Created by Insulation Distributors Inc., R-Value provides business tips, stories from the field and industry updates for those who need to know what’s happening in the world of insulation. Gain valuable insights from experts who understand what matters most to contractors and their customers. Whether you want to discover new insulation tools or improve your small business tactics, subscribe now to get an edge on the competition.
Episodes
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
We’re well into 2022 and a lot has already changed in the building industry, codes, regulations, legislation, and COVID guidance just to name a few. We’ve called in one of the leading experts in insulation, Dr. Joe Lstiburek, to help you understand these changes and prepare your business for the next 3 quarters and beyond.
Joe Lstiburek is the founding principal of Building Science Corporation. His work ranges widely, from providing expert witness testimony to overseeing research and development projects, to writing for the ASHRAE Journal and buildingscience.com.
Dr. Lstiburek’s commitment to advancing the building industry has had a lasting impact on building codes and practices throughout the world, particularly in the areas of air barriers, vapor barriers, and vented and unvented roof assemblies.
In this podcast...
2:33 - The changes to the 2021 codes and if they will stick
5:00 - Is net zero next?
9:31 - What would the perfect insulation contractor ALWAYS Do?
12:27 - Are we building too tight?
15:59 - If you stop putting in bad stuff, you won’t have bad things happen to your house
18:03 - The new bad habit: over-ventilation
21:56 - Where are the biggest opportunities for retrofits?
26:19 - How important is sealing the rim joists?
31:34 - How will Build Back Better affect the industry?
34:51 - Current suggestions for COVID mitigation could kill houses
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
It’s not just your phone, technology is improving rapidly in every facet of our lives including the tools we use to get the job done. Today we pay special attention to one of the most vital and complex pieces of your operation, the spray foam rig.
Our guest this week is Nick Pagano, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Graco’s Contractor Equipment Division. Nick has been in the spray foam industry for over 20 years With focus on spray foam and polyurea equipment. He’s now in product line management, new product development, and new business development. Nick has served on boards of both the SPFA and the Spray Foam Coalition.
He’s here to discuss the latest and greatest from Graco, the Reactor 3 Spray Foam System. Reactor 3 pairs revolutionary hardware improvements with software that reduces maintenance costs and helps you to ensure the quality of your projects.
Interested in the new Reactor 3? Reach out to your local IDI branch today!
In this podcast...
1:54 - When do you know it’s time to upgrade your equipment?
3:13 - How Graco gets feedback from contractors that shapes new solutions
7:28 - How Reactor 3 makes it easier to find the person to run your rig every day
10:52 - How many engineers does it take to make a revolutionary new product
12:20 - How Reactor 3 completely re-thinks every aspect of the spray foam system
14:30 - Instead of constantly fixing hose cables…what if we got rid of the cables all together?
17:07 - Putting Graco’s products to the test
20:00 - What are the differences between the Standard, Pro and Elite models of Reactor 3?
24:15 - Revolutionizing a constant source of problems: the drum pumps
28:00 - A hose made for the all-day contractor
31:25 - A pump system that actually reduced maintenance costs
34:12 - How Graco’s new software can monitor your system AND the product coming out of the gun
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
It's the Super Bowl of spray foam conventions, SprayFoam 2022, and it's live and in-person this February. Today we're talking to the man who is helping to put it all together, Rick Duncan. He is the Executive Director of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), the industry’s leading organization representing contractors, material and equipment manufacturers, distributors, and industry consultants.
Rick is here to tell us about the exciting updates from SPFA and the SprayFoam 2022 convention in San Antonio, Texas on February 28th. The convention will include many exciting opportunities for training, new technologies, and even a huge giveaway. Also, don’t forget to check out IDI Distributors at booth 417 during this year’s SprayFoam 2022 convention! Our booth will feature hourly demonstrations of our new bidding software, BIDIT, as well as have brand new products on display and much more!
In this podcast...
1:41 - The exciting new innovations on the SPFA website
4:00 - The wealth of knowledge in the SPFA Document Library
7:00 - The SPFA SprayFoam 2022 Conference and Expo is ON in San Antonio and full of amazing opportunities for contractors
10:34 - The SPFA SprayFoam 2022 Conference and Expo breakout sessions, industry excellence awards, and show attendance
11:34 - Is there a rig being given away at this year's convention??!
Monday Aug 16, 2021
Monday Aug 16, 2021
There's an adage in writing for the stage and screen: show, don't tell. That's an adage that has led to big business for our guest today, DeWitt Driscoll of Positive Energy Consultants. He's taking on the hardest jobs and using cutting-edge technology to make sure customers understand what they need and how he can help.
In this episode...
1:10 - Building performance is a family affair in the Driscoll household
4:40 - Multiple ways to use sensors to give customers power, earn their trust and ensure the long term success of your install
11:05 - Getting active with a "passive house"
14:07 - Taking on the hard jobs
Monday Aug 09, 2021
Monday Aug 09, 2021
We have news from the capital city, Washington D.C. that can help you keep more of your capital. Host, Ken Allison, speaks with Kara Saul Rinaldi, the President and CEO of the AnnDyl Policy Group, LLC, a clean energy policy group that works on the federal and state level. Her organization is a driving force behind the Hope for Homes legislation, a bill that would fund training for work on clean energy improvements including insulation, air sealing, and other building performance enhancements.
In this episode...
3:41 - Hope For Homes Act explained in-depth
6:17 - How will the Hopes For Homes Act become a reality?
10:15 - How rebates could play a factor in retrofit jobs at every income level
12:02 - Other legislation that could impact your business soon
14:12 - How contractors can be part of the solution
Thursday May 27, 2021
Thursday May 27, 2021
This one goes out to all the women out there breaking down glass ceilings and insulating buildings. We're discussing women in the insulation industry with four of the brightest minds at IDI distributors and the entire industry; Rachel Perry, Commercial Sales Specialist, Daja Oliver, a Branch Manager in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jessica the Attic Queen out of Tampa, Florida and Chelsea Whitley, SPFE Product and Solutions Manager in Atlanta, Georgia. Each of these industry experts share their unique experiences entering a traditionally male-dominated industry and how they feel like women have changed it for the better.
2:49 - "I feel like a mama bear to some of these guys."
4:10 - How the Attic Queen claimed her throne
10:58 - "They knew I was organizing, knew I was going to be truthful and honest. And I care. That was the biggest thing when they knew I cared."
13:38 - Managing the organized chaos for your customers
17:38 - Is this a viable career path for college-educated women?
20:00 - Fighting imposter syndrome
22:48 - The social media advantage
27:44 - "If a woman truly understands the building science behind things, and...loves challenges and loves working out...you can do this job."
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Bryon Adamczyk, President of AI Building Products, knows what it takes to hire, train and manage multiple teams of contractors. In this episode, he shares his no-nonsense insights into obtaining, retaining and training talent that will save your business money and reputation.
AI Building Products was founded in 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida and has been providing service excellence in Fort Myers and South West Florida ever since.
In this episode...
- 2:00 - Hiring multiple crews and avoiding the "Gypsy Effect"
- 3:45 - Retaining top contracting talent
- 5:26 - Providing crews work without the burnout
- 7:00 - Bridging cross-cultural barriers in your crews
- 9:35 - Use it or lose it: preventing product waist
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
To keep the outside, outside and the inside dry and quiet takes a lot of science. No one knows that better than The ROCKWOOL Group who have been protecting residential and commercial properties from moisture and sound pollution since 1909. Host Ken Allison welcomes Brendan Van Gool and Jason Howell from the ROCKWOOL Group to discuss the world of exterior insulation and the unique challenges that different environments bring to a building project.
The ROCKWOOL Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of stone wool insulation. They offer a full range of high-performing and sustainable insulation products for the construction industry.
On this episode...
- 1:03 - What's special and innovative about Rockwool?
- 5:02 - Getting product to contractors faster
- 8:04 - The fastest growing market for Rockwool
- 15:25 - Top picks for fastenings systems
- 21:25 - Is Rockwool really better for sound?
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
No matter what line of work you're in you'd like to be given a gold star, by your industry and certainly by your customer. Who is setting the standards for what qualifies as world-class building and contracting? Host Ken Allison welcomes Larry Zarker and John Jones of BPI, the Building Performance Institute to discuss how BPI formulated the training and qualifications that make up its GoldStar Contractor status and how that status can lead to better building and more customers.
BPI Certified Professionals solve home and building owners’ trickiest problems. BPI offers certifications, standards, and programs (BPI GoldStar Contractor, Rater, and Product Listing). For business owners, BPI enhances your offerings to meet the real needs of homeowners. BPI is the source for certified contractors working on home energy efficiency, comfort, durability, health, and safety.
On today's episode...
- 1:02 - The history of BPI
- 5:14 - The benefits of learning from BPI
- 8:05 - So...what IS a building analyst?
- 13:41 - How long do certifications take?
- 15:59 - The greatest opportunity in home performance
- 21:03 - The future of building performance
- 26:06 - Workforce development: finding the great builders of tomorrow
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
On today's show the focus shifts from spray foam to blown fiberglass insulation. And no one knows it better than Chris Fuerst, IDI's Fiberglass Equipment and Sales Rep. Chris has a decade of experience in the industry but just recently joined IDI in 2020.
Don and Travis discuss every facet of blown insulation operations with Chris, and his knowledge and experience are clear. He explains about making the decision of what type of machine you need for your specific purpose and just how many different aspects of the job you have to take into consideration. He also goes into detail on proper application, machine setup, getting the longest life out of your equipment, troubleshooting, maintenance, training and how to get achieve the best coverage and highest profit.
And don't miss Don's Hannibal Lecter impression!
- 6:45 - All blowing machines are not equal
- 9:40 - Have a plan
- 13:11 - Common problems
- 18:36 - Factors that affect performance
- 21:37 - Don't be shocked
- 23:57 - Seal the deal
- 29:19 - Sucking up
- 33:55 - When to go electric