Getting ready to start construction of 3000 sf home outside of Philadelphia, Pa. Basement will be Superior wall xi system, exterior walls will be 2x6 Nascor EPS panelized walls from Canada. Have been looking into ways to insulate the remainder of house and have been looking at bio-based urethane closed cell foam. Any recommendations as to which manufacturer to use. Will also be spraying 2 inches of foam directly to stone after Superior wall is installed and then adding radiant tubing before pouring slab. Thanks in advance.

You could augment the energy management by utilizing a water-in-tube system in the walls and ceiling that also circulate in a tubing "bed" under the basement to pick up heat from the earth and help maintain near constant temperature in your walls. In industry tests an well designed ICF system outperforms SIPs systems. Sips offer only "resistance" whereas the "Isolated" concrete between the foam of an ICF system will actually transfer heat into and out of the ground (depending on the season) through the footer and foundation. Especially good if you have a basement deep in the gound. The earth is an excellent source of near constant 65 degree energy. You just have to tap into that, and have enough "surface" below ground to not over cool a localized "bed" during winter in Phadelphia. In Arizona we have the opposite issue....having enough undergopund surface area to not over-heat a localized "bed" into which we are depositing heat (into the cooler 65 degree earth), thus circulating "chilled" water through the walls and ceiling to maintain a comfortable home temperature here in the Arid-zone of Arizona. The optimal building would be an ICF structure with a water-in-tube geothermal energy system......good luck with your project.

According to ORNL SIPS are superior. And, those 'industry tests', are they the ones that claim an R-70 wall?
The earth temperature where I live is around 50°, and in the winter the heat from inside will easily escape the R-10 inside layer of foam. It will then try to heat the concrete. That will fail as that near constant earth temperature will prevail. So, the heat that has escaped that inner layer of foam, is basically lost. They key is not to let it escape, and SIPS are better in that respect than ICF's.

ICF's excel at preventing air infiltration. Which is exactly where SIPS also excel, but SIPS are less expensive and usually offer higher R-Values.

If ICF's were so great, then ORNL studies would prove it out. The studies that I've seen only proved that ICF's are a better solution than a 2" x 4" fiberglass insulated stick framed wall.

HI, Could you explain what ORNL is and maybe direct me to a web site. Thanks.

ORNL = Oak Ridge National Laboratories

Hi NASCORPA,
I was wondering if you would still need any help building your house?
I live in NJ and would be willing to drive up to help any way i can during my days off.
I dont want paid, i just want to learn about the home building process and about the new and efficient materials available to build with.
my cell is
646-226-1227
my email is
[email protected]
take care- joe

Why don't you just get off one of your flights in Colorado? I've got several Owner/Builder projects going on. I'm sure that they would love the help!

I've been looking at Durisol ICF's and I find their product rather impressive. They use wood offcuts from other factories, ground up, rendered inert to form the traditional styrofoam section of ICF. They then insert a slab of rockwool insulation on the outer side of the concrete. Not the outside of the block mind you, the outer side of the cavity.

and, Canadian to boot eh?