Since 1989, Sterling Custom Homes has been recognized as the premier Austin Texas custom home builder. Our extensive experience in construction science and our thirst for new, innovative products keeps us on the forefront of energy efficiency in our industry.
A product that has become more cost effective in recent years than it had been in the past is spray foam insulation. We learned about this product years ago, but the material and labor costs associated with its application made the payback period too long for it to be a viable recommendation to our clients.
The rules of the marketplace have forced the price of the materials down and, as it became more widely used, the labor costs have trended downward as well. This in turn has reduced the payback period for the additional cost (vs traditional insulation) and has made spray foam insulation a popular choice for our custom home clients.
Spray foam insulation is applied to the exterior walls and up into the rafters. The foam expands and is shaved back (see picture) to fully occupy the cavity between the studs. Since it’s applied to the rafters and not the ceiling, like traditional insulation was, the foam provides an insulative barrier at the roof level. This makes attic space considerably more usable as the temperature differential is only 20-30 degrees when compared to the conditioned space inside the home.
So not only does the foam insulation create a more energy efficient environment inside the home, it also creates more usable storage space in the attic area. Another benefit is that the mechanical equipment in the attic is operating in less sever conditions, extended its efficiency and useful life.
Sterling Custom Homes has been building the highest quality Austin luxury homes since 1989. We are a full-service custom homebuilder eager to assist you with your lot analysis, home design and construction.