5 ms·
Usually concrete walls have a foam core. Solid concrete is only about R0.5/in, about half as good as wood. Even so, insulated cavities are totally obsolete. Ex
by shereadsthenews 7y ago
Usually concrete walls have a foam core. Solid concrete is only about R0.5/in, about half as good as wood.
Even so, insulated cavities are totally obsolete. Exterior foam is far superior.
- taneq 7y agoWow, really? Interesting, the one's I'm familiar with (used in tilt-up construction) are just solid concrete (maybe plus some rebar). Totally with you on exterior foam though, you want the insulation outside of the thermal mass if at all possible.
- dillonmckay 7y agoCheck out ICF: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulating_concrete_form https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulating_concrete_form There may be some copyright shenanigans w/ that page. There have also been successfully constructed in-ground pools using this material, but appears to be controversial to traditional pool-builders.
- galangalalgol 7y agoWhat are the common ways to protect the exterior foam?
- shereadsthenews 7y agoYou put the building cladding, whatever it is, outside the foam. So usually from inside out: a wall, foam on wall, drainage screen, cladding. Can be brick, wood, whatever. There’s also exterior foam cladding that’s made to be open to the elements but it doesn’t look great or last a long time either.