ThermalBuck is in great company with several leading manufacturers as one of the top “PRODUCT PICKS” in the February 2017 print and digital editions of the LBM Journal.
Out of the hundreds of new building material products introduced to the market each month, the LBM Journal reviews and selects their top choices for readers, noted as “Ones to Watch” in their popular “PRODUCT PICKS” feature.This recent edition also included Vinyl Single-Slide Windows from MI Windows & Doors, FlatWrap UV Housewrap from Benjamin Obdyke, and the MiraTec Smooth Select line from Jeld-Wen, to name a few.
View the complete listing of the LBM Journal February 2017 Issue Product Picks here.
February 2017 Issue of LBM Journal
The highlight of the February issue is a feature about family-owned R.P. Lumber. Over the past 40 years, they’ve grown from a $5,000 investment in a single store without a restroom, to 65 lumberyards servicing the Midwest region. Their motto “Best Service, Best Value” has served them well in building a loyal customer base with significant growth, and retaining exceptional employees. To learn more about this entrepreneurial family, view the February issue of the LBM Journal.
No matter what aspect of business you’re in, you’ll benefit from the excellent piece by Bob Heidenreich, “Teach Customers That Price Isn’t Everything.” He reveals his strategies to educate customers about what they’re buying. It’s important to promote the value of both the materials and service. Bob’s piece is a great reminder to us all that retaining customers and increasing profits has everything to do with knowledge, and communication.
Also of note in the February issue, is an in-depth look into the latest developments in Moulding & Trimboard. With the increasing importance of high-performing products that resist moisture, the stronghold of wood on the market is shifting to new materials. PVC, polyurethane and fly-ash trim are now making their mark. This article is a great reference on how to compare and understand the cost and benefits of each.
View the complete digital versions of current and archived issues of the print magazine, available at lbmjournal.com.
Since it’s launch in 2003, LBM Journal has been highly regarded as the leading media outlet for the residential lumber building material (LBM) distribution channel. The LBM Journal provides its readership with the latest in industry news, product trends and business insights through multiple channels. For information about obtaining a digital or print subscription, or to sign up for their informative newsletter visit lbmjournal.com. Join one of the 40,000 industry professionals who rely on LBM Journal as a leading source of information and subscribe now.
You’d have to live under a rock (completely sustainable housing) if you didn’t realize that climate change, and rapidly increasing energy prices are a hot topic in today’s world. But why is the focus on the building industry?
Buildings consume nearly half of all the energy produced in the United States.
Globally, the percentages are even higher. Which explains why much of Europe is paving the way in both commercial and residential energy-efficient building.
It’s important to understand that energy-efficient building is about more than energy-efficient materials. A great deal of planning is needed to ensure the proper integration of materials and design, to achieve the best possible outcome.
Energy-Efficient Building
Passive Design, and Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) are the two primary concepts for energy-efficient building. Passive Design uses a combination of climate-based passive and active design strategies to minimize the usage of energy, materials, and water.
Passive homes focus on the absolute minimal amount of energy use possible to heat and cool the building.
In 2015, the Passive House Institute of the US released the only passive building standard based upon climate-specific comfort and performance. The goal was to find the right balance between the up-front investment in a passive build, and the long-term payback, to achieve the most comfortable and cost effective building possible. Learn more at phius.org.
The basic premise of a Net Zero Energy Building is that they generate as much energy as they consume.
Designed to minimize the amount of energy they need to operate, and with renewable energy systems that meet their energy needs. Solar, wind, and geothermal are examples of renewable energy systems. Design considerations to achieve net zero energy include passive solar design, triple pane or triple glazed windows, and high performance building envelopes. The US Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home program has been working to promote Net Zero building since 2008. Learn more at energy.gov.
Both Passive Home and Net Zero Energy Home certifications are generally based on the HERS Home Energy Rating Score, and certified by third parties, such as the Living Building Challenge. To learn more about the certification process, click here.
The Deep Energy Retrofit
Most of the discussion about passive or net zero design centers around new construction. It just makes good sense to plan ahead for the future. However, considering that the majority of the building inventory in the US was built prior to 1990, there is even more opportunity for energy savings in renovating and retrofitting existing buildings.
As the experts at Green Building Advisor explain, the process usually begins with a home energy audit and building analysis. Energy usage reductions are achieved through a whole-building approach, including insulation, heating and cooling systems, lighting, appliances, and water usage. A typical simple energy retrofit focuses only on individual upgrades, like heating and cooling.
Deep Energy Retrofits are a whole-building approach to maximizing energy efficiency.
The key to success in a deep energy retrofit, is utilizing skilled building science professionals who have the experience planning the integration of these systems into existing structures. Look to organizations such as the Building Performance Institute to direct you to certified professionals in the industry. That’s how we found Bill McKnight, CEO, Energy Conservation Specialists.
With over 20 years in the field of deep energy retrofits, Bill has achieved both BPI Accreditation and Energy Star Certification, teaches building science at Ulster University in NY, and has been featured in Home Energy Magazine. To learn more about the historic renovation project we worked on with Energy Conservation Specialists, and see how ThermalBuck was used to create a thermally efficient building envelope, read the full installation story here.
The Poplar Network features a clear-cut piece by Rob Freeman that explains the difference between Passive and Net Zero. For a more detailed reference, an excellent resource is Net Zero Energy Buildings, by Steven Winters Associates, Inc., a respected authority on building science and efficiency. It was featured in 2016 in the The Whole Building Design Guide, a program of the National Institute of Building Sciences which focuses on the latest technology and “whole building” design techniques. Data was also sourced from architecture2030, whose mission is to address climate change problems with design solutions of the built environment.
If you’ve made the decision to include continuous insulation on your building, it’s time to pat yourself on the back.
The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) has required continuous insulation since 2012. When the building envelope is insulated on the outside, it not only improves the energy efficiency, it also helps to reduce the possibility of moisture damage through thermal bridging.
Which type of continuous insulation should you choose? Good question.
Each type of insulation has different thermal properties, costs, features, and installation requirements, so you really need to consider what matters most in your application.
ThermalBuck is compatible with all types of continuous insulation, and will simplify the installation process. It solves many of the common challenges builders find when installing windows with continuous insulation, and make the installation more energy-efficient by insulating the rough opening – typically a source of energy-loss in the building envelope.
Types of Continuous Insulation
There are three main types of continuous insulation: rigid foam, mineral wool, and cork. The most widely used is rigid foam, which is split into three main categories: EPS, XPS, and Polyiso.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS): R-4 per inch
EPS is the most commonly used rigid foam. While it has the lowest R-value, it’s also the least expensive around .31 cents per sq. ft., which makes it a favorite for code compliance within budget. EPS does absorb water, and has the lowest compressive strength of the rigid foams.
Structured Insulated Panels (SIPS) and Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFS) are comprised of EPS. Insulfoam, a division of Carlisle Construction Materials, is largest manufacturer of block-molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) in North America.
It is important to note that EPS should be used over housewrap, and supported by OSB or plywood when used as sheathing.
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS): R-5 per inch
Many green builders discount XPS right off the bat, because it is the least environmentally friendly option. It contains the flame retardant HBCD, and its blowing agents have high global-warming potential.
However, with it’s higher R-value and moderate pricing at .47 cents per sq. ft. it is widely used. It’s stronger than EPS, and more water resistant, making it a preferred choice for under-slab and below grade applications.
XPS is available faced or unfaced, which affects the vapor permeability. Owens Corning Foamular “pink board” is some of the most widely recognized XPS on the market.
Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso or ISO): R-6.5 per inch
Polyiso is the most expensive of the three types of rigid foam, as much as .70 cents per sq. ft. for a 1″ thick panel. However, the higher R-values often make the added expense worthwhile in the long run. All polyiso is faced on both sides, most often with foil.
Polysio is considered the most-environmentally friendly of the three foams. It does absorb water, and generally cannot be used below grade. Johns Manville is a leading manufacturer of polyiso foams.
One of the primary benefits of polyiso, is that it can often be used as a WRB behind your cladding. While it may cost more upfront than EPS or XPS, not installing a separate WRB component can save a considerable amount. It really depends on your climate, if this feature will be a long-term benefit, or present a building science challenge.
Mineral Wool: R-4 per inch
When you think mineral wool, you think of Roxul, easily the best known brand on the market. Mineral wool is also known as stone wool because it is made of basalt rock and steel slag, making it a favorite choice of green builders. Easy to work with, fire-resistant, sound resistant, and water resistant. It’s the only insulation recognized by code as a firestop.
ComfortBoard is Roxul’s exterior insulation. With an R-value of 4, it is lower than most rigid foams, however, there is no reduction in R-value over time, which will happen with foam insulation materials that rely on lower-conductivity blowing agents that slowly leak out or allow air to leak in.
Mineral wool is highly vapor-permeable and easy to install. Roxul is approximately .64 cents per board foot.
Cork: R-3.6 per inch
Thermacork, is the most widely recognized an all-natural rigid insulation material made from expanded cork. It offers excellent acoustic control, is highly durable, has high vapor permeability, and meets fire-safety requirements without flame retardants. It is labeled Red List Free for use in Living Building Challenge projects.
Cork is by far the greenest of the green in the insulation category, but it’s significantly higher cost and limited availability make it more of a niche product.
It’s important to take your specific climate into consideration when evaluating building materials.
EPS and XPS increase in R-value as the temperature drops. A great thing if you’re in Wisconsin. However with Polyiso, the R-value actually decreases when the temperature drops. Not such a great thing when you’re in Wisconsin.
To choose the best continuous insulation for your project, analyze all of the variables: performance needs, climate, building codes, and budget.
No matter which continuous insulation you choose, proper installation is critical to achieving the desired performance.
Our energy-efficient homebuilders in Utah, Thomas & Melissa Griffiths, did extensive research on the features and benefits of the different types of exterior insulation, and decided on Atlas EnergyShield Polyiso for their dream home.
Thomas wanted the highest R-value his budget would permit, and appreciated the fact that he could use the continuous insulation as his WRB. To eliminate the thermal bridge around their Alpen 525 Series windows, they chose ThermalBuck. Take a look at their recent ThermalBuck installation below.
ThermalBuck simplifies the installation of windows with all types of continuous insulation, making a truly high-performance building envelope. To see additional installation steps, strength and installation challenges, view the ThermalBuck Installation page.
For an in-depth conversation about rigid foam types, we recommend the experts at Green Building Advisor. For additional videos of polyiso installation, we recommend this one by Synergy Construction. Of course we would recommend the use of ThermalBuck over the plywood bucks, to limit thermal bridging and improve the performance of the window installation.
While written in 2010, this piece from Green Building advisor about Using Rigid Foam as a WRB, still has merit. Updated in January of 2016, ICC document AC71 Foam Plastic Sheathing Panels Used as Weather-resistive Barriers establishes guidelines for evaluation of foam plastic sheathing panels used as water-resistive barriers in combustible construction. See your rigid foam manufacturer specifications for more information.
Texas has always been famous for cowboys, gunslingers, and rodeos (not to mention the best steaks and BBQ you’ll find anywhere). But you may not have realized that it’s also the home to one of the fastest growing construction industries in the U.S.
Led by multi-family housing starts, construction growth is fueled by an increasing population, a healthy housing market, and a strong environment for investment. Drive anywhere across this beautiful state and you’ll witness construction cranes, and rapid building progress in all shapes and sizes.
Where construction is booming, you’ll find award-winning homebuilders. At the recent Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) Conference in Dallas, TX, ThermalBuck had the good fortune to cross paths with the most famous builder to call the Lone Star State home, Matt Risinger. Not only a well-known builder, Matt is also a respected media personality in the building industry. Matt was the closing speaker for the 3 day event held at the end of September, 2016. The close-knit and collaborative nature of this particular conference invites plenty of opportunities to interact with attendees, presenters and manufacturers alike. Matt’s keen interest in emerging products and new technology brought him to ThermalBuck on the trade show floor, where he spent some time with our president, John Brooks.
Risinger Homes
To meet Matt in person, is to realize right away that he is the real deal. Smart, humble, hard-working and passionate about good building science, Matt has earned a considerable following of nearly 34,000 subscribers to his You Tube channel, Build with Matt Risinger. Since it’s launch in 2008, Matt’s building videos have earned him nearly 10 million views. Pretty impressive for this full-time builder and owner of Risinger Homes, and part-time marketer.
Matt has earned his reputation for excellency the old-fashioned way, through years of hands-on construction work, and the innate desire to do things the right way.
“I build homes that are dramatically more energy efficient, durable, healthy, and comfortable than most new homes in America.”
Risinger Homes is doing just that – building some of the finest homes in Texas. Combining Matt’s work ethic with his passion for technology, easy manner and marketing savvy, Matt has crafted a great reputation as a building science expert.
Risinger Goes Rogue
Not only does Risinger Homes build multiple high-end homes a year, he also spends countless hours appearing at building events and trade shows, as well as creating videos for Risinger Goes Rogue. Matt maintains a strong presence on social media, building his audience through his natural presentation ability, straight-talk and credibility. His strong family values, faith, and outlook on life are a bonus to those who seek out his expertise. Followers of Matt’s social media accounts can watch day-to-day progress of the homes he is working on, and learn proper building techniques along the way.
Risinger Goes Rogue recently featured ThermalBuck, a smart, simple solution to the challenges builders face when installing windows with continuous insulation.
We appreciate Matt sharing ThermalBuck with his avid followers, and look forward to collaborating with Risinger Homes in the future. One thing we can be certain of, is that we will learn a thing (or two).
Risinger Homes started building exclusively for architects in 2005. Matt’s building science expertise has been documented in Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction, and Custom Home Magazine, to name a few. He is also an award winning blogger, the two-time winner of the JDR Best Blogger Award. Enjoy the beauty and craftsmanship of Matt’s work through his instagram account, twitter, or facebook. The Texas building statistics sourced for this post were found at investopedia.com.
BRINC Building Products, Inc. is proud to announce the publication of the International Code Council Evaluation Services, LLC (ICC-ES) Evaluation Report ESR-3753 for ThermalBuck, Division: 07 00 00 – THERMAL and MOISTURE PROTECTION, Section: 07 21 00 – Thermal Insulation. The properties evaluated by the ICC-ES are as follows:
Thermal Resistance (R-value)
Surface-Burning Characteristics
Physical Properties
The completed evaluation report for BRINC BP confirms that ThermalBuck complies with the thermal insulation requirements of the following codes:
2015, 2012 and 2009 International Building Code® (IBC)
2015, 2012 and 2009 International Residential Code® (IRC)
2015, 2012, and 2009 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC)
This confirmation, as evidenced in ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-3753, provides guidance and assurance to code officials, architects, builders, and energy consultants that ThermalBuck will perform effectively as thermal insulation under the applicable codes.
“ThermalBuck’s innovative design provides a simple, energy-efficient solution for the challenge of installing windows with continuous insulation, and limits thermal bridging in the building envelope.”
-John Brooks, President of BRINC BP
The ICC-ESR provides third-party verification that individual products meet the rigorous requirements of the International Codes. The ICC-ESR Evaluation Report is confirmed evidence of a product’s code compliance, as well as a summary of relevant installation requirements and testing references. ICC-ES is an independent subsidiary of the ICC, which was developed in 2003 when four national building product evaluation services combined forces to provide consistent, professional evaluation of building components, products, methods, and materials.
“Sustainable Building” may seem like a recent concept, but for over 30 years, EEBA has been a well-respected platform for collaboration and education across multiple fields in sustainable building. EEBA members are committed to being “good stewards of the resources used in the construction of residential and light commercial buildings.”
The EEBA Conference & Expo isn’t a typical trade show, in that the expo hours are a small portion of the event. Much like EEBA itself, the conference is truly all about collaboration, and education. Over 90 presenters will offer informative sessions over three days, multiple networking opportunities, and because it’s Texas, a little bull-riding for good measure.
Notable presenters include Martin Holladay, Green Building Advisor, known for his weekly blog “Musings of an Energy Nerd”, and Achilles Karagiozis, Owens Corning, who developed some of the most advanced hygrothermal models worldwide – including WUFI.
The event wraps up with a closing presentation featuring well-known Texas builder Matt Risinger (originally a Pittsburgh native, extra points in our book). Matt is a nationally known and respected expert in building science for hot/humid climates. With his successful blog “Build with Matt Risinger”, fast-growing You-Tube following, and marketing savvy, Matt truly emulates the ideal EEBA standard – a mix of responsible building practices in the design, marketing, and execution of the building process.
If you’re in the Dallas area next week, be sure and visit ThermalBuck at the EEBA show. For a schedule of the 2016 EEBA Conference program, click here.
Throughout the year, EEBA presents educational sessions across the U.S. Their courses often qualify for CEU credits for AIA, AIBD, BPI, RESNET, NAHB, and is approved by the USGBC for GBCI CE hours towards LEED credentialing. To keep up-to-date with sessions in your area, visit eeba.org.
Known for manufacturing super-insulating, thermally efficient residential and commercial fiberglass windows & doors (as well as architectural glass), this Colorado-based window manufacturer has over 30 years of experience in glazing technology, and an excellent reputation for craftsmanship and performance.
Alpen HPP has since been joined by 10 other major window manufacturers in receiving this certification, including Intus, Marvin, and Zola.
Continuous insulation throughout the building envelope without any thermal bridging is one of the key building-science principles of a passive building. Testing an installation of their 725 Series window with ThermalBuck, is just one of the ways Alpen is committed to finding the best ways to solve their customer’s challenges, and continually provide exceptional service.
The PHIUS is a non-profit organization committed to making high-performance passive building the mainstream market standard. It’s membership-based branch, the Passive House Alliance US (PHAUS) was formed in 2010, and now supports over 800 members across the US. For more information on the key building-science principles of a passive building, please visit phius.org.
Improving the energy-efficiency of new and existing construction has long been a focus of the building industry. When it comes to insulation, exterior is the choice of many architects and builders, because it eliminates the thermal bridging through the studs.
However, continuous insulation presents its own unique challenges with installing windows and flashing the rough openings. The mounting point is no longer flush with the sheathing, it must be extended out to meet the exterior insulation depth. Rough openings are always a weak spot for potential water infiltration – and extending the mounting point for windows compounds the problem.
Until ThermalBuck hit the market, there really wasn’t a good way to insulate and create a thermal break around the mounting points of windows & doors. The traditional method to bump out windows was to build a wood window buck. Wood does extend the mounting point, but it doesn’t hold up well to moisture, and it has a low insulating value. With an r-value range of 4.4 per inch, ThermalBuck is a better insulator than wood. But how much? We performed some third-party testing to find out.
Thermal Transfer Performance: ThermalBuck vs. Wood Buck
Using thermal imaging, we recorded the performance of ThermalBuck against a traditional wood buck in a controlled environment. In the two mock-ups below, three temperature sensors were placed on both the ThermalBuck installation (l) and the wood buck installation (r). The temperature condition on the exterior of the structure was -6.67 ºF, and the indoor of the structure 72.76 ºF.
These photos show two window installations side by side. (l) ThermalBuck (r) traditional wood buck.
54% More Heat Transfer with Wood vs. ThermalBuck
On the exterior of the structure (point A) the wood buck looses 7.88 ºF, or 14.55 ºF total degrees from the outside temperature. ThermalBuck only loses .11 ºF , or 6.78 total degrees from the outside temperature. The wood window buck allows twice as much energy to escape, while the window installation with ThermalBuck is effectively limiting thermal bridging.
ThermalBuck High-Performance window buck creates a significant thermal break at the mounting points of windows & doors. Using ThermalBuck as part of your continuous insulation solution is an effective way to limit the amount of thermal bridging that occurs through your building envelope.
To learn more about thermal bridging, see what the experts have to say at greenbuildingadvisor.com
Editor’s Note: This article was updated in July 2018. The testing results and thermal images were not changed.
Scott covered the basics of using bucks, and compared the benefits and features of ThermalBuck with the drawbacks of using wood, which had really been the only material choice until now. He also reviewed the product components, dimensions, and purchasing information. The piece finished with a mention of ThermalBuck receiving recognition at Greenbuild 2015 as one of the “Top Ten Greenest of the Green.”
Fine Homebuilding has been a sought-after resource for over 30 years for individuals focused on residential homebuilding, remodeling, and design. It’s content includes in-depth best practices, along with industry trends, tool and material reviews, and interviews with key figures in the building industry. Nearly 20,000 paid subscribers look to finehomebuilding.com for information, and circulation for the print edition tops 160,000.
Green Building Advisor is for the reader more focused on building science expertise. Designing, building and remodeling high-performance, energy-efficient homes is a niche that continues to explode, and this digital-only publication provides easy access to the latest advancements. With a highly active social media platform, and a number of blogs with dedicated followers such as “Musings of an Energy Nerd” , Green Building Advisor is an excellent resource, packed-full of accurate, reliable information.
Both sites offer unique conversational interaction with subscribers, allowing comments and Q&A’s at the end of each piece. What a great way for ThermalBuck to answer readers questions and concerns on the spot, and it also provided us with some excellent feedback to consider as our product develops and evolves.
Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Advisor are both publications of Taunton Press. Their editors are former builders, remodelers, and designers, offering real experience and in-depth knowledge on a full complement of information. For subscription information for Fine Homebuilding, click here. For a free trial membership to GBA, click here.
Billed as the architecture and design event of the year, attendees from all over the world will gather to attend workshops, seminars and events, and collaborate with experienced and emerging professionals in their field.
Some of the unusual and highly coveted experiences such as the tour of “Historic Boathouse Row” sold out early. But plenty of great workshops are tours still have spots available. First on our list is “The New Building Envelope”, featuring presenters Douglas Noble and Karen Kensek of the University of Southern California School of Architecture, and co-founders of the Facade Tectonics Institute. Also part of the presentation panel for this session are Mic Patterson and Jeffrey Vaglio, of Enclos, one of the largest specialty contractors in the US.
ThermalBuck joins nearly 800 exhibitors displaying the latest in products and technology. Please be our guest on the expo floor at AIA 2016, and view our wall displays in person to see exactly how ThermalBuck outperforms traditional wood bucks to build a better building envelope.
Risinger Goes Rogue recently featured 
