The key is to install alternative wall bracing, either “let-in” or metal strapping to meet code-mandated structural requirements.
Tremendous demand and supply chain interruptions have caused the price of OSB to shoot up by as much as 100 percent over pre-pandemic prices.
OSB Replacement. Styrofoam Residential Sheathing offers a lightweight, efficient sheathing alternative to high-priced OSB panels.
One solution: Specify rigid Styrofoam Residential Sheathing instead of OSB, for sections of the home that can be brought to code with other stiffening measures. Essentially you’re pre-strengthening the wall, so the insulating panels can perform their primary function: reducing air infiltration and greatly improving building performance.
According to DuPont, the manufacturer of Styrofoam, “The weatherization can be completed by covering the Residential Sheathing with a water- and air-resistive barrier, like DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap, allowing for windows and penetrations to be fully integrated to the weather barrier.”
Resources: Here’s anarticle from Fine Homebuilding on four ways to brace a foam-clad exterior.
If the Styrofoam is installed this way, it addresses a key envelope “weakness” that OSB alone does not: thermal bridging. As a result, it can boost the R-value of exterior walls by up to 20 percent. Also, by reducing the total amount of heat moving through a wall, the product makes condensation inside the wall cavity far less likely. In some climates, moisture trapped in wall cavities can be a major cause of mold or mildew growth.
Veteran journalist Matt Power has reported on innovation and sustainability in housing for nearly three decades. An award-winning writer, editor, and filmmaker, he has a long history of asking hard questions and adding depth and context as he unfolds complex issues.
Styrofoam Can Work as Sheathing Without OSB Panels
The key is to install alternative wall bracing, either “let-in” or metal strapping to meet code-mandated structural requirements.
Tremendous demand and supply chain interruptions have caused the price of OSB to shoot up by as much as 100 percent over pre-pandemic prices.
OSB Replacement. Styrofoam Residential Sheathing offers a lightweight, efficient sheathing alternative to high-priced OSB panels.
One solution: Specify rigid Styrofoam Residential Sheathing instead of OSB, for sections of the home that can be brought to code with other stiffening measures. Essentially you’re pre-strengthening the wall, so the insulating panels can perform their primary function: reducing air infiltration and greatly improving building performance.
According to DuPont, the manufacturer of Styrofoam, “The weatherization can be completed by covering the Residential Sheathing with a water- and air-resistive barrier, like DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap, allowing for windows and penetrations to be fully integrated to the weather barrier.”
Resources: Here’s an article from Fine Homebuilding on four ways to brace a foam-clad exterior.
If the Styrofoam is installed this way, it addresses a key envelope “weakness” that OSB alone does not: thermal bridging. As a result, it can boost the R-value of exterior walls by up to 20 percent. Also, by reducing the total amount of heat moving through a wall, the product makes condensation inside the wall cavity far less likely. In some climates, moisture trapped in wall cavities can be a major cause of mold or mildew growth.
By Matt Power, Editor-In-Chief
Veteran journalist Matt Power has reported on innovation and sustainability in housing for nearly three decades. An award-winning writer, editor, and filmmaker, he has a long history of asking hard questions and adding depth and context as he unfolds complex issues.Also Read