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Insulation Options

As energy costs continue to rise, home buyers are increasingly interested in cost effective ways to reduce energy consumption. Hensley Premier Builders offers its customers up to 6 different options to insulate their home. Our recommended solution consists of what we believe offers our customers the best value proposition available today. Options for insulation include Fiberglass Batts, Cellulose, Rockwool, Fiberglass Fibers, Expanding Foam, and a hybrid combination of insulation types known as "flash and blow".

The world of insulation is constantly changing as new products and installation techniques are developed. One recent development allows a dense form of cellulose to be applied to wall cavities, creating a sealed wall cavity with an R value of nearly 17 (not tested at this value). The cost-benefit of this type of insulation is significant and is one of two recommended solutions for Hensley homes. Keep in mind that current building codes require an R-13 insulation in exterior wall cavities. While many of the insulation options offer a greater R value, these options have not been certified to provide more than code requirements.

For those homeowners who can afford the additional up-front capital investment of Expanding Foam, Hensley Premier Builders recommends this solution. This type of insulation will add approx. $2.50/sq. ft. to the cost of construction. Homeowners can expect to decrease total energy consumption by as much as 35% using Expanding Foam insulation. The return on investment for the installation of Expanding Foam is approximately 34% per year. This calculation is based on energy cost savings vs debt service for the capital expense. Homeowners who opt for Expanding Foam may also benefit from higher appraisal values.

For the ultimate in state-of-the-art insulation applications, our homeowners should opt for "flash and blow". This term refers to a hybrid installation of both expanding foam and cellulose or fiberglass insulation. The expanding foam is used to seal the envelop of the home, while the cellulose/fiberglass provides the code-required R value. In addition to the insulation. we recommend the installation of a structural insulating exterior sheathing, such as Dow Building Solutions' SIS board. This product provides a continuous R-3 wrap around the exterior walls of the home. Coupled with flash-and-blow and the use of 6" exterior wall studs with Dow SIS, the effective R value for the walls is R-22.5.

* Not verified or tested in this configuration

** STC is an industry acronym for "Sound Transmission Class". It is a rating given to wall and floor/ceiling systems that indicates the system's ability to stop the transmission of sound. The higher the STC, the better. An STC of 50 or higher stops virtually all sound from one room to another. An STC of 25 or lower is considered unacceptable for blocking sound transmission in a residential environment.

*** Rankings are based on total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI).