March 2023 Building Buzz

Building Buzz is a publication of the Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association.

PROFESSIONALS BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PROMOTION OF SINCE 1958.

JOE HILLERSON, PRESIDENT

Boulder Homes PO Box 1421 Bismarck, ND 58502 (701) 400-5554 boulderhomesnd@gmail.com

ANDREW MELDAHL, 1 ST VICE PRESIDENT Pinnacle Homes and Design 214 Riverwood Ave Mandan, ND 58554 (701) 426-0237 andrew@pinnaclehomesnd.com

RORY ANDERSON, 2 ND VICE PRESIDENT Verity Homes 3100 N 14th St, Ste 1 Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 391-0093 rory@verityhomes.com

JOE VETTER, SECRETARY & TREASURER

Joe Vetter Construction 2523 Powder Ridge Cir Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 258-9394 joevetterjvc@gmail.com

JAMIE SCHMIDT, PAST PRESIDENT Investcore, Inc. 1601 N 12th St. Suite 605 Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 223-3030 jamie.schmidt@investcore.com

VICKI MORAN

Hallmark Homes 3200 Rock Island Place, Suite 4 Bismarck, ND 58504-7717 (701) 471-7634 hallmarkhomes@outlook.com

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Dawn Watson dawn@bmhba.com

Office: 701-222-2400

Cell: 701-390-5049

MCKENZIE LAWLER

Dakota OutdoorScapes 8351 Hwy 1804 N Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 595-0890 mckenzie@ndscapes.com

LORI WILLSON

Northern Plains Plumbing, Heating & Air 2510 Vermont Ave Bismarck, ND 58504 (701) 222-2155 lori@northernplains.net

RON STOTZ CAVES

1365 Tacoma Ave, Suite 1 Bismarck, ND 58504 (701) 751-1162 rons@cavesnd.com

NATHAN TODD

Northwest Contracting 2840 Valley Forge St Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 226-0526 nathan@northwestcontracting.com

LEROY THOMAS

J.E. Homes LLC PO Box 3121 Bismarck, ND 58502 (701) 400-9163 leroy@jehomesnd.com

SHANE GAFFANEY

American Roofing Supply 1600 Industrial Dr Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 805-8650 sgaffaney@srsicorp.com

PAGE 2

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Jennifer Patera jennifer@bmhba.com

Office: 701-222-2400

Cell: 218-416-2439

LAYOUT DESIGNER Elysha Head

The BMHBA consists of building specialists from every section of the construction field and associated industries. Your membership strengthens our voice in Bismarck-Mandan construction sector as well as at a state and national level. If you haven’t already submitted payment, please renew your membership by March 31, 2023.

Drew Knutson

Thank you to our members who have helped grow our BMHBA membership over the years by recruiting new companies to join our association. If you know of a company that is interested in joining, contact Brittney Roehrich at brittney@bmhba.com or 701-222-2400.

Landen Klein

Kyle & Sarah Miller

Zachary Dosch

Jason Franzen

Ray Larson

Denise Ziegler/Amy

Montgomery

Jordan Anderson

Bruce Aberle

Cindy Drengson

Josh Blikre

Danielle Smith

Shelley Werner

Lynnell Rude Ussatis

Vicki Moran

Wayne Mickelson

Bruce Thompson

Eric Brenden

Wade Vogel

Troy Olson

Adam Geiger

Statesman Spike 500-999Credits

Kelly Moldenhauer (743)

Super Spikes 250-499Credits

Todd Brady (383.500)

Robb Sattler (295.50)

Mike Todd (288.00)

Lee Mitzel (270.00)

Pat Marback (260)

Royal Spikes 150-249Credits

Lori Willson (219.75)

Mike Hopfauf (197)

Berna Vetter (190.50)

Colby Well (166.50)

Dave Scherr

Amy Burkel

Jay Wickline

Jamie Schmidt

Terry Wald

Marci Narum

Thane Lewis

Don Weisz

Lisa McMillan

Parker Pladson

Ryan Karsky

Jack Knutson (161.50)

Red Spikes 100-149Credits

Blair Ihmels (147.50)

Steve Redding (125.00)

Dan Sparling (120.50)

Chad Moldenhauer (111.00)

Jerry Splonskowski (106.50)

Green Spikes 50-99 Credits

Vance Vetter (100.75)

Paula Haider (97.25)

David Patience (94.50)

Mark Larson (92.00)

Eric Brenden (90)

Darren Buffington (83.50)

Kenneth Knodel (67.50)

Art Goldammer (65.00)

Nadine Schaff (58.25)

Scott Moran (57.50)

Life Spikes 25-49Credits

Gerry Rudnick (49.50)

Gerald Hopfauf (45.50)

Drew Knutson (43.00)

Matt Shauer (42.50)

Jeff Sattler (43.00)

Greg Meidinger (40.50)

Greg Zenker (37.50)

Jamie Schmidt (35.50)

Blue Spikes 6-24Credits

Jason Frank (22.50)

Shane Gaffaney (19.00)

Melinda Llyod (15.50)

Kelli Thompson (15.75)

Bob Kupper (12.00)

Pete Brendel (9.00)

Bill Schmid (8.00)

Darryl Hatzenbuhler (8.00)

Mike Wolf (7.00)

Joe Hillerson (7.50)

Rory Anderson (6.50)

Shannon Reichenberg (6.00)

Spike Candidates .50-5.50Credits

Vicki Moran (5.25)

Kurt Steiner (4.50)

Roger Grendahl (4.00)

Parker Pladson (4.00)

Jarred Roloff (3.50)

Brian Eiseman (3.00)

Sam Gietzen (2.50)

Melanie Staiger (3.00)

Jeran Thomson (2.50)

Natalie Eckes (2.00)

Alissa Kleinsasser (2.00)

Tom Reinke (2.00)

Wade Vogel (2.00)

Jackie Andahl (1.00)

Lynn Klein (1.00)

Reid Kubesh (1.00)

Terry Leabo (1.00)

Lindsey Matter (1.00)

Travis Welle (1.00)

Laurie Wentz (1.00)

Lindsey Ashley (0.50)

Your recruitments can now be seen on NAHB.org. Click “My Profile” then “My Spike Referrals.” TopRecruitersasof02/06/2023 Join

Brad Balerud (0.50)

Bryan Brendel (0.50)

Kathy Feist (0.50)

Hannah Haynes (0.50)

Gina Hruby (0.50)

Kassy Landis (0.50)

Judy Maslowski (0.50)

March is here, the days are getting longer, and optimism is in the air for all of us in the Building Industry! I’m sure everyone is with me in wanting an early Spring, with no late season snow! We have some good signs happening in the marketplace, and I think there are a lot of reasons to have a positive attitude this building season. Interest Rates are trending slightly downward, Inventory levels are at a very low level, lumber costs have decreased, while most other building materials and labor have remained steady.

The 46th Annual Home Show is Friday March 10th from 3:00 – 8:00, and Saturday March 11th from 9:00 – 5:00. Thanks in

and some new features!

The 31st Annual Spring Parade of Homes is right around the corner! It’s dates are April 27th – April 30th. I’m expecting to see excellent participation in this Spring’s Parade of Homes. Builders, you should have received your Builder Contracts last week. Let’s get those Beautiful Homes registered and showcased in this great event!

The past couple of years the BMHBA has really wanted to focus on serving and increasing it’s membership. Let’s continue down that road in 2023. We all should participate in strengthening this great Association through recruitment of new

Mark your calendars!

The 2023 Spring Parade of Homes is April 27 April 30 Register now!

BMHBA record breaking month for new memberships!!

AffiliateMembership (701) 278-0113

nataliev@fargoglass.com http://Www.fargoglass.com

AssociateMembership

Virgina Delgado (602) 763-6595 vdelgado@nexamortgage.com http://www.loansbyv.com

AffiliateMembership (701) 979-3770 kevinc@verityhomes.com http://www.verityhomes.com

AssociateMembership

Steve Forsberg (701) 204-8477 forsbergfabrication@yahoo.com https://forsberg-fabrication.business.site

AssociateMembership

Dave Stein (701) 426-8593 dave@hatchrealty.com http://hatchrealty.com

Associate Membership 701-368-0616 clarktrucking@yahoo.com

AffiliateMembership

Desi Ottmar (701) 426-8593 dave@hatchrealty.com http://hatchrealty.com

AssociateMembership

Casey Bernard (701) 989-0695 fixitall701@gmail.com www.facebook.com/FixitAllbisman/

AffiliateMembership

Denise Dockter-Kambeitz (701) 223-2338 denise@bismarckheating.com http://www.bismarckheating.com

AffiliateMembership

TyAnna Johnson 701-425-9662 tyanna@c21morrison.com https://linktr.ee/tyannajohnson

AssociateMembership

Eric Ellertson (701) 792-6556 eric@precisionpoolscapes.com www.precisionpoolscapes.com

AssociateMembership

Kristen Oban (701) 223-6654 koban@century21morrison.com http://ownwithoban.com

AssociateMembership

Casey McCollum (701) 412-5961 caseym@plantperfect.com http://plantperfect.com

AffiliateMembership

Brandee Haakenson (218) 251-2333 brandee.haakenson@hotspringnd.com sales@hotspringnd.com

AssociateMembership

Kayla Green 701-299-0016 Bismarck@nothingbundtcakes.com http://Nothingbundtcakes.com

AssociateMembership

Tristan Hart 701-663-7691 tristan@hopfaufcustombuilders.com http://Hopfaufcustombuilders.com

AssociateMembership

Andrea Koppang

701-226-0201

www.joesheehan.benchmark.us Andrea.koppang123@gmail.com

AssociateMembership

Ian Yearsly 701-989-5678 ian@airpro.cool http://www.airpro.cool

AffiliateMemebrship

Mary Ohlhauser 701-471-4840

https://www.c21morrison.com/ mary@c21morrison.com

AssociateMembership

Gene Mantei 605-858-0342

Gene.mantei@twegen.com https://twegen.com/

AssociateMemebership

Steven Schmidt 701-226-0876

LTDelectrical.steven@gmail.com https://ltdelectric.com/

• REN-O-THIN POWER RAKE BY RYAN FROM BOBCAT OF MANDAN

• OUTDOOR FURNITURE SET FROM ENVISION POOLS AND OUTDOOR LIVING

• YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY LIGHTING SYSTEM FROM PRO LIGHT

• AN INFINITY FROM MARVIN DOUBLE-PANE SLIDER WINDOW INSTALLED FROM FETTIG MILLWORK & WINDOWS

Rules: Need not be present to win. No purchase necessary. No Cash Value. To register you need to come to the BMHBA Home Show at the Bismarck Event Center on March 10-11 and fill out an entry slip. You can do this in the Event Center lobby or inside the Home Show exhibit area. On Monday March 13th, all four (4) $2500 winners will be randomly drawn and contacted. They will need to contact the respective business within 30 days and make arrangements to receive their prize.

Please help us welcome our new members to the BMHBA!

We were lucky to have quite a few of our local members participate in the 2023 NAHB IBS convention in Las Vegas this year. This was the Largest International Builders show Attendance in more than 10 years!!

PWB2ndVicePresident

Tobias Marman Construction

Tobias Marman Construction

Superior Window Coverings

The Window & Door Store

Custom Closets of Bismarck

BMHBAPresident

Boulder Homes

BMHBA

Rivers Edge Plumbing

PWBPresident

Hallmark Homes, Inc

701 Construction

NDAB

Sattler Homes, Inc

PWBTreasurer

Bravera Bank

Fabricators Unlimited

PWB1stVicePresident

Fabricators Unlimited

Interior Finish & Remodel

�ocatedonatranquilnorthernedgeofMandan,SunriseView EstatesisthenewestdevelopmentintheupandcomingareaofMandan. SunriseViewoffersaplannedcommunitynestledalongtheopengrasslands, aswellasbeingnearthenewStarionSportsComplex,thenewMandanHigh School,andthenewMiddleSchool.

Thisdevelopmentfeatureslargelots,anewcitypark,lotsofgreenspace,and beautifulviews.Justminutesfromavarietyofstoresanddiningoptions.You cangetanywhereinthemetroareaquicklyasyouwillbeashortdistance fromInterstate94viaHighway1806.Justnorthofthedevelopment,afuture

l:EW

beltwayandbridgewillbecompleted,gainingunlimitedaccesstoanywhere youneedtobe.

Thepotentialforgrowthinthisareameansendlesspossibilities.Justtothe westofthisdevelopment,isanothermasterplannedcommunitybeingbuilt alongsideSunriseViewEstates.

Thisdevelopmentisperfectforbuildingyourfirsthomeoryourlastingforever home.Thisdevelopmentoffersavarietyoflotsthatwillfitwhateverneeds yourheartmaydesire.

Thank you to our sponsors and all of our members who came and joined us at our 1st Annual Bis-Man Builders Battle of the Bags!!

On February 16th, the BMHBA membership and their guests gathered at Send It 24/7 for some friendly competition and networking. All registered attendees were automatically entered into our door prize drawings. At the end of the night we gave lots of fun prizes. We also had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize winners in our blind draw tournament.

The BMHBA would like to extend our gratitude to our generous sponsors and members! We could not host these events without you. If you missed this event, we will plan to do this fun evening again in 2024!

Associate Member Spotlight

Bravera is a full-service financial institution with community at the heart of everything we do. We’re comprised of Bravera Bank, Bravera Insurance and Bravera Wealth, all falling under our holding company, Bravera Holdings Corp. With roots dating back to 1909, we’ve got locations in Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota.

Our Bismarck-Mandan mortgage team is made up of Josh, LeAnne, Megan and Brianna with a combined 60 years of experience. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, are looking to downsize as you ease into retirement or are anywhere in between, we’re confident that we can find the right custom approach to meet your needs.

Group answer: We’re an employeeand director-owned community bank. We pride ourselves in being a company of advisors that our customers can rely on as they forge their paths ahead. The word Bravera combines “Bravery” and “Truth” (vera meaning 'true' in Latin) for a name with strong ties to the pioneer spirit and honest values that define the northern plains.

Bri: Each day and loan is different! You really learn to think outside of the box and adapt to each scenario. Megan: Be motivated and self-educate, ask a lot of questions, be transparent, work hard and be prepared for the ebbs and flows of the market.

Group answer: There is no such thing as a typical day for us. Of course, we’re always reaching out to customers and prospects as we’re assisting them through the loan process, but we also look forward to getting out of our offices for closings, volunteering, speaking engagements and customer visits. We do our best to make this process as convenient as possible for our customers, so often you’ll find us stopping by homes, offices and occasionally signing documents on the hood of a car!

Josh: I would be a golf pro or a ski instructor. LeAnne: I have always wanted to own a floral shop.

Group answer: It’s an exciting time at Bravera as we continue to grow our footprint. And, along with our footprint we’re always growing our mortgage offerings to meet the needs of our customers. There are numerous benefits to using Bravera for your home loan needs. As trusted advisors to our customers, we look forward to building a future together.

Josh: I was working in human resources and recruiting after college in Colorado Springs, CO and wasn’t loving it. My sister-in-law was working as a mortgage broker in Mesa, AZ and thriving. She said I should give it a try, so I started as a mortgage broker with a local mortgage company and the rest is history! Bri: That’s easy helping people. Whether purchasing, building, or refinancing a home, I am helping my borrowers in one major way or another.

Group answer: We’re proud to service our loans locally at Bravera. Often a customer doesn’t realize how important that is unless they’ve found themselves in an unfortunate situation with their current bank. Our uniqueness comes from our roots as a community bank we’re small enough to service your loan locally and just a phone-call away for our customers, yet we’re large enough to offer technology and products comparable to national chains.

Website: bravera.bank

Facebook: facebook.com/braverabank

Instagram: Instagram.com/braverabank

Twitter: twitter.com/braverabank

YouTube: youtube.com/braverabank

Bismarck Mandan Professional Women in Building celebrated #pwbproud with NAHB PWB and attended great sessions at PWB Headquarters during the 2023 International Builders Show. Plus, we were able to attend a meet and greet, book signing with “The House that she Built” Crew!!

Save the Date for next year’s event Feb 27-29, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Knife River is a full service aggregate-based construction company, providing ready-mix concrete aggregate sales and delivery and concrete construction services. We provide services throughout North Dakota for public, private and commercial construction projects.

701-580-4527

Bismarck-Mandan | Washburn | Beulah Mark Roningen - Business

Register to Win One of Four $2500 Prizes at the Home Show. See https://bismanhomeshow.com/consumers/10k-hot-prize-giveaway/ for details.

Win an outdoor furniture set valued at $2500 from Envision Pools and Outdoor Living at the Home Show on March 10 & 11

Win a Ren-O-Thin Power Rake by Ryan valued at $2500 from Bobcat of Mandan at the Home Show on March 10 & 11

Let Envision Pools and Outdoor Living help create your perfect backyard oasis with a new pool, hot tub, outdoor furniture, and accessories. With over 50 years combined experience in design and construction, project management and sales, the experts at Envision can provide all-inclusive service for your backyard solutions.

From ideation to the perfecting finishing touches, trust Envision Pools and Outdoor Living to bring your style forward. Stop by our display at the Home Show to schedule a personalized meeting to ‘dive’ into your outdoor wish list.

https://www.envisionnd.com 701-581-7147

Temporary Showroom - 1365 Tacoma Ave, Unit 5

Bismarck, ND 58504

New location and Grand Opening coming soon on South Airport Road

Be the envy of your neighborhood with a new Ren-O-Thin Power Rake by Ryan, available at Bobcat of Mandan. The Ren-O-Thin Power Rake is designed for effective lawn dethatching. Featuring a simple height adjustment that lets you fine-tune your de-thatching depth.

From zero-turn lawn mowers to Bobcat Skid Steer loaders and excavators, Bobcat of Mandan has the tools of tomorrow, today. Bobcat of Mandan features a full line of rental equipment, parts and service departments, and experienced staff to provide the knowledge and service you expect.

Visit them at Home Show to learn more. You can’t miss their display in the SW corner of the Event Center. Ask about their special 0% Financing offer on select equipment. Bobcat of Mandan has the machines for you!

https://www.bobcatofmandan.com 701-663-0903 4209 Memorial Hwy, Mandan, ND 58554

Register to Win - Rules: Need not be present to win. No purchase necessary. No Cash Value. To register you need to come to the BMHBA Home Show at the Bismarck Event Center on March 10-11 and fill out an entry slip. You can do this in the Event Center lobby or inside the Home Show exhibit area. On Monday March 13th, all four (4) $2500 winners will be randomly drawn and contacted.

Win a Double-Pane Slider Window installed from Fettig Millwork & Windows (valued at $2500) at the Home Show on March 10 & 11.

Win a year-round Outdoor Holiday Lighting System valued at $2500 from Pro Light of ND at the Home Show on March 10 & 11.

Boost the value of your home with premium windows, doors, and award-winning service from Fettig Millwork & Windows. Add comfort to your home and save money on utilities. Fettig Millwork and Windows will show you the difference new windows can make. Infinity Windows from Marvin are designed with high performance Ultrex Fiberglass, and they’re more durable than wood or vinyl – for about the same price.

Make your window buying experience hassle-free. Contact Fettig Millwork & Windows for a free estimate. Brian Fettig will make it easy by working with you to choose your preferred colors, the types of glass, and finish you want to use.

Stop by the Fettig Millwork & Windows display at the Home Show. Ask about their “Lifetime Worry-Free Guarantee” on Infinity from Marvin windows.

https://fettigmillwork.com 701-751-0407 800 W Main St, Mandan, ND 58554

Celebrate every holiday throughout the year with permanent lighting that is hardly noticeable by day. You’ll never have to climb a ladder again to hang temporary lights again. Pro Light of ND is the premier Permanent Holiday Lights partner for the Bismarck, Dickinson, Watford City and Williston areas. They combine the technical capabilities of a national company with the personal support of a local business with over a decade of experience. Upholding community trust is a responsibility Pro Light takes pride in.

With an easy-to-use App, you have access to hundreds of color combinations, patterns and features. This exclusive LED lighting is energy efficient and designed to last for decades.

Stop by the Pro Light display at the Home Show and ask for a free quote for your home or business. It could be a great decision!

https://prolightnd.com 888-401-4235 308 2nd Ave SW. Minot, ND

A homebuilder’s construction site is their livelihood, containing tools and assets that could be vulnerable to theft or damage. As winter begins to shrink away from the warm touch of spring, people will spend more time outdoors and these construction sites could be targeted.

Now is an ideal time to be thinking about security measures to have in place for warmer months. It is important to engage your employees and let them know you take a tough stance on crime:

• Develop a written job site security policy.

• Designate one person to be responsible for security issues.

• Contact local law enforcement for a site security survey to provide feedback and recommendations.

Making sure your construction site is secure is an ongoing process. The goal is to make someone intent on stealing tools or equipment think twice about the effort that theft could take and have them look for a more vulnerable target instead.

• Control access to the job site. Consider using employee IDs that contain names and photos.

• Post “No Trespassing” signs indicating that violators will be prosecuted.

• Delay delivery and installation of appliances until the pre-completion stage when doors and locks are installed.

• Show that you are alert. Conduct random visits to the site. Challenge strangers who may be around the premises.

• Use security lighting.

The loss of tools and equipment carries not only an immediate financial burden for replacement but can also derail schedules as time is dedicated to replacement versus project completion.

• Mark company tools and maintain an inventory

• Have a formalized system for checking out tools

• Lock and properly utilize storage areas and gang/lock boxes each night. Use heavyduty locks.

• Park a piece of heavy equipment in front of the storage doors.

• Disable equipment at night by removing the battery. Don’t leave keys in the machinery.

• Re-key equipment. Most construction equipment is commonly keyed.

• Secure and lock all doors, windows and garage doors if appliances or other materials/tools are inside.

• Engrave or stamp an identifier on all tools. Even with every precaution taken, theft is still a possibility. If you believe a theft has occurred at your construction site, there are a few steps that can help begin the process of investigation.

• Do not touch anything.

• Call local law enforcement to report the loss, regardless of value.

• Start a list of property taken and provide full details of that equipment.

• Check other locations where tools and equipment are stored to see if tampering or theft has occurred. Do not touch anything if there are signs of entry or tampering.

Builders FirstSource is your first source for great customer service and high quality building materials.

BUILDING MATERIALS

Do you feel like you can’t make a difference in state policy? I’m here to tell you that you can.

In the last few weeks, the North Dakota Association of Builders rallied to defeat a bill. The bill, SB 2303, mandated that a one-family or two-family dwelling may not have a basement depth of more than one foot below the “ordinary high water mark” of the underlying water table as established by a soil scientist or soil classifier. Essentially, there would be large swaths of North Dakota that would not be allowed to have a basement.

NDAB Government Affairs Committee Chairman spoke in opposition on behalf of the committee. "For an average new home, regulatory costs already account for nearly 24% of the cost of the home," Dabbert said. "It would only create an additional layer of red tape that is not based on updated technology or current practices."

After the hearing ended, the committee discussed concerns with SB 2303, citing concerns of local control and the state building code being continuously updated to address concerns. Senator Judy Lee moved a recommendation for a "do not pass," the committee unanimously agreed.

After attempts to amend the bill on the floor, it still failed 36 to 10. This success would not have happened without our members contacting our legislators on the behalf of their industry and sharing their experiences as builders.

So much of what we do is regulated by government, so they need to hear our voice. They must hear our voice. The future of affordable homes depends on it.

March 3-4 Home & Garden Show

March 17

ShamRockin’ the Bakken WesternAreaBuildersAssoc.

March 25-26

Spring Expo

ForxBuildersAssoc.

March 31-April 1

Home Show

DickinsonAreaBuildersAssoc.

April 14-15

Home and Garden Show

WesternAreaBuildersAssoc.

April 21-23

Parade of Homes

WesternAreaBuildersAssoc.

KAYLA PULVERMACHER NDAB CEO

JEFF SATTLER 2023 NDAB PRESIDENT

The past two years of supply-chain disruptions, compounded by labor shortages, have forced builders to improvise, adapt and overcome. Throughout these still-challenging times, builders have come up with creative and viable solutions to properly complete homes when the critical path becomes the path less followed.

1. Window Flashing. To keep projects moving when the windows are nowhere in sight, leave the housewrap stretched over their rough openings, which will help to protect the interior until windows arrive.

2. Structural Elements. Structural sheathing can be interchanged with other more readily available options, but work with your architect or engineer to ensure compliance with the building’s requirements. It’s also important to understand how differences in vapor permeability among sheathing materials affect wall performance. Be aware of and stay close to the wall vapor profile that’s recommended for your climate.

3. Housewraps. Housewraps vary significantly in permeability ratings and in their ability to function as an air barrier. Do your homework, and be aware of your climate conditions.

4. Insulation. While wall cavity insulation products can be interchanged, they vary significantly in their thermal (Rvalue) ratings and impact on a wall’s vapor profile. Fiberglass batts and loose-fill products can be used in any climate, but damp sprayed cellulose isn’t recommended for hot/humid areas. Closed cell spray foam insulation can be used in any area tile backer: those that are surface, and those recommended s also a class of waterproof membrane that provide a fully waterproof membrane over a variety of backers that are adequately secured to the framing