Starting the envelope

The foundation walls are up and the workers are laying the 2" Dow Styrofoam Scoreboard insulation against the walls. This forms the continuous insulation (R-10) and moisture barrier along the masonry wall that is vital to our conditioned crawl space. It takes the place of any insulation that would normally be against the floor. The joints between pieces are sealed with expanding spray foam sealant, creating the continuous barrier. There will be a vinyl strip below the installed insulation that we will seal the floor vapor barrier to, once the house is dried in. It is already clear in watching the workers, that while thoughtful design and product choice are important in reaching the desired energy goals, correct application and attention to detail is equally important. It is noted that Dow STYROFOAM products are CFC Free, they do not contain fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) regulated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in the Montreal Protocol.