB and batt insulation, walls that incorporate Styrofoam brand insulation deliver improved insulation, reduced air infiltration and greater energy savings” and “Styrofoam brand insulation delivers superior insulation and moisture resistance. It’s also Energy Star-approved, ensuring efficient performance.”

There are many variables to take into account when determining the total performance of any wall system. The three main factors that are typically considered are the R-value, condensation control and air infiltration.

R-Value:

The total R-value of our wall system is higher than a 2x6 wall and provides a tighter seal than a 2x6 wall. If you compare just the insulation values, it appears that our wall system is a slightly below a 2x6 wall. The problem with this calculation is that it does not take framing into account. The framing material used to build a typical wall accounts for an average of between 25% and 30% of the total wall volume, which leaves at least 25% of your walls with an R-Value of only 5.5!

With the Habitat wall system, all of the framing materials are covered by Styrofoam, adding much needed insulation. With a simple calculation accounting for the performance of our entire wall system, it outperforms a 2x6 wall.

Condensation:

Whether you are in a hot, cold or changing climate, moisture control is very important with all wall systems. Condensation can form inside of a wall, potentially leading to mold growth and wood rot. With our wall system, the Styrofoam becomes a moisture barrier that has a higher surface temperature, resulting in a decreased chance of condensation.

Air Infiltration:

Reducing air infiltration is extremely important so that your home is both energy efficient and draft-free. The efficiency of a home drops significantly if it is not both well insulated and relatively air-tight. This effect is analogous to going outside on a cold and windy day with just a wool sweater. The wind will go through the sweater and will make you cold. If you had just a windbreaker without a sweater, you would be cold. It would take the combination of both a windbreaker and a thick sweater to keep you warm. A house is the same in that you need to keep it reasonably air-tight (windbreaker) and well insulated (sweater) to keep it warm inside.

*Brochure Information:
Dow Chemical Company
Search the Dow Web site for form #179-07978