Driven by shifts in homebuyer demographics and a growing attraction to urban living, multifamily housing is hotter than ever. The National Association of Home Builders anticipates 384,000 multifamily starts in 2017, which would be 1,000 units above last year’s pace. This trend solidifies the need to ensure multifamily homes offer the same comfort, safety and energy efficiency people expect from single-family dwellings. After all, would you invest in a high-end penthouse apartment if you knew it would feel like living in an attic?
To meet these expectations and adjust to changes in building code, multifamily builders and contractors are shifting their approach toward compartmentalizing each individual unit as if it were a single-family structure. This allows the owner/tenant greater control over the indoor environment and reduces air leakages that can stress mechanical heating and cooling equipment and lead to other issues within the structure.