Halo Exterra - Exterior Insulation: 2023 Code Updates

New building codes are coming soon and certain climate zones are going to be affected. Matt breaks down what those changes are and how you can use Halo Exterra to easily keep up with the changes.

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Huge thanks to our Show sponsors Builders FirstSource, Polyguard, 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.

[danmccoy]

I used 11/2" foam board on the outside of my walls and an inch of closed cell spray foam on the inside to seal. And filled cavity with Rockwool. So around R29. And R65 Cellulose in the ceilings. I wanted 2" minimum outside to mitigate the condensation. All of the contractors telling me that one inch of spray foam was enough. I didn't go with what they were telling me. That was in 2017. Boy am I glad I didn't listen to them. I installed geothermal heating and cooling myself. And have 10, 080 watts of solar. Have had zero bills. For 6 years. I live in Wisconsin. 3400sqft heated and cooled to what ever temperature I want. at all times.

[shubinternet]

I still prefer Rockwool over Exterra. Rockwool is much more fire resistant, and that's an important factor for where we live in Austin, Texas.

[JFabric]

I love ya Matt but I wish you would do more cost comparison videos. There’s a “best”practice, but also there’s a cost impact for all of these products.

[DannerCronise]

Thanks, Matt! We’ve been converting an abandoned Home Depot shed into a house and just did a video installing Rockwool Comfortboard exterior insulation. We’re in Tennessee and installed the insulation over the WRB (tyvek). I’m looking forward to seeing how it holds up overtime. I loved the analogy with the puffy jacket!

[ignagfitzpeltz]

Thanks for the video. It confirmed a good choice earlier this year. I helped my son add 1" Halo Exterra this summer to his remodel house in NY. He also replaced every window and door, so we bucked out each RO 1" to accommodate the foam and it worked out well. Looking forward to a warm winter inside.

[andykross]

Those code changes will make ICF construction even more appealing. ICF, the original outsulation.

[corykertz]

Awesome work Matt. As a young homeowner I’m excited for construction to move past building to the current lackluster standards. I’m finding myself replacing every builder grade item asap.

[radoslavtomov]

Here in Europe, external EPS insulation is standard as most of our houses are either brick/concrete or stone. It is the cheapest way to do the job. I got 20 cm thick on the outside of my house. I would prefer ventilated facade with rockwool insulation on the outside, but the price is nasty

[MikrySoft]

I live in Warsaw, Poland, so climate is about that of Chicago, maybe a bit further north. I just looked at some home plans available for sale and I saw nothing under 8" of insulation, with 12" becoming more common. XPS or rockwool, both have about the same thermal conductivity. That's R38-R56 on that insulation alone, up to R46-68 when you factor in 10-12" thick walls with R-value of about 0.9/inch thanks to areated concrete blocks. Of course, that's peak value, not counting reinforced poured columns (maybe 5" every couple of meters, probably 1-2 per wall in most single family houses, plus extra around large windows) and top plate.

[dannyobert]

Matt, thanks for all your videos they are super helpful. I am very soon building my family home in Middle Tennessee. I am a little confused with how to proceed with exterior insulation because i have watched your videos on ZIP System which has the insulation attached to the inside of the panel, but here you show sheathing first with the insulation installed on the outside. I hope you have time to answer this and clear it up for me. Again thanks for all your videos.

[TRYtoHELPyou]

The truly most effective continuing education here, matt. Thanks.

[bobe]

Another important selling point of GPS (Graphite Polystyrene) in general (not specific to Exterra) is that it does not lose R-value as temperatures go down. Polyiso loses R-value the colder it gets.

[flattop]

4:59 You're correct that I have seen condensation on a window however until I left San Diego area of California where I lived for 53 years I did not, ever see condensation on any of our windows. I saw it in Washington I saw it in New York I saw it in Oregon, but even where I moved when I left California, to the desert outside of Las Vegas, there is never been condensation on the windows here, it's too dry.
Just making a point that not everybody has seen condensation on their windows. I don't know why I never saw in California because there's plenty of moisture in the air but maybe it just doesn't get cold enough, and we didn't have air conditioning ever running so when it got hot enough we just dealt with the heat

[JeminiThaBard]

Come on, Matt. Everybody living in Texas the past few years know that the lowest point in winter is in February. 😂 I got to consult the Mafia, uh i mean the H.O.A. before i consider the Exterra. Looks cool..or warm! Thanks for the video!

[ledebuhr]

Matt, Have you ever watched Spray Jones on YouTube? He has many videos on spray foam insulation. One of his videos show that with 2x6 studs that thermal bridging is not much of an issue. He shows that in Canada that just Closed Cell in a 2x6 wall will have very good performance. The 2x6 Stud with spray foam has a higher R-value than its numerical value would lead you to believe. He shows it's not really necessary to have rigid foam on the outside. The thermal imaging camera is amazing. With Spay Foam, there is a point of diminishing returns.

[jameshattey]

I love your videos. I'm in southwestern Michigan and have never seen external insulation on a new build. i have noticed many houses being built with 2x6 walls in the last few years but standard 2x4 with R-13 batts and osb sheathing is still the majority.

[JBean_COCR]

Thank you Matt, love your show. I have a 20 year old house (2x6 R15 w/R45-50 roof) in central Colorado at 9600' altitude. We are climate zone 7 but low on water (<15"). I was under tight budget when I built my house back then, even so I surpassed the code by a lot back then. I have a very good grasp and experience in building science (Certified Energy Manager retired). I am also in a fire prone area so have commercial grade metal roof and concrete fiber siding. My windows are dual pane and failing, so planning to replace with good triple pane, and have thought about either adding this Halo product or rock wool with my existing concrete fiber siding, or replace with EIFS. I've seen a lot of EIFS go up on commercial buildings but not the Halo with concrete fiber (oh and our wind load here is high 120 MPH, have to top and bottom nail the concrete fiber boards). I'm assuming EIFS is more expensive, and would be for me. I'd like to get at least R5 more, prefer the R7.5 ci for the exterior. How would the CF boards attach? What would be the +/- of these approaches. Thanks

[JackOfHearts]

Here in Ontario Canada, the code requires exterior board insulation to be vapour open (above 0.5 perms) but too many builders trap the moisture with foil faced polyiso. Halo Exterra is a much better product.

[jacoblarsson]

I'm building my house in Sweden with only exterior insulation. I'm using 300mm/12 inches Graphite EPS resulting in Long screws needed for sure! Need to calculate how much thermal bridging the screws end up with...

[imtheonevanhalen]

Those massively wide overhangs are a no go in high-wind recommendation is 8 inches to reduce lift at the soffit. I redid an old house with 2x4 braced corners, and used R-Max poly-iso outer sheathing....man that stuff is incredible!!