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For maximum insulation benefits, Way-Mar’s
2 x 3 wood studs stand out from the exterior
wall of John’s house to allow for a continuous
layer of foam. The large gap, according to John,
“guarantees the continuity of the air tightness,
water tightness, and thermal tightness of the
building.”
Dr. John Straube stands in the unfinished second story of his garage. He main-
tains that proper insulation allows a homeowner a wider range of heating and
cooling equipment while sometimes avoiding the need to run duct work through
a house. The future, he says, lies in electric heating, but “we can’t actually install
electric systems in our climate for affordable heating unless we do a really good
job of insulating.”
“Still solid, still strong:” This is how John describes
a transitional section of insulation that sticks to the
wood stud after being exposed to the elements for
close to a year while the addition to his home takes
shape.
“Whether you’re
building or renovating,
it pays in the long-run
to invest a little more
in your insulation so
that it will last for the
life of your home.”
TOTAL HOME MAGAZINE
FALL 2016
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tends that you cannot overestimate its val-
ue. Besides lowering energy costs, which
are directly connected to a homeowner’s
environmental footprint, John asserts that
the greatest value of a well-insulated home
boils down to two words: comfort and
health. “The reason I want a well-insulat-
ed and air tight house is because I want a
comfortable and healthy home,” John says.
“If I don’t have proper insulation, I end up
with cold spots which can lead to conden-
sation, mold and a musty basement.”
And while there are other eco-friendly
options, like solar panels, they tend to be
expensive. “Insulation is an easy way to
make a big difference,” John maintains.
“But because you can’t see it, because it’s
not even attractive when you do see it,
people routinely don’t make the invest-
ment in proper insulation.”