Material Standards
Most building decisions get made on initial price. We evaluate performance, longevity, maintenance, energy use, and comfort, then recommend where each dollar earns its keep on your project. Here is the standard kit, what each product does, and what you'll notice living with it.
Where to invest first
Roof, walls, windows, air barriers, and insulation affect comfort, energy use, and durability around the clock for the life of the building. Countertops can be upgraded in year ten; a wall assembly is forever. When budgets force choices, we recommend the enclosure first, and we'll show the math behind that recommendation on your specific project.
A material that costs more on installation day and saves money every month after has a break-even date. Preconstruction is where we calculate it for your building instead of asserting it.
The standard kit
What it is: structural sheathing with a built-in weather barrier and continuous exterior insulation, in one panel.
Why we specify it: it wraps the framing in insulation, so posts stop conducting heat out of the wall, and it gives a taped, inspectable air barrier.
What you'll notice: even temperatures and lower heating loads, especially on windy nights.
What it is: the same integrated sheathing and weather barrier, on the roof deck.
Why we specify it: the roof takes the most weather of any surface. Full sheathing under the metal creates a sealed, durable deck and protects the build during construction.
What you'll notice: a quiet roof in rain, and an attic assembly that stays dry.
What it is: a smart membrane with directional vapor permeability.
Why we specify it: it restricts moisture entering the wall in winter and lets the assembly dry when seasons reverse. Fixed plastic barriers only do half that job.
What you'll notice: nothing, for decades. That's the point.
What it is: stone wool batt insulation, spun from rock.
Why we specify it: strong thermal performance, serious sound absorption, dimensional stability, water resistance, and it does not burn. In a wildfire region, non-combustible insulation is a real feature.
What you'll notice: quiet rooms and stable temperatures.
What it is: a ventilated drainage cavity between the weather barrier and the siding, vented with Cor-A-Vent® SV-5 strips.
Why we specify it: walls should manage water, and a drained, ventilated gap lets everything that gets past the siding leave. Siding also lasts longer with its back ventilated.
What you'll notice: siding that looks good years longer, and a wall that dries between storms.
What it is: three panes of glass with insulating frames.
Why we specify it: windows are the coldest surface in any wall. A third pane raises the inside glass temperature, which cuts drafts, condensation, and noise at the source.
What you'll notice: reading chairs by the window in January, and quiet you can hear.
What it is: metal roofing with concealed fasteners and raised, interlocking seams.
Why we specify it: the fasteners live under the metal instead of through it, which removes thousands of gasketed screw penetrations from your weather surface. It sheds snow well and accepts solar mounting cleanly.
What you'll notice: decades of service with minimal maintenance.
What it is: warm water circulating through tubing in an insulated concrete slab.
Why we specify it: the floor becomes the radiator, so heat starts where people and work are. It pairs beautifully with big open spans and shop space.
What you'll notice: warm floors, silent heat, and a shop that works in winter.
What it is: precast concrete columns that carry the structural posts, keeping every piece of wood above the soil.
Why we specify it: wood in the ground is the durability question this category has earned over fifty years. Concrete in the ground and wood in the air settles it, and it satisfies lenders reading foundation requirements.
What you'll notice: a building your kids inherit rather than repair.
What it is: engineered laminated posts, with roof purlins hung in hangers flush to the trusses.
Why we specify it: laminated columns are straighter and more consistent than solid-sawn posts, and flush purlins clean up the structure for finished interiors.
What you'll notice: crisp finished ceilings and drywall that stays flat.
Building performance packages
Every package rides on the same engineered structure and concrete foundations. Performance rises through the envelope and mechanicals. During planning we price the gaps between tiers for your building, so upgrading becomes a numbers decision.
| Component | Foundation Series™ | Performance Series™ | Signature Series™ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Engineered post frame, laminated columns, Perma-Columns | Same engineered structure | Same engineered structure |
| Wall sheathing | ZIP System | ZIP R with continuous exterior insulation | ZIP R plus enhanced exterior insulation |
| Vapor & air control | Standard air sealing practices | SIGA Majrex smart vapor control, enhanced air sealing | Advanced air sealing strategy, premium detailing |
| Wall drainage | Standard weather barrier | Full rain screen with Cor-A-Vent ventilation | High-performance rain screen assembly |
| Insulation | Fiberglass or Rockwool | Rockwool | Rockwool plus exterior layers |
| Windows | Quality double-pane | Triple-pane | Premium triple-pane, enhanced install detailing |
| Roof | Premium exposed-fastener metal or architectural shingles | Standing seam metal | Standing seam, solar-ready design |
| Heating | Forced air or mini-split | High-efficiency systems, hydronic slab available | Hydronic radiant plus dedicated ventilation and IAQ strategy |
| Design approach | Value-focused, engineered | Solar-oriented layout, moisture-managed envelope | Passive solar optimization, site-specific orientation |
| Best for | Shops, investment properties, budget-focused builds | Primary residences, barndominiums, daily-use buildings | Forever homes, luxury barndominiums, mountain retreats |
Most primary residences land on Performance Series, which is why it carries the company's name. Where your building should land depends on how long you'll own it and how you'll heat it, and that conversation is part of preconstruction.
“Not every project requires every upgrade. Our role is to help you understand the options and make informed decisions based on your goals, your budget, and your priorities.” Sean Kampstra, Owner
How recommendations get made
When we suggest a product, you'll hear what it does, what it costs, what the alternative costs over time, and what Sean would choose on his own house. Then you decide. Clients keep the reasoning in writing as part of the preconstruction package, which makes every selection auditable later.
See how planning worksBring your questions about materials, tiers, or the products another builder quoted you. Sean will give you the tradeoffs in plain language.
Start Your ProjectWant the physics behind these choices? Building Science explains the layers.