Seems like the only difference between theirs and other vendor's low expansion sealing foam is that it's pink. (You'll still get better performance out of blown or sprayed insulation than with pink batts though.) The concept is right though: Make the sheathing & framing work as a true air barrier by sealing the interfaces with foam.

I'm very interested in this product as well. If it works long term without any cracking or debonding i think it will be the death knell to alot of alternative building systems, and if the installed price is reasonable in comparison to energy savings you have an air barrier cure-all for stick building.

It looks like pink Great Stuff. You still have fiberglass batt insulation in the walls!! If it looks like a rat, and smells like a rat, its probably a rat.

No one said you have to have fiberglass in the walls.

...and nobody says your low-expansion sealing foam has to be pink either.

Foam sealants are not a new product, and they work well, whether they look like strawberry yogurt, soft vanilla ice cream, or blueberry frappe. Turning sheathing into an air-barrier using foams/tapes/caulks is also pretty standard stuff these days with contractors who actually care about a building's thermal & hygric performance.

Owens Corning only using their higher-density batts with this "system", but they're still batts, with all of the typical shortcomings thereof.

I don't look for OC batts to be the "death knell" to alternative systems, it is an attempt to regain market share in energy efficient products. I do see fiberglass batts to become the asbestos siding of the future.

Since I wasn't sure why in the hell you guys are talking about batts and low expansion foam I looked at the link.

I should clarify the ONLY part of this system I think is a great idea is the spray on air barrier. From what I understand it's very flexible and thin and would be a whole lot faster, thorough the first time and easier than the caulk tube and foam can method. Plus it covers for example the joint between double top plates or trimmers, ect. in which I dont trust a caulk joint to last unless it was routed out. Skip their batts and go with dense pack.

Regarding death knells, this type of product is what stick framing needs and would accomplish an easy air barrier that other alternative building systems make easier to achieve albeit at a more premium cost. Because of the massive market share of stick framing and increasing energy awareness among consumers, products like these that boost stick frame performance are going to hurt alternative building systems marketshare.
Of the 6+ industry magazines that come in my mailbox they all are talking about energy saving products alot; this month I didn't find one mention of icf in an article and there was one mention of sips mentioned alongside panelized stick frame construction in Builder magazine this month. I mean you guys sell good products and you cant get hardly any exposure in trade magazines that go to the builders who push customers into the building system they want to use. That's horrendous performance of the alternative building industry. So alternative systems get no exposure and their developing new or improved products for stick framing, for those in alterntive industry you should be concerned. My .02

I just completed my last 7 hours of continuing education to maintain licensing, the instructor told the class  they had better start to consider alternative building methods in order to keep up with the new energy codes coming into effect.

We have been using the same alternative method for the last 16 years, have gone thru 3 hurricane code updates and 2 energy efficiency updates and have not yet made any changes to the way we build , on the otherhand conventional builders keep adding straps, clips and more nails to stay in compliance with structural requirements and keep adding bandaids to keep in compliance with efficiency guidelines.
We are finally approaching the tipping point when the "lightbulb" goes off in the builders head an they realize there must be an easier cost effective way instead of the same old same old..

cm
you don't have to tie down the panels to the foundations & the walls to the roof? Any idea about in CA?

Posted By Bob I on 23 Jun 2010 10:28 PM
cm
you don't have to tie down the panels to the foundations & the walls to the roof? Any idea about in CA?

wedge bolts to the slab, SIP screws to tie roof to wall (simple!)......... NO simpson ties, go bolts, hurricane clips, straps, etc. etc. etc.

I have seen conventional wood framing nailed so much the 2x's are reduced to toothpicks

Have no idea what CA requirenets are