With
some homes, it is all about what lies below the surface. For building
science experts Steve Easley and his wife, Susan Raterman, a Scottsdale,
Ariz., home that has been their labor of love the past few years has
proven exactly why that’s true. The reVISION House, a half-century-old
residence the couple originally earmarked for a simpler remodel, has
since been demolished down to the slab foundation to be rebuilt. Now
nearly done, the home proves that, despite the beauty of the exterior,
no home will age well if it is built with too little insulation, too
much air conditioning and not nearly enough quality control.
Originally
constructed in the 1970s on a lakeside lot, the home failed to prevent
severe indoor temperature swings. Existing concrete tiles contributed,
absorbing the region’s extreme heat and expending it nightly into the
poorly insulated attic space. The result was soaring indoor evening
temperatures up to 20 degrees higher than outdoor temperatures. Building
envelope performance was obviously lackluster and thermal scans
illustrated why.