High Performance Desert Build: ICF, SIPs, Ready-Frame & more.

Thanks Brad and Mark for the awesome tour of this Net Zero Desert home build.

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Huge thanks to our Show sponsors Builders FirstSource, Polywall, Huber, Prosoco, 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.

[Cliffhanger]

I would really love if after you talk about a detail to then show the plan detail for 5 secs. Connecting the discussion with the plans would be really cool.

[victorestevez]

I just LOVE when Pro’s come together to share knowledge for all to learn. Much love and respect to you Matt for making it happen.

[seanpalmer]

One of the nice things about building in the desert (or other places with mild winters): you can have large, north-facing windows to let in _lots_ of natural light. As long as they have vertical shade walls (usually perpendicular to the building) that are adequately large to keep out the direct sun at the summer solstice, you can add a ton of natural light with minimal thermal penalty _and_ without obstructing the view.

One of my biggest pet peeves about buildings in the desert is unshaded (or improperly shaded) glazing. Almost all non-custom homes put no thought into building orientation, and those buildings' thermal performance really suffers.

[mikemcgown]

I find this very interesting! I wanted to be an architect or engineer when I was in highschool but funding just wasn't there for me to go to college for the training. I've been studying as much as I can on my own to learn as much as possible. My mind is a sponge for this stuff! The questions I had, you asked! I understood the answers you got. Thanks to all involved in this video! Much appreciated! I learned a little more today. I can never explain what's going on in my head to my wife, so she can't understand why I do some of the things I do. I'm smarter than people want to think I am. Thanks for the video!

[hampyonce]

The architect guy is super cool. Good stuff, Build Show!

[he-man]

Good the hear that he can enjoy his cold beer while the rest of the southwest is running out of water.

[peteaulit]

I’d like to see the mechanical design on this house. Can you make this happen, Matt?

[ozzmundo]

Obviously this is a very high end home. Net zero could be had in the desert with 2x4 construction with a little bit of exterior foam. Add a battery and a large solar array. Double glass and blown in attic insulation is fine. Big overhangs and shading on windows will get you where you want.

This is obviously a crazy high end house and some of this stuff on this home would not required to get to net zero. IT is super cool and this home will be so nice.

[andrewwalker]

Doing a much smaller/less cost intensive build very similar to this in Texas right now. SIPS basement and ICF roof. Also doing a “radiant cooling” system with buried water line. Regular 2x6 framed walls on main floor, but doing exterior foam to combat thermal bridging. Roof structure is timber framed, so the huge amount of wood underneath those big trusses is a massive thermal bridge. Exterior foam seems like the only solution outside of SIPS on the main floor, and that was just too much work. It’s a DIY build.

[stevecuthbert]

I wish you guys were around when I was starting out with home purchases. There are so many great advances now with cost saving measures and efficiencies it's crazy. I'm 67 now and on the down side slope of life. If I could do it over I would be a builder with these factors in mind. I love your channel Matt. I refer you to many of my friends including one who is building in Arizona right now. Keep it real brother I'll be watching.

[NickValinski]

Matt, I'd love for you to check out EcoPanels of Tennessee - they are SIP panels I am using on a new addition right now that have even higher R value, higher flame resistance, camlocks for joining panels, huber Zip exterior, and electrical prerouted in the walls. It's a really nice upgrade over traditional SIPs.

[GeraldLeenerts]

Should have stopped by at our build here in Scottsdale where we are building a high performance that is also environmentally friendly and does not feature any foam.

[snowgorilla]

That is very impressive, am in Canada where cold/wet is the issue but looks like these products/systems will excel here as well

[Prorex]

These videos make me want to become a builder so bad. I love the nerdy details! Matt, can you come visit Abilene sometime? I want to have lunch.

[Foche_T._Schitt]

Should do VOC tests with all that foam and fireblock.

[jachevelle]

I built SIP, ICF (TOWARDS THE END), AND TIMBERFRAMES for over 17yrs. The hot knife is missing the guide for the sips. The ICF is best done with fur strips. That way the interior foam is not cut. The SIP roof is best build with a false roof to actually stop shinlge rideging. Also adds a air barrier and helps stop shingle ridging, and a area if the shingles leak onto the SIPS roof the water can drain off. When cutting with the hot knife you need to fill the void with foam before putting the wood in, the splines doesn't matter because you fill that after its put together with drilling holes every 12".

[christophergarland]

Awesome tutorial by the architect on how he designed the house and also I’m a huge fan that he can actually say that he made a mistake but fixed it. Notice his age. Not going to find to many of those people that are so intuned with the attention to detail in the next coming years

[captsavage]

Ghost threw some sunglasses at Matt at 7:06. 👻👻👻

[texasRoofDoctor]

Another great video and such a cool house. I really do enjoy learning of the best technology to make a passive house.
Note: the Austin Roof Doctor would have strongly advised him to put a greater slope on that Roof. He was wise to avoid the internal scuppers. With the recent plague of Mid Century Modern (yes some are beautiful and yes, some have Frank Lloyd Wright rolling in his grave) houses in Austin...we have already been called to repair several low slope roofs on new builds. Save yourself some tears and go with a 2/12 minimum slope. 3 is better. Or call us when it leaks.

[Firestorm]

I live on Maui where electricity is 40 cents/kwh and rising with gas prices. I own 2 EV’s, solar panels, and storage batteries. I save $500/month on gas and electricity. Sell excess electricity to the grid. My EV’s basically just tires for maintenance. No oil filters in land fills and no petrochemical odors. Nice to fill up at home.