Title: When Was The Last Time Your City Changed Its Construction Rules?
It’s wild how much focus there is on insulation numbers, but so little on the stuff that actually keeps a house comfortable. I’ve built a few homes and every time, it’s the same—inspectors with their tape measures, not a word about air leaks. Honestly, I’d take a well-sealed R38 over a drafty R49 any day. Blower door tests should be the standard. They’re not that hard to run, and you get real data instead of just hoping the builder did it right. Just feels like common sense gets lost in the paperwork sometimes...
I get where you’re coming from about blower door tests—air sealing really does make a huge difference in comfort and energy use. But I wonder if it’s fair to say insulation numbers are overemphasized. In my experience, both matter, and sometimes the focus on R-values is because it’s easier to measure and enforce consistently. Air leakage can be tricky; not every crew has the training or equipment to do a proper test, especially in smaller towns.
That said, I’ve seen cities try to update their codes to require blower door tests, only to get pushback from builders who worry about cost or delays. Is it really that simple to add them across the board? I’d love to see more balance—maybe incentives for airtightness, not just penalties for missing insulation specs. At the end of the day, a drafty house with thick insulation isn’t much better than a leaky tent, but I’m not sure the solution is as cut-and-dry as just mandating more tests.
Title: When Was The Last Time Your City Changed Its Construction Rules?
I’ve actually run into this exact issue on a recent project—high-end build, strict code enforcement, and the city had just started requiring blower door tests. The insulation specs were easy to hit, but getting the air sealing right took way more coordination between trades than I expected. We had to bring in a specialist just to track down leaks around recessed lighting and window frames. Honestly, I get why some builders push back. The upfront hassle is real, especially if you’re not used to it. But after seeing the difference in comfort and HVAC performance, I’m convinced it’s worth it... even if the learning curve is steep. Still, I wish there was more flexibility in how you meet the overall efficiency target—sometimes a little creativity goes further than just ticking boxes for R-value or ACH numbers.
Totally get where you’re coming from. When our city rolled out the blower door requirement, it felt like a curveball—especially for custom homes with all those unique details. Air sealing is one of those things that sounds simple until you’re actually chasing down every tiny gap behind trim or around outlets. I’ve seen projects where the difference in comfort is night and day, though. Less drafty rooms, quieter interiors... it’s hard to argue with the results.
I do wish there was more room for creative solutions, too. Sometimes you want to use reclaimed materials or experiment with new wall assemblies, but the code can be pretty rigid about how you hit those numbers. It’d be nice if they focused more on overall performance instead of just checking off boxes for each component. Still, I guess these changes push everyone to up their game a bit—even if it means a few headaches along the way.
Sometimes you want to use reclaimed materials or experiment with new wall assemblies, but the code can be pretty rigid about how you hit those numbers.
- Totally feel you on this. The codes can make it tough to get creative, especially with vintage finds or unusual finishes.
- That said, I’ve noticed clients are loving the “less drafty rooms, quieter interiors” part—a huge win for comfort.
- Sometimes I’ll sneak in a little design flair with trim or built-ins, even if the envelope is locked down tight. There’s still room for personality, just gotta get a bit crafty.
- It’s a headache, but it does push us to rethink the details and maybe even discover new tricks along the way.
