Author: justin gaydos

Low- to mid-rise multifamily residential construction projects present a unique set of challenges based on sheer size alone. Consider the exterior of these structures: More materials are needed to frame and wrap the building, contractors need more hands on deck, and project timelines naturally run longer. 

Builders are seeking alternative materials to complete structures on time (or quicker) and on budget (or even under budget) than they can with traditional construction methods and materials. Many of these construction pros are turning to solutions such as OX’s range of weatherization systems because they are high-performance, cost competitive, and they integrate a number of exterior wall components in one. 

For large-scale multifamily structures, the benefits of using these innovative products cannot be overstated. 

Trimming Time 

Once a structure is framed out, there are a number of components that must be installed on the exterior side of the studs to ensure long-term performance and durability. The first component needed is structural sheathing, which gives a multifamily building its rigidity and strength. Sheathing also serves as the surface for the application of exterior finishing materials, such as siding, brick, or stone. Next, builders must install weather-resistive barriers to keep air and moisture out. Once this is complete, a layer of continuous insulation can be added to maximize the thermal performance of the building envelope. 

Layer by layer, floor by floor. For multifamily construction, it adds up, and time and cost are both on the line. 

Installing each of these layers separately can expand the installation process, adding days onto a construction schedule. With integrated weatherization systems, construction crews only have to worry about installing one material to take care of every single exterior control layer. Choosing an integrated material that combines sheathing, weather-resistive barriers, and continuous insulation translates into serious cost, labor, and time savings. 

The Long Game 

The larger the structure, the more energy it consumes and the larger its carbon footprint is. As a builder, if you can take the appropriate steps to thermally insulate and weatherize a structure during the initial phases of construction, you deliver a building that remains green throughout its life span. 

According to an ENERGY STAR article, “a comprehensive, strategic approach to energy management can improve the energy efficiency of U.S. multifamily properties by 15-30% and save $3.4 billion in utility costs.” 

The benefits of proper insulation become readily apparent to owners and occupants. 

Owners can market their multifamily structure as an energy-efficient dwelling to draw in buyers and renters. For owners seeking net-zero status for their building, weatherization systems from OX are a cost-effective means of meeting the net-zero standard. By helping structures earn a higher R-value, continuous insulation allows owners to meet rising regulations for their buildings that, in certain jurisdictions, must be built with exterior walls rated to R-20. 

Alternatively, for occupants, they can expect thermally-sound structures to deliver savings on their monthly energy bills. In addition, walls built with structural continuous insulation deliver more comfortable interior environments so that those living in these spaces spend less time opening and closing windows or adjusting the temperature on the thermostat. Buildings that are properly insulated keep interior spaces at a comfortable temperature for longer periods of time. This is true for all seasons. 

The Multifamily Fix 

OX Engineered Products offers two high-performance solutions ideal for multifamily structures: OX-IS and STRONG-R. Both products are 4-in-1 solutions that include all the necessary elements that must come between the studs and cladding: 

• Structural sheathing 
• Continuous insulation 
• An air barrier 
• A water-resistive barrier 

Both products allow multifamily builders to save time and money while meeting code requirements for exterior walls. The bigger the structure, the more important it is for builders to consider products that are going to allow them to save money and move on to their next job quicker. 

Consider the savings a Nashville builder had on a smaller, residential project. 

“The more we use OX-IS, the better we like it. It is stable in price, and performance-wise, it does a lot of things that OSB does not,” explained the builder. 

“Best of all, it saves us about $3,000 to $3,500 per house compared to using OSB and housewrap.” 

These savings are amplified on large-scale multifamily jobs. 

Learn how integrated structural continuous insulation products from OX can help you save on your next multifamily project while delivering long-term benefits for owners and occupants. 

A Nashville Builder’s Firsthand Account of Leaving OSB Behind

For contractors and builders, discovering building materials that strike the perfect balance of performance, cost, ease of installation – and lately – product availability, is an ongoing endeavor. Building materials manufacturers who can find that sweet spot will quickly see long-term customer satisfaction coming into focus. As a manufacturer, remaining true to your core values, committed to your customers, and fixed on creating high-performance products can go a long way for those choosing you for their construction jobs.

This became reality when a Nashville-based builder was seeking alternative methods to structural sheathing for the custom homes he and his crew were building. Focused primarily in East Nashville, Michael Craddock and his son, Michael Jr., discovered Ox Engineered Products on social media as a viable alternative. Since that day, they have never looked back.

The Price Was Right

When lumber prices were sky high at the peak of the pandemic-related material shortages, Craddock came across another builder on Instagram recommending the use of OX-IS structural continuous insulation. The Craddocks’ willingness to try new materials has allowed their company to become a leading infill home builder in Nashville. In the case of OX-IS, this paid off. The product has delivered significant cost savings as well as performance enhancements to the homes he is building. When compared to his previous sheathing methods using traditional OSB with housewrap, the benefits are evident.

“The more we use OX-IS, the better we like it. It is stable in price, and performance-wise, it does a lot of things that OSB does not,” explained Craddock. “Best of all, it saves us about $3,000 to $3,500 per house compared to using OSB and housewrap.”

Craddock explained that the total lumber package for the houses that he and his crew were building increased from approximately $45,000 up to between $60,000 and $70,000 depending on the size of the home.

“The increase in lumber prices forced us to try and cut costs without compromising quality. With OX-IS, the quality is better and the cost is less,” added Craddock. “I would change lumber companies today if my current supplier stopped offering OX-IS.”

Navigating Nashville Building Codes

In March 2021, a handful of Tennessee counties adopted new residential building codes set by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The move was from the IECC’s 2012 standards to the code’s 2018 benchmarks, which requires all residential construction to meet a minimum insulating R-value of R-20. With structural continuous insulation such as OX-IS, this is a much easier target to hit for Nashville builders.

OX-IS is offered in three thicknesses (0.5˝, 1˝, and 1.70˝) that each equate to different thermal R-values ranging from R-3 to R-10.

 In order to meet the required R-20 in Nashville, Craddock’s team uses 1˝ OX-IS (R-6) and blow-in cellulose insulation (R-13.75). OX-IS is a continuous insulation product with no thermal breaks, so an additional R-2 is added. This means that homes built by M Squared Homebuilders are actually surpassing the R-value requirement by choosing OX-IS.

 Using OX-IS on one of their recent builds, M Squared Homebuilders conducted a blower door test, which is used to determine how much air is entering or escaping the home. The results were in the top 1%. The home scored an ACH50 rating of 2.54. For comparison, an ACH50 rating between 5.0 and 10.0 is a moderate rating – not airtight but not leaky either. Anything less than 5.0 equates to a tight house, and OX-IS helped Craddock achieve an impressive 2.54.

Sold!

Demand for new housing remains high, and Craddock noted that high-quality homes sell quickly in the Nashville area

“People line up to buy houses here. We are committed to building the best homes we can build, and Ox is helping us do that right now,” added Craddock. “It is really rewarding to find a product like OX-IS that is code-compliant, eliminates thermal break, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”

  Choosing OX-IS helps Craddock and his team meet some of the most stringent building code requirements in the country, but the product also eases the burden for his framing crew. Craddock explained that typically construction crews will build a wall on the ground and stand it up. However, the wall becomes much too heavy to lift and stand in place if OSB is installed while the framing is still on the ground.

 “OX-IS makes installation easier, too. Now we can build the framing for a wall, put the product on, and stand it right up,” said Craddock.

Craddock concluded by reiterating how passionate he is about using OX-IS as opposed to OSB moving forward.

“I don’t care if at some point OSB becomes half the price of OX-IS,” Craddock reflected. “We are not going back to it. We are absolutely sold on OX-IS.”