A continuous layer of insulation means the difference between just a wall and a Mandala Custom Homes high-performance wall.
A huge advantage of Mandala Custom Homes panelized construction technology is that it is consistently proven to provide greater quality control, faster build completions, and higher performance than wood framing, without adding significant cost to a project.
One of the features of a Mandala Custom Home is that our panelized approach includes high-quality, efficient rigid foam insulation pre-installed into every panel – essentially providing an insulation jacket as your home is constructed and throughout the life of your home.
We refer to this as the ‘comfort wall’, the insulated panels providing a continuous layer of insulation, avoiding thermal bridging by providing an uninterrupted layer of insulation – usually on the outside of the structural framing.
There are a variety of factors that influence the choice of insulation type and thickness to create the building envelope, such as:
- How much insulation is needed
- The climate of the location of the building
- The space available for the insulation in walls, floors, and roofs
- Local availability and price of insulation
Higher quality insulation and an air-tight building envelope can reduce the size and cost of your heating/cooling system and enhance the comfort of your home.
Insulation is rated in terms of thermal resistance, or R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulating properties of that material. We use Rigid Insulation, high-performance with built-in plywood strapping that does not require any exterior sheathing and outperforms R-2000 standards by a whopping 45%!
An all in one insulation, it acts as an air and radiant barrier, which means no building wrap is required making for a quick and easy installation. The tongue and groove connection aligns panels, stops air leaks and helps to support panels during installation.
To help maintain air, quality, this type of insulation contains no dyes, formaldehyde, or ozone-depleting blowing agents.
As mentioned, the rigid foam insulation virtually eliminates thermal bridging, or when a non-insulating material such as wood or metal framing (studs or rafters) interrupts the insulation layer and allows thermal energy (hot or cold) to travel more freely through the wall of the roof.
It is ideal for timber frame roofs, ceilings and walls and the 2×4 construction meets building code requirements while at the same time increasing living space and reducing the cost of construction cost.
Each Mandala Custom Homes high-efficiency comfort wall utilizes a combination of Rigid Insulation and batt (fibreglass or mineral wool, for instance) insulation to eliminate thermal bridging and enhance thermal performance. Our insulated panels provide a superior seal due in part to the meticulous detailing performed in the shop before the home leaves for the building lot. The corresponding and exact assembly manual ensure the General Contractor can re-create the home exactly as specified.