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Indecisive on insulation type? Here’s a one-to-one comparison.

Modern Insulation Methods

Think back to the first time in your life you saw insulation.

Was it fluffy, loose-fill in the attic trusses your childhood home?

Was it traditional batt insulation visible in the walls or ceilings of an unfinished basement?

When someone says “insulation,” most people think of big, thick batts that fill the void between studs in walls and floors. However, product innovations in insulation, such as rigid foam board, are encouraging builders everywhere to incorporate them into their projects.

That presents a new dilemma. Which rigid foam board insulation type is the best? Two popular options to choose from are polyiso and graphite polystyrene.

Graphite Polystyrene

Graphite expanded polystyrene (GEPS) insulation is a rigid foam board product that is used for both new construction and retrofit projects. In fact, according to BASF, GEPS can provide up to 20% more energy savings for homes and buildings compared to its traditional white expanded polystyrene counterpart. The addition of graphite to the product reduces radiant heat transfer, delivering more favorable thermal conductivity.

However, where builders and installers need to be cautious is during its installation.

GEPS is sensitive to solar radiation, meaning it heats up faster than other types of rigid foam board under direct sunlight. For installation in hot, sunny climates in the West and Southwest, this is an important consideration. If exposed for long periods of time, the product surface can heat to upwards of 175º F (80º C). At this temperature, the surface of GEPS products could potentially bend or rupture. Therefore, it is important to protect it from sunlight during installation, or choose a product that has a reflective or light-colored facer.

Polyiso Insulation

Polyiso insulation is waterproof, flame retardant, lightweight, and eco-friendly. The material provides long-term energy savings for homes and commercial buildings because of its ability to achieve higher R-values, which reduces the negative impact a building has on the environment by reducing its overall energy consumption for heating and cooling needs.

 Combining polyiso insulation with other components such as structural sheathing and air- and water-resistive barriers can help builders save money when purchasing materials. This also translates to time savings for installers, and of course, long-term benefits for tenants and owners because of the performance boost imparted by integrated products.

From a temperature perspective as a one-to-one comparison to GEPS, polyiso insulation is a thermoplastic material is not susceptible to temperature distortion. This plays an important role for installation in hot regions as well as in the case of a fire, where the material will not melt and drip, avoiding additional damage.

Head-to-Head: Installation

GEPS products are not as thermally efficient as polyiso products. Therefore, these products must be made thicker to achieve the same R-value as polyiso insulation. For example, OX-IS structural insulated sheathing with an R-value of R-3 is ½-inch thick. By comparison, popular GEPS products come in at ¾-inch thick. While this minor difference may not seem like much, it has a significant impact on the design of a structure. This is because anything thicker than half an inch requires builders to change out the window jams to accommodate the additional thickness. If a thermal value of R-3 is appropriate for your project, choosing a thinner polyiso product will allow you to keep traditional window jams. It will also lead to a thinner (yet still high-performing) wall.

Otherwise, installation methods and processes remain relatively the same for GEPS and polyiso. Both products are lightweight and efficient from an installation perspective. In addition, they both allow crews to install just one product (instead of three) by combining the structural, insulating, and weather-resistive components into a singular solution.

Bottom Line

There is no doubt that insulation has come a long way. However, even with modern, high-performance insulation materials, construction stakeholders still have to weigh the pros and cons of whichever option they select.

Both graphite EPS and polyiso insulation materials have benefits, but polyiso materials hold up better against radiant heat. Polyiso can also be made thinner while offering the same R-values that it would take a thicker piece of GEPS to achieve.

Curious to learn more about the benefits of polyiso insulation and how it can even help builders earn 45L tax credits?

Discover the Strength of OX.

For the construction industry, the quantity of available jobs is not an issue. Finding qualified workers, however, is becoming increasingly problematic.

According to a spring 2023 report from the U.S. Labor Department, the number of construction job openings increased by 129,000 in February, but hiring decreased by 18,000. There is a significant gap that needs to be filled.

There are a host of factors contributing to the struggle to find construction workers, including more attractive alternatives that are increasing starting wages (such as restaurants and retail), a growing preference for remote work, and older construction workers retiring.

To address this shifting paradigm, the construction sector must more heavily rely on the right resources, construction practices, and building materials. Such a pivot can contribute to streamlining construction timelines that are being negatively impacted by the labor shortage.

Starting with Materials

A prolonged project timeline equals a more expensive project.

With less hands on deck, finding materials that are simpler to install and more time-efficient can deliver major savings on the job site.

Consider the requirements for completing the exterior walls of a home or commercial building. It requires several passes around the exterior of the structure to get all materials in place. This includes nailing the sheathing to the studs, fastening the housewrap to the sheathing, and (in some cases) adding a layer of continuous insulation to keep the structure thermally efficient. In this scenario, installers are taking at least three passes around the structure to get it ready for cladding materials.

Where can the construction industry look to streamline this process?

Integrated products.

Materials such as OX-IS structural insulated sheathing combine several exterior wall control layers into a single component. The sheathing, weather-resistive barriers, and continuous insulation are included in one product, which significantly simplifies installation.

Think of it this way: The core control layers of an exterior wall system are being prefabricated ahead of time, reducing manpower requirements on site. This provides substantial value to construction crews, especially during a labor crunch.

The Difference Maker

What sets integrated products apart?

For starters, material weight is a differentiator.

Integrated structural insulated sheathing (such as OX-IS) weighs one-third of what OSB does, so it is much easier to transport, handle, and lift into place for installation. It can be done by a single crew member as opposed to multiple workers. With integrated sheathing products, crews need less hands to exceed typical productivity output.

In addition, next-gen materials such as OX-IS completely eliminate the need for a separate housewrap product. The same is true for OX’s ThermoPLY, which is sheathing and the control layers minus the continuous insulation portion.

As a construction partner, OX offers detailed installation instructions and training videos to shorten the learning curve for new installers, even though most new installers find the installation of these materials to be significantly easier than using traditional OSB and housewrap.

 Finally, with integrated systems, installers purchase one product from one manufacturer with a single warranty and point of contact should any issues arise. This eases the purchasing and delivery process for the construction team.

Slash Costs During the Labor Dip

Construction stakeholders are always searching for ways to trim costs on a job site. One of the reasons is because of rising building materials costs. According to Construction Dive, pressure on manufacturers to raise material prices is driven by higher costs for energy and the ongoing scarcity of construction labor that will “ultimately lead to a permanent shift in materials prices.” Not only is a weakened labor force having an impact on job sites nationwide, but it is permeating manufacturing plant floors as well. This is causing the hikes in material prices, further highlighting the importance of integrated building materials. Where builders can’t save on materials, they can now save on labor.

Integrated products can be installed with just one trip around a building’s exterior, which equals approximately two to three times the labor savings depending on project size and scope. The savings are magnified to an even greater degree for large-scale light commercial projects. However, integrated products help offset inflated material costs for all project types.

See the Savings

Due to the current state of labor in the construction industry, it is critical for residential and light commercial construction crews to identify ways to save on costs wherever they can. It is also imperative to continue to refine and streamline construction processes.

From a cost perspective, for purchasing managers, choosing integrated products doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, teams will not pay more compared to what OSB and housewrap cost combined. In fact, often, these materials cost less, and the owners and occupants get a much higher-performing product that will keep their work and dwelling spaces comfortable for the life of the structure.

In terms of savings, integrated structural insulated sheathing can save builders even more by helping them meet eligibility requirements for the 45L tax credit reimbursement. 45L is a government incentive for builders, homeowners, and developers to prioritize green construction practices and materials, offering significant monetary reimbursement for those that do and meet ENERGY STAR^® or Zero Energy Ready Home requirements.

Contact the OX sales team today to start saving valuable time and labor on your next project.

Ox Engineered Products will be at the NAHB International Builder’s Show February 19-21 in Las Vegas

The NAHB International Builders’ Show^® (IBS) is the largest annual light construction show in the world. 

The 2019 Builders’ Show will bring together more than 1,500 top manufacturers and suppliers from around the globe in 600,000 net square feet of exhibit space, showcasing the latest and most in-demand products and services.

Learn more about the NAHB IBS at: https://www.buildersshow.com/Home/

You can visit Ox representatives at booth N477

Ox Engineered Products are manufacturers of High Performance, Green Engineered Building Products. Our products are multi-functional, allowing builders and architects to save time and money during the installation process. We deliver truly innovative products at competitive prices compared to other structural sheathing products.

While at IBS, you can learn more about Ox Engineered Products line of building materials including: OX-IS Structural Insulation, Thermo-Ply Protective Sheathing, ISO RED Polyiso Sheathing, including ISO RED MAX, ISO RED MAX STRONG-R, ISO RED ci, and ISO RED White Finished.