Insulation Institute Blog

Four Tips to Own Digital Marketing

M/I Homes is the thirteenth-largest builder in the nation and a leader in the home building industry. As a mid-level production builder with a superior quality reputation, the company unabashedly embraces digital marketing to relate to and attract new buyers. The ability to deliver fresh, appealing and visual content to draw customers is an art perfected by Marketing Manager Web Platforms Will Duderstadt, who guides the company’s Internet marketing, online content and lead generation activities. Duderstadt is also a sought-after speaker, brand strategist and digital influencer. Even with that full plate of responsibilities, he took the time to speak recently with Insulation Institute to offer guidance on four things builders can do better to connect with buyers they hope to attract.

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Four Tips to Own Digital Marketing

Free Grade I Training Coming to Four States

According to U.S. Department of Energy 20 percent home’s energy is wasted because the home is under insulated and improperly air sealed.[1] For builders, this can wreak havoc on productivity, resulting in call backs, jeopardizing code compliance, reducing HERS scores, and resulting in homes that are less energy efficient and comfortable for consumers.

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Free Grade I Training Coming to Four States

The Rising Appeal of Factory-Built Homes

Builders today face a number of challenges in the face of a national shortage of available and affordable housing. At the top of the list is a deficit of skilled labor, a lack of construction knowledge by consumers and real estate agents, and a declining number of experienced and qualified general contractors for both onsite and modular home construction.

Factory-built home construction advocates argue that their construction process can tackle many of these issues. To get a clearer picture, Insulation Institute spoke with Ed Hudson, Director of Marketing Research Services at Home Innovation Research Labs, and Jay Young, Marketing and Licensing Agent for William Poole Designs about the current housing situation and the future of home construction in America.

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The Rising Appeal of Factory-Built Homes

RESNET Unveils Water Efficiency Measure

Home buyers and owners aren’t just concerned about energy efficiency, they’re increasingly interested in the water efficiency of homes as well, due in part to double-digit increases in water costs over the past few years in many areas of the country. Growing interest in water efficiency has prompted Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to partner with the International Code Council to develop a national consensus standard for home water efficiency dubbed HERSH20. The standard will define how to calculate a rating index for home water efficiency.

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RESNET Unveils Water Efficiency Measure

4 Steps to Prevent Excess Moisture in New Homes

Building Scientist Joe Lstiburek talks about the four things builders can do to prevent excess moisture during construction.

4 Steps-Moisture Issue 1.jpgOne essential element to securing the long-term durability of any home is moisture control. In fact, much of what we know about applied building science today was the result of early work investigating the moisture impact on buildings. Joe Lstiburek Ph.D., founding principal of Building Science Corporation, recently spoke with Insulation Institute about the four things home builders can do to prevent excess moisture during new home construction.

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Mineral Wool and the Toronto Method Wall 

Custom home buyers have very discriminating requirements when it comes to designing and constructing their homes. Increasingly, those needs incorporate the desire to be sustainable and energy efficient. When sustainable architectural firm SUSTAINABLE.TO Architecture + Building and Greenbillt Homes, a leading Canadian custom home builder teamed up design and construct a home in North York, Ontario, they were directed to deliver a tall order to their clients: designing a home that would “sip energy, endure for generations and remain comfortable at all times.”  The result was a striking residence that incorporates mineral wool insulation and delivers some impressive energy performance results.

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Mineral Wool and the Toronto Method Wall 

4 Strengths of Top-Performing Builders

Every builder wants to grow their business, increase profits, and keep costs to a minimum, yet only a few manage to do this easily. There’s no “secret sauce” to becoming a highly successful builder overnight, but some key actions collectively and gradually lead to flourishing businesses. Mike Benshoof, president and chief operating officer of Berks-Firefly Homes and Red Door Homes, reveals the fundamental elements that top-performing builders use to grow their businesses but rarely disclose.

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4 Strengths of Top-Performing Builders

Building Tighter Homes with Gasketed Framing

If you follow our blog, you know that we talk quite a bit about building science. In fact, we wrote a primer on how builders can use building science to produce more durable, comfortable, and energy-efficient homes. We also share information on effective air sealing and blower door testing — a pain point for some builders having to meet new testing requirements of the 2012 and 2015 Residential IECC.

As any building scientist worth their salt will tell you, air tight homes start with great framing. Michael Schettine of AccuFrame Energy Seal isn’t a building scientist, but he has more than 45 years’ experience in home building, carpentry, and architectural reconstruction. His background has led him to believe that there’s a better way to reach air tightness targets, and it begins with a positive change in the way homes are framed.

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Building Tighter Homes with Gasketed Framing

Ice Dams and How to Prevent Them

Any time there are icicles dangling from gutters, it is a sign of a potentially costly and avoidable problem in a home – an ice dam. Ice dams form when the temperature in the attic is above freezing and there is snow on the roof. The snow melts on the roof and drips downward toward the edge and the gutter. If it’s cold enough, it re-freezes at the colder roof edge, which means the water does not drain. This frozen water forms a “dam” which prevents drainage and can cause water to leech back into the home, either into the ceiling/attic or down into the walls below. And that can be a very expensive problem to fix.

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Ice Dams and How to Prevent Them

Preventing Fire Sprinkler System Freezing

With much of the country currently in the grips of a record-breaking cold snap, homeowners may be supplementing their heat sources with portable heating options that increase the risk of fire. Home sprinkler systems are a key defense against fire spread, but they won’t work if sprinkler system pipes are frozen and water damage from pipes may be just as costly as a house fire. One of the primary ways to reduce the risk of sprinkler system freezing is to properly install mineral fiber insulation. Although insulation alone may not prevent freezing when temperatures are cold enough for an extended period, properly installed insulation can significantly reduce the chance of sprinkler systems freezing.

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Preventing Fire Sprinkler System Freezing