Insulated siding can improve a home’s energy efficiency. Most exterior walls have insulation in between the wall studs, but allow significant energy loss through the studs themselves. Wall studs, both wood and metal, are poor insulators ? when they come in contact with the exterior cladding, they allow heat to pass through them (which is called a thermal bridge). Since these studs represent up to 25% of the wall surface of an average home, it’s like having an entire exterior wall with no insulation at all.

Insulated siding improves energy efficiency by reducing thermal bridging ? like a blanket, it is continuous insulation over the studs, which helps homes stay cool in summer and warm in winter.

This great video from the Vinyl Siding Institute helps easily explain thermal bridging and how insulated siding helps improve energy efficiency.

While many homeowners are familiar with ENERGY STAR? qualified appliances and energy efficient windows, they may be surprised to learn that insulated siding can also improve a home’s energy performance. Insulated siding is now accepted as home insulation in various energy efficiency programs ? including the checklist of building products or methodologies that can help meet the requirements to qualify under ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes. You can learn more at?www.insulatedsiding.info

 

Last winter, many people across the country became familiar with the phrase “polar vortex” as they battled subzero temperatures, heavy snows, and a longer-than-normal winter season. Depending on what source you reference for weather predictions, the 2014-2015 winter may not be better:

“With its traditionally 80% accurate weather forecasts, The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that this winter will be another arctic blast with above-normal snowfall throughout much of the nation.” (source)

When tough winters strike, homeowners that made the choice to add insulation and reduce air infiltration don’t experience the same winter pains as others. Lower energy bills, a quieter home on blustery winter nights, and more evenly-heated living spaces are just a few benefits of additional insulation.

You may think homes contain a good amount of fiberglass insulation in the walls, but it’s important to know that additional insulation is needed on the?outside?of the home. A recently article by The Times Herald?does a great job of explaining why more insulation is needed, and why products like Insulated Siding fit the bill:

“Today’s homeowners looking for ways to improve their home’s energy performance are increasingly choosing insulated siding ? vinyl siding with rigid foam insulation that is laminated or permanently attached to the panel. Think of it as adding an extra layer to ward off the cold.

Most exterior walls have insulation in between the wall studs but allow significant energy loss through the studs themselves, which are poor insulators. This is called ?thermal bridging.? Insulated siding improves energy efficiency by reducing thermal bridging. Like a blanket, it is continuous insulation over the studs, which helps homes stay warm in winter and cool in summer.”?

Watch this video?to learn how insulated siding can help protect homes (and pocketbooks) against harsh winters.

 

The EPS Industry Alliance recently announced the release of the 2013 Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Recycling Rate Report. This report is compiled from survey responses from 41 EPS manufacturers and independent recyclers in the United States. The report shows 34% of post-consumer EPS was recycled in 2013. An increase of 32 million pounds of post-consumer and post-commercial EPS was recycled in 2013, a significant increase from 2012.

This important report helps show the progress that is being made to reduce the impact that manufacturing has on the environment. Advances in EPS recycling and collection programs have continued to expand the opportunities for recycling EPS. In addition, the EPS industry fosters ongoing development of new and innovative recycling initiatives that will promote further EPS recycling growth.

Progressive Foam?is just one of many EPS manufacturers that is working to continue to reduce the impact that EPS?manufacturing has on the environment. Our production process includes a combination of clean technologies that minimize energy inputs through closed-loop energy recycling. No solid waste is generated during the production of our siding insulation products, and no generated waste goes to the landfill. During the production of our siding insulation products, all waste is fully recaptured and repurposed.

Click here to view the full report> ?

Although vinyl siding has been around for decades, that doesn’t mean it’s “old” technology. In fact, vinyl siding with?Fullback?V?insulation from?Progressive Foam?provides industry-leading performance characteristics that make it a cutting-edge contender.

Vinyl siding with FullbackV is an excellent choice for applications where energy efficiency, durability, and low maintenance are priorities:

– With an r-value of 2.0 to 3.5, FullbackV can make vinyl siding the most energy-efficient cladding on the market

– FullbackV provides vinyl siding with maximum durability that stands up to hail, high winds, and accidental impacts

– With exceptional permeability, FullbackV protects against rot, mold, and mildew

– Unlike other exterior claddings that require costly, time-consuming upkeep, vinyl siding with FullbackV is virtually maintenance free

 

Watch this video to learn how FullbackV breaks the thermal bridge!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FullbackV is available as either a factory-laminated or field-applied vinyl siding insulation. In both cases, the rigid foam insulation provides all the benefits described above, and more. In particular, FullbackV is a solution for thermal bridging, a term used to describe energy leaks at the points where wood studs are located. Since nearly 25% of a home’s wall surface is made of studs (that typically are not insulated), this is like having one entire wall of the home with no insulation! FullbackV makes vinyl siding thermally superior to all other cladding options by delivering 3 to 6 times the thermal performance of traditional vinyl siding.

Want To Learn More? Click Here

Progressive Foam is the leader in siding insulation. For more than 22 years, we’ve manufactured innovative products for siding insulation that make buildings comfortable and energy efficient. Contact us and we’ll help you determine if FullbackV is right for your siding insulation needs.

 

 

HalfbackH20 is a general siding insulation product that not only insulates your home, but also provides an extreme level of?protection against bulk water that may accumulate on the sheathing surface.

How It WorksHalfbackH20 is a closed cell, rigid siding insulation with drainage grooves for enhanced moisture management. The grooves are built into the back of the insulation panels to allow bulk water to run down the wall. We call it “universal” because this sheathing can be installed under any new siding product, including vinyl siding, fiber cement, engineered wood, steel, brick, and cultured stone. HalfbackH2O is an excellent choice when moisture management is a top priority, such as:

• Multi-story buildings, to ensure ?drainage from the top of the wall
• Older home retrofits where components inside the wall are unknown
• Any building application where moisture management is a concern

HalfbackH2O siding insulation is available in?Standard?(white) or Premium?(graphite-enhanced), depending on the R-value desired.
3/4″ = R-2.3 1″ = R-3.3	3/4″=?R-3.0 1″  = R-4.0 1-1/4″ = R-5.0
Click here to learn more about the enhanced energy efficiency of Premium HalfbackH20

 

?HalfbackH2O: Case StudiesCheck out these case studies to see HalfbackH2O siding insulation projects that?achieved maximum moisture management with high permeability and R-values:
Shippensburg University (Pennsylvania)		Mill Street Apartments (Massachusetts)		Residential Mold Remediation (Delaware)

 

The ASTM D20 Main Committee has jointly awarded Tim Holt and The Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) the Findley Award for their work on developing ASTM standard D7793 for insulated vinyl siding. ASTM D7793 was first published in July 2012, after a six-year period of development and balloting.

D7793 will help to insure that certain performance standards are met for a product to be considered insulated vinyl siding. Although there were previously standards for vinyl siding and EPS insulation, it soon became clear that additional coverage was needed for the performance characteristics unique to insulated vinyl siding as a combined product. Completion and publication of D7793 is key to establishing the technical credibility of insulated vinyl siding, and promoting its continued acceptance and growth in the marketplace.

The Findley Award has only been given three times previously, and is intended to recognize the use of ASTM standards to support innovative use of plastics. Tim officially received the award at the biannual ASTM meeting this month.?ASTM committee D20, which selected Tim as the award recipient, oversees 475 standards on plastics and has approximately 700 members.

A big congratulations goes out to Tim on receiving this award for his time and effort dedicated to developing the new standard.

When new siding is installed on your home, it is important to add insulation under the siding at the same time (click here to learn why). Because the insulation is a small component of the entire job, you may not be paying attention to the details of the warranty. Warranties are designed to provide assurance to customers against faulty or defective products, and therefore are an important element of any new purchase.

There are many different types of insulation products available today. While most of these products have warranties that cover the same key characteristics, they don’t all provide the same level of coverage. You want to be sure that the insulation you choose will protect your home, and your investment, for years to come.

Here are some important aspects of an insulation warranty that you will want to be aware of:

MATERIAL COSTS VS. LABOR COSTS:?If something goes wrong with a product, many manufacturers will only play to replace the faulty material, while you are left to cover all labor costs. Although not many manufacturers offer it, look for the products that cover the labor to correct any possible problems as well.

LENGTH OF COVERAGE: Typically, a warranty with a longer term will imply that the product is of better quality, or that the company is willing to stand behind their product longer. Many insulation manufacturers have warranties of 15 or 30 years, while some go as far as to cover the lifetime of the siding job.

TRANSFERABLE TO NEXT HOMEOWNER: If you aren’t planning on staying in your home for the entire length of coverage, a warranty can be an added bonus for a home buyer. However, some warranties expire when a home is sold. Make sure the warranty for your insulation transfers to a subsequent homeowner, and that you are aware of any paperwork that must be filed to do so.

TRACK RECORD: Doing a Google search or finding reviews on a company can tell you a lot about the track record of their products, and the strength of their warranty. Always make sure you are buying a product from a reputable manufacturer that will stand behind their product in the unlikely event that a problem occurs.

To learn more about the warranty offered by Progressive Foam, click here>

?Source:?http://www.vinylsiding.org/ABOUTSIDING/insulated/

You may be familiar with housewrap, a common component when building a new home or residing an existing one. Housewrap typically comes in rolls and is installed directly over the structural sheathing, underneath any new exterior insulation or siding added to the wall. If you’re considering building a home or buying new siding, you may be wondering if housewrap is necessary for you. Let’s first take a closer look at what housewrap is and the purpose it serves.

What is House Wrap?

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), house wrap is one type of weather resistive barrier (WRB) that is placed over the structural sheathing.

Housewraps protect the wall system from bulk water, such as rain, on the exterior of the home. At the same time, housewraps allow water vapor that is generated within the home to pass through, instead of trapping it in the wall and potentially causing mold and mildew problems.

How Do Housewraps Work?

It may be hard to believe that housewraps are able to keep out liquid water while simultaneously?allowing water vapor to pass through. When water molecules are in their liquid from, they group together and actually act as larger molecules. When water is in vapor form, it is actually individual water molecules. The tiny holes in housewrap are large enough to let the vapor molecules pass through, while at the same time blocking the larger grouped molecules.

When properly sealed, some manufacturers claim that their housewraps also reduce air infiltration, which can help save energy and improve the indoor comfort level of a home.

Do I Need a Housewrap?

Installing housewrap on a new home or new siding job has become a customary practice for many builders and remodelers. At Progressive Foam, we recommend the use of a housewrap under any of our siding insulation products as a best practice, although not all exterior replacements or local codes require them. If a need for housewrap is present, using Progressive Foam insulation does not eliminate that requirement. However, because every home situation is different, your local siding installation professional is the best resource for a recommendation that is customized for your home.