Building Envelope Lessons from VISION House Austin

Layering insulation products pumps up the performance of the VISION House Austin.

When Green Builder Media and Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture collaborated on the VISION House Austin project, a custom home carefully designed to stand up to the sweltering Austin heat, the goal was to develop a high performance low-maintenance home for the homeowners. 

While the owners have long been proponents of environmentally friendly practices, a recent COGNITION Smart Data survey by Green Builder Media found that every generation expressed their willingness to pay more for a home that’s built sustainably to stand the test of time and the demands of today’s homebuyers. 

Controlling airflow is one of the most important components to construct a high-performance modern home. That control starts with the building envelope, which works best as a compatible system designed with components that work together from the start. At the VISION House Austin, Henry®, a Carlisle Company, provided an array of products that support the time-honored design of the home that reflects an understanding of the surrounding topography and climate. 

For every home, the building envelope includes a basement or slab foundation, walls, doors, windows and the roof. Ideally, the first line of defense against the intrusion of extreme temperatures and moisture is specialized building envelope products that “armor” the home before siding, drywall and the roof are installed. Builders rely on wraps, flashings, insulation, and roofing membranes or barriers to create a tight envelope.

Learn more about the layers that contribute to a tight building envelope that Henry included at the VISION House Austin, including:

• Blueskin, a self-adhered, vapor-permeable, weather-resistive barrier
• Blueskin ZeroFlash window and door flashing
• R-Tech engineered rigid continuous insulation 
• Blueskin PE200HT, a high temperature roof underlayment 
• SealTite PRO HFO, a low-impact closed-cell spray foam
• SealTite PRO OCX, an open-cell spray foam that can be used in attics and ceilings in place of fiberglass, cellulose or other loose-fill products

Download the “Pushing the Envelope” eBook here to get the insights you need for building envelope improvements.