ZIP-R Sheathing Review (Feat. Steve Baczek)

Zip-R Sheathing is an easy way to get a thermal break on the outside of your house! Matt Risinger and Steve Baczek break down the options and benefits of this Zip Sheathing bonded to PolyIso insulation.

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Huge thanks to our Show sponsors Builders FirstSource, Polywall, Huber, Rockwool & Viewrail for helping to make these videos possible! These are all trusted companies that Matt has worked with for years and trusts their products in the homes he builds. We would highly encourage you to check out their websites for more info.

[Cali]

This contractor is also very good at conceptualizing and verbalizing these things for the layman. I appreciate that.

[markr.devereux]

You gentlemen gave me a few characteristics that other reviews failed to.provide. YOU GET AN A. Congratulations!

[petersmith]

Steve is great, like his way of explaining things. Pls have him on more.

[stevenerickson]

I am in Minnesota. I plan to build in the next couple of years. Thanks for the great information. BTW last year at the farm, the build location, near Duluth MN go to -32 for a streatch last winter.

[atomicsmith]

I used zip-r on my house and had a ‘metal lug’ cast into the slab. It’s a 1.5”x1.5” step that goes all the way around the building. The zip-r then sits down in that helping to seal the bottom plate. I used some big stretch to create a backer and the zip liquid flash as the final seal between the zip and concrete.

Matt, you asked when should the insulation be to the inside of the sheathing vs outside of the sheathing. All I got was there are different rules for different climates. Would it be possible to go over those rules for different climates, the pro's and con's. You go discuss freezing climates on a regular basis. I live in southern California, 100+ degree days don't feel good either. Thank you for all the education. Just a suggestions Sir.

[ccaseybello]

Form and function! I am absolutely loving learning about insulation. Our environment is depending on these changes to net zero all the energy our current houses use. I would be honored to build a house with Steve.

[Noisy_Cricket]

The thing I like about exterior insulation of this type is that it's less assembly to worry about. Anytime you can eleminate a step, that's a good thing.

[gyminit]

This was the easiest way we figured when we built our house, we just set the foundation walls out 2 1/2 inches wider so the zip R 2" would be flush with the foundation wall, kept the zip up about 1/2 inch and spray foamed between the foundation and zip and liquid flashed the connection between foundation and zip

[nicholashartzler]

Could you do a 2x8 bottom plate and notch out the insulation so that the sheathing ties into it directly?

[adamkrause]

What is the perm rating of this foam? How is this not a double vapor barrier?

[wjthehomebuilder]

Always good to see Mr. Baczek!!
I just finished a Zip R house and it was more difficult for this reason. In my area, Zip R is not available in 9 or 10' lengths. Only 8' lengths. Thus there was a ton of extra blocking required to compensate. I'm still a fan of the product; just wish we can get longer sheets.

[erickessler]

Matt, Steve,
Excellent Educational Video. You two provide an outstanding collaboration and thought provoking discussions!

I loved the explanation that various exterior sheathing insulation options are NOT an issue of which is ultimate but more related to the set of Rules that go with the selected exterior insulation opinion!
I love the Dr. Joe perfect wall on Matt's house, BUT for all the non-standard construction processes (and without a pro like Matt on the job), I wonder how much net value and cost it is over a Zip-R (R6 or R9) with a 1-2" flash of CCSF and blown insulation or RockWool inside (for my Southern-NC Coastal area)???

Man, you guys get at some Excellent aspects like climate zone options and regional code issues like Jake's 2x8. I'm thinking the Tape detail at bottom of Zip-R would be better at stopping bugs and improve Air and Vapor boundry.... as long as the tape sticks for 50+yrs! Also, I'm thinking the insulation blanket should cover the Sill plate would be best???

Cheers,
Eric

[vcpvcp]

With the sheathing held off the framing by relatively soft foam, I’ve gotta believe the shear (racking) strength is drastically reduced.

[kendog]

One thing I've noticed, in so many of these videos dealing with Zip-R, and it's benefits, is they don't ever seem to talk about the wall to roof transition, and what to do with the room sheathing. Zip-R isn't certified(?) for roof usage, like it is on the wall, so you still have that thermal connection compared to the thermal break Zip-R has in the wall.

[joemartino]

Good stuff. I'll keep this option in mind when I build my garage/apartment.

[tamil]

Would have been very helpful/useful in this type of video when discussing one specific product to state the current price of Zip R vs standard OSB and what it means cost wise for a typical new build. I know there are some additional benefits but the biggest reason to use Zip R is the savings it would provide in heating and cooling and calculating this is a very complicated thing.

[ProfessionalFixologist]

A major advantage of the Zip R versus Zip+exterior insulation is when the inside moisture finds a cold surface inside the wall cavity, the moisture will condense on the waterproof poly-iso, instead of on the un-faced OSB side of the Zip, which is vulnerable to any moisture.

[rudycasias]

Seems like with the condensing point. Does it make more sense for Tx to put the insulation on the outside of the sheathing?

[davidpatrick]

Great video -- How do you attach a ledger to(or through) zip R6? I have a porch roof truss is supposed to be attached to the sheathed walls and will sit on a ledger. But I'm afraid the ledger won't have the support it needs unless it's attached directly to the framing. Thoughts?