Stress-skin panels are both energy and cost effective

Q. I plan to build a new conventional-looking house. How energy efficient is stress-skin panel construction? Is it reasonably-priced and can I do some of the construction myself? — P.M.

A. Stress-skin panel construction is one of the most energy efficient and cost-effective building methods available today. With the super-high insulation levels and superior airtightness, a stress-skin panel house should have extremely low heating and cooling costs. A reduction of 50 percent on utility bills as compared to a common stud-wall house is not unreasonable.

The stress-skin panels, made to your building plan specifications, are delivered to your building site. You can also select from many standard house design packages to reduce the costs.

The construction is simple and you should be able to do much of the work yourself. Most panel manufacturers will rent you the necessary tools for construction. Once the foundation or basement is poured, a typical work crew should be able to close in a house (walls and roof) in several days.

You can purchase the panels with the openings for windows and doors already cut and framed. You just slip them in. If you want to add a window at a later time, you just saw a rectangular hole through the wall. Then rout out a little foam, frame the opening, and set in the window.

A typical freestanding (no frame needed) stress-skin panel is made of a thick panel of rigid foam insulation (insulating R-values up to R-40). A 7/16-inch thick sheet of exterior grade waferboard is bonded to each side of the insulation forming the panel. You can attach siding, stucco, brick, etc. to the outdoor surface and drywall or paneling to the indoor surface.

The foam insulation is routed out to accept standard lumber at the top and bottom. Once your foundation is complete and the sill lumber is in place, tilt up the freestanding panels and the routed-out bottom fits and seals over the sill. Nail the panels to the sill. Each panel is joined vertically and sealed along the joints with 2×4 or insulated splines.

Electrical wiring chases are provided in the insulation behind the indoor skin. It makes wiring easy with no air leaks or insulation voids.

Since a stress-skin panel house is so efficient and airtight, you should install a mechanical air-to-air heat exchanger ventilation system. This gives you complete control over the ventilation in your house. Outdoor noise, dust, pollens, etc. are almost totally eliminated.

You can write to me for Utility Bills Update 374 showing a list of stress-skin panel manufacturers, typical panel specifications, and a floor plan layout and exterior diagram of a typical stress-skin panel house. Please include $1.25 and a self-addressed business-size envelope. Send to James Dulley, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45244.

Q. When I had my house interior painted, the painter loosened the thermostat and retightened it slightly crooked. Will that effect the operation of my central air conditioner and furnace? — V.B.

A. It can definitely affect the temperature calibration. Most standard wall thermostats have a liquid mercury switch in them. As the bimetallic strip inside reacts to temperature changes, the mercury flows back and forth to control heating and cooling. It must be level to be accurate.

James Dulley studied energy management at the doctoral level at Harvard.