14x20 in Damon Texas

[BRUTAL]

yeah Cj, thats why when I build the house, Im gonna do Aerated autoclaved concrete for exterior walls. And then either stucco finish or Hardi plank.  My ex'x dad built a ICF concrete house 2000sqft with a heat pump and ran $60-70 summer ac bills in Houston when we were running $400 a month for 2700sqft. Our ac thermostats go up during the day when no one is home, and theyre retired so there all day. He said their house gets cool at night with air exchanger and then stays that cool all day with about a 1-2 degree rise in temp at most when its in the 90's outside.  My temp goes up 10 degrees inside by noon. Theres 1 thing for sure, utilities are never going down and it may be more upfront to spend on a really efficient house. But as you aid the payoff comes every month, year after year. plus Ill be able to use smaller HVAC unit and Ill get alot cheaper homeowners insurance by useing a masonry product over stick built since it doesnt burn. And that proven a big deal with all the wildfires around here this year and the fact that the land I bought used to have ahouse on it but it burned to the ground before the fire dept got there 20 minutes away.

[Alan Gage]

Even though foam has more R value per inch you don't get as much increase as you'd think over cellulose or fiberglass because of the thermal bridging of the studs and other framing (which can take up to 25% of the wall space). It does very well at stopping air movement though.

Not saying it's good or bad. I have no personal experience, just what I've read. Just wanted to throw it out there since there was some discussion on it.

Building Science has a great research project on wall insulation that can be downloaded here:

http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/high-r-value-wall-assemblies/high-r-wall-08-spray-foam-wall-construction/reports/rr-0903-building-america-special-research-project-high-r-walls/view

Or just skip to the section on spray foam:

http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/high-r-value-wall-assemblies/high-r-wall-08-spray-foam-wall-construction/?searchterm=high%20r%20value%20walls

Good job on doing your own spray foam though. I imagine that saved a ton of money and it's nice to be able to do it yourself. It will certainly be toasty and you don't have to worry as much about detailing the sheetrock or whatever wall covering you go with to be the air barrier.

Alan

[BRUTAL]

Thanks for the links Alan. A ton of info. I just have to remember to do work to or I dont get paid and then the money I save by DIYing, is just offset by not making the money
I was looking more to foam in the air sealing qualities over R value. Every winter here in Houston Im reminded how poorly constructed in energy efficiency my 30 yr old house is. You can always feel the drafts of cold air and even though Ive put alot of effort into reduction it still is terrible.
I was reading on Greenovation(sp)TV a few months back about the average house has enough air infiltration equal to opening a door or large window.
Keep up the good work I like following your thread too, and was just talking to my GF the other day about your house and the reuse of the previous houses material and 10" thick cellulose in the walls

[BRUTAL]

Well now that we've been getting rain in south texas the burn ban has been lifted. So Ive been burning alot of trees cut down and pruned last year....Im so ready to start back and get the covered deck done. But we're going rock crawling in may in Moab Utah so Ive got that on my plate right now too.....Always something

[desimulacra]

Wow following this thread with a grin. Wonder what you and your GF could do if you got serious???

[BRUTAL]

you meen if SHE got serious
She likes to watch me work, not that she doesnt help, but if I have to explain it.................
Well lets just say she enjoys a Margarita while Im working