Spray-on House Wrap for Serenbe Homes Sto Corp.’s Air/Waterproof Barrier Perfect for New Homes
Atlanta-based building products manufacturer, Sto Corp., a leader in wall cladding, coating and restoration systems, had an offer that couldn’t be refused by Atlanta homebuilders. The company rolled out a special promotion for its energy efficient waterproofing/air barrier system, StoGuardTM, in the first quarter of 2007. The spray-on waterproofing/air barrier has been used successfully in both residential and commercial applications for years, though research showed that few homebuilders in the Atlanta area were familiar with the benefits of using StoGuard. This innovative product addresses moisture intrusion issues and helps prevent mold growth in homes.
“The promotion was offered to Atlanta homebuilders, and those who qualified were able to try StoGuard on one home for free (material and labor). The offer also included, on-site technical assistance during the installation, and StoGuard’s 10-year moisture intrusion warranty,” said Lisa Petsko, Sto Product Manager.
One builder, Jason Jackoniski, owner of Arc & Angle Home builders, LLC, and member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Earth Craft House, knew a good deal when he saw it. He called upon Sto Corp., having received information on the promotion, and they got to work.
“It is the extra things you do to make houses better than others,” said Jackoniski. “There are so many changes in home building that you can’t rely on the old practices – you have to try new, innovative products to keep up and get ahead.”
According to Petsko, StoGuard can help with noise, heating and cooling bills, and with a spray-on waterproofing/air barrier you don’t have to worry about mislaps or tears.
The home is in the new Serenbe Community in Palmetto, Ga. The community itself is innovative, offering homeowner’s stables, walking trails, a bonfire pavilion, shops, restaurants, and an inn in the new neighborhood.
“I believe in building good quality homes and StoGuard fits into that mindset,” said Jackoniski. Jackoniski, a small volume builder, builds mainly in the south Atlanta area. The home construction began in February 2007 and is expected to be complete by mid-summer. The house, just under 5,000 square feet with a finished basement, is part of Phase 1.
StoGuard was installed by Stucco and Masonry Renovators, LLC., (www.renovators-atl.com), owned by Ernesto Medina and his wife, Karine Gottlieb. They have been installing Sto products for several years in metropolitan Atlanta and have found a niche in the Atlanta market focusing on repair work and spray-on waterproofing/air barriers.
“StoGuard fits right into our business portfolio, as contractors usually sub out the installation of house wraps,” said Medina. “We have had excellent response from luxury home owners and builders who have chosen StoGuard. The product makes the house weather proof and waterproof, and the permeability of it is a definite advantage. Another advantage is that it doesn’t rip or tear.”
Medina has been in the construction industry for over 25 years. Stucco and Masonry Renovators serves all of metropolitan Atlanta, with concentrated work within the I-285 loop and north, including Roswell, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and Cumming, Ga. The company is a MoistureFree Warranty Corporation (MWC) Certified Repair Contractor and a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), working with many of its Atlanta members.
“NARI members are seeking to use products that are the best on the market and StoGuard perfectly fits into their needs,” said Medina.
Chuck Moore, Principal Product Testing Technician, with Sto Corp. was on the job site to oversee the initial StoGuard installation. They used the new product combination, StoGuard™ Fabric and StoGuard RediCorner. StoGuard Fabric is a non-woven cloth reinforcement that is part of the StoGuard assembly and is used with Sto EmeraldCoat® to treat sheathing joints, inside and outside corners and rough openings.
“An advantage in using this fabric is that it creates a two component StoGuard system,” said Lisa Petsko, Sto product manager. “Contractors will appreciate the ease of installation with this fabric allowing them to be more efficient on the jobsite.”
StoGuard RediCorner is a pre-formed fabric piece used in the corners of the rough openings for quicker installation. This product translates into easy installation and consistent protection in one of the most critical areas on any wall - the rough openings. Sto gives contractors a tool that can make their job easier by taking the guess work out of making sure the openings are sufficiently protected.
“There are 60 rough openings in this house, and by using StoGuard Fabric and RediCorner the job could be completed more quickly and easily,” said Petsko.
Jackoniski was pleased with the results. “I had heard StoGuard was a good product and I wanted to try it out to see if it works like they say it does. It looks good. I’m happy I tried it,” said Jackoniski. In fact, Jackoniski liked the product so much that he used StoGuard on his second house, right next door, in Serenbe.
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About StoGuard
StoGuard™ is a spray-on building wrap that is waterproof and an air barrier. StoGuard provides superior protection against air leakage and moisture intrusion in a variety of applications. StoGuard can be used underneath brick, wood, vinyl, cement siding, cement stucco and other exterior insulation and finish systems.
The StoGuard assembly consists of the following:
v StoGuard joint treatment – various options available.
v Sto Gold Coat or Sto EmeraldCoat both waterproof coatings applied by spray, roller, or brush to wall sheathing, prepared concrete, or concrete masonry wall construction. Sto Gold Coat® is specially formulated for use under EIFS and other claddings while Sto EmeraldCoat is specially formulated for use under stucco and other claddings.
Together these components create a seamless, structural air and waterproof barrier that greatly improves indoor occupant comfort and reduces energy costs in comparison to house wraps in wall assemblies. For more information on spray-on air and moisture barriers, visit these helpful web sites: www.airbarrier.org; www.buildingscience.com; www.stocorp.com/stoguard.
About Sto Corp.
Sto Corp., based in Atlanta, Georgia, is an innovative world leader and producer of a broad range of versatile cladding and coating systems for building construction, maintenance and restoration. Sto Corp. is a member of Earth Craft House. Sto Corp. is ISO 9001 certified and operates production plants strategically located to serve more than 200 distributor shipping locations across North America. At research and development laboratories in the U.S. and Europe, Sto continues to revolutionize the industry with the highest quality products and application technology. For more information, visit www.stocorp.com or call toll free (800) 221-2397 or (404) 346-0755.
Media Contact: Julie Chalpan, 770.736.3100 or focusunlimited@mindspring.com |