R-value - Articles | Walls & Ceilings

Spray Foam vs Traditional Insulation in the South

Comparing performance in heat, humidity, and severe weather conditions

April 1, 2026

Fiberglass and cellulose often fall short in Southern climates, while spray foam delivers better air sealing, moisture control, and energy efficiency.

Insulating Metal Clad Buildings

Properly installed spray foam insulation can dramatically improve the performance of metal clad buildings, but success depends on careful attention to substrate stability, preparation, and framing details.

Tom Harris

February 23, 2026

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Properly installed spray foam insulation can dramatically improve the performance of metal clad buildings, but success depends on careful attention to substrate stability, preparation, and framing details.

What R-Value Really Means—and Why It Doesn’t Tell the Whole Insulation Story

Tom Harris breaks down the limitations of R-value

Tom Harris

John Wyatt

February 13, 2026

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Insulation expert Tom Harris explains why traditional R-value measurements fall short—and how the industry is working toward better ways to measure real-world insulation performance.

New Products

Kingspan Launches KingRib Wall Panel Line

Insulated metal panels combine ribbed design and thermal performance

W&C Staff

February 12, 2026

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KingRib 3 and 5 panels offer high R-values, customizable finishes and faster installation for commercial buildings.

Spray Foam Insulation applied to a ceiling

Choosing Between Open and Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation

A clear, practical guide to the key differences between open- and closed-cell spray foam insulation—and how to choose the right option based on performance needs, climate, and building goals.

Maxime Duzyk

February 11, 2026

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A clear, practical guide to the key differences between open-and closed-cell spray foam insulation—and how to choose the right option based on performance needs, climate, and building goals.

Interior view of The Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI)

Avoiding the Dual Vapor Barrier Trap—Why Mineral Wool Is a Smart Choice for Commercial Walls

Why understanding vapor permeability—not just R-value—can make or break the long-term performance of commercial wall assemblies.

Todd Shear

February 4, 2026

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Whether you’re a specifying architect, general contractor or facility manager, virtually everyone in commercial construction is under pressure to meet energy codes and build tighter envelopes. But without careful consideration, that approach can unintentionally create a dual vapor barrier.

INsulation being added to the wooden frame of a building

Building Better Enclosures

How Modern Building Envelope Materials Support New Code Requirements

Contractors are pushed toward tighter, more energy-efficient building envelopes. making continuity in insulation, air sealing, and moisture control essential and increasing the importance of integrated materials like spray foam, structural sheathing, coatings, and sealants to meet rising performance standards.

January 16, 2026

Modern updates to the IECC 2024 and ASHRAE 90.1-2022 push contractors toward tighter, more energy-efficient building envelopes, making continuity in insulation, air sealing, and moisture control essential and increasing the importance of integrated materials like spray foam, structural sheathing, coatings, and sealants to meet rising performance standards.

If Walls Could Talk

Why 2025 Was a Turning Point for the Spray Foam Industry

The past year was a major stepping stone for the spray foam insulation industry. Tom Harris explains.

John Wyatt

Tom Harris

January 8, 2026

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From breakthrough foam chemistry to a more educated, collaborative contractor base, Tom Harris explains why 2025 was a defining year for spray foam—and what those shifts mean as the industry prepares for the challenges and opportunities of 2026.

Continuous Insulation and Code Requirements: How Codes Address Continuous Insulation

Continuous insulation creates a continuous thermal barrier around a building’s exterior, reducing thermal bridging, improving energy efficiency, and meeting modern code requirements in many climate zones.

Clark Larson

November 19, 2025

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Continuous insulation creates a continuous thermal barrier around a building’s exterior, reducing thermal bridging, improving energy efficiency, and meeting modern code requirements in many climate zones.

Up Front: A Walls & Ceilings Editorial Column by Mark Fowler

One-Coat Stucco: Why?

One-coat stucco, once resisted by plasterers, has evolved into a practical, code-compliant, and energy-efficient alternative to traditional three-coat systems.

Mark Fowler

September 25, 2025

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One-coat stucco, once resisted by plasterers, has evolved into a practical, code-compliant, and energy-efficient alternative to traditional three-coat systems.

Articles Tagged with ''R-value''

Spray Foam vs Traditional Insulation in the South

Insulating Metal Clad Buildings

What R-Value Really Means—and Why It Doesn’t Tell the Whole Insulation Story

Kingspan Launches KingRib Wall Panel Line

Choosing Between Open and Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation

Avoiding the Dual Vapor Barrier Trap—Why Mineral Wool Is a Smart Choice for Commercial Walls

How Modern Building Envelope Materials Support New Code Requirements

Why 2025 Was a Turning Point for the Spray Foam Industry

Continuous Insulation and Code Requirements: How Codes Address Continuous Insulation

One-Coat Stucco: Why?

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