Before you specify, before you build...
Here is a tool for architects and builders to compare relative performance characteristics and relative cost of residential wall systems within various regions of North America.*
Use this information to help you specify the best components for your design, or to assist in the value-engineering process. (Launch button and terms of use agreement directly to the right.)
There are 11 to 14 pre-configured wall systems to choose from in each of 5 different climate zones. You can immediatly compare on a good-better-best basis, fundamental performance characteristics using different claddings, insulations and interior membranes.
Compare wall system performance within a climatic zone for:
structural/shear strength
structural/shear strength
interior and exterior vapor permeability
wall R-value
and air infiltration resistance.
Our model assumes using durable plywood sheathing and mold- and moisture-resistant, paperless, fiberglass mat-faced interior drywall. We drew our map based on the North American map for the hygro-thermal regions, developed for the
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), an initiative of the
International Code Council.