Midland - October 02, 2008

Photo Credit: Copyright 2008 Benson Woodworking Co. Inc./Socius Design

Dow Building Solutions collaborates with custom homebuilder, Bensonwood, to create one New England family's dream home by combining old world craftsmanship with modern day building science.  Custom-designed to have all the charm of an 18th century colonial barn – but none of the dampness and leaky drafts – the Weston, Massachusetts home is the focus of this season’s PBS home improvement series, This Old House. 

Unlike most projects featured on This Old House, the new timberframe home was prefabricated at Bensonwood’s Walpole, New Hampshire, facilities, miles away from the project site. Using a highly-efficient systems approach (designed in part with the help of Dow consultants), Bensonwood builds walls with windows and pre-fitted plumbing fixtures inside the shop – rain or shine.  By building different sections of the home simultaneously, in multiple shops, rather than in sequence, components for the nearly 3,800 sq.-ft. house could be built faster and then assembled on site.

The This Old House Weston project premieres on PBS Thursday, October 2, at 8pm EST (check local listings). Tune in to watch the home come to life over the course of 16 episodes.  Throughout the season, viewers will see how Bensonwood uses Dow insulation and weatherization solutions to keep this barn-inspired home warm and dry in the winter, cool and comfortable in the summer, and energy-efficient all year long:

• Energy-efficient, comfortable interior blanketed by 2" and thicker STYROFOAM™ Brand Insulation products in the basement, walls and roof.  Above-grade walls achieved a thermal protection rating of R-34, well above the required R-19 in Massachusetts. Joints between building components were sealed with gaskets and insulated with FROTH-PAK™ Foam Sealant Kits.
• Draft- and moisture-free windows and doors tightly sealed with WEATHERMATE™ Weather Barrier Solutions and GREAT STUFF™ Window & Door Insulating Foam Sealant, filling corner gaps no larger than a pinhole.
• Filled gaps around plumbing and electrical penetrations with GREAT STUFF™ FireBlock Insulating Foam Sealant.

About Dow Building Solutions

Dow Building Solutions (DBS) collaborates with builders, architects and remodelers, applying its expertise in building science to develop practical solutions that improve energy efficiency; protect against wind, rain and moisture; and contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Its 60-year legacy of providing energy-saving solutions began with the launch of its flagship STYROFOAM™ Brand Insulation, and the DBS portfolio has since grown to include some of the most trusted brands used in residential and commercial building projects around the globe. Visit www.dowbuildingsolutions.com.

About Dow Polyurethane Carpet Backing Technology

Dow polyurethane backing technology improves the performance of commercial broadloom and modular carpet. Whether it's ENFORCER™ Technology for non-cushioned carpet or ENHANCER™ Technology for cushioned carpet, Dow polyurethane helps create a more durable, comfortable and long-lasting carpet. It's a perfect solution for a variety of commercial applications including corporate, retail, hospitality, government, education and healthcare settings. Visit www.dowcarpetbackings.com.

About Dow Latex Carpet Backing Technology

Dow Emulsion Polymers is a world leader in the manufacture of emulsion polymers used in the production of carpet and other floor covering materials. Our products include a wide variety of styrene butadiene, terpolymer, and acrylic latexes to meet specific needs for the carpet industry. Latex is used to impart specific physical properties to the finished carpet, including dimensional stability, stiffness and hand, and may be used to enhance performance properties of the carpet, including ignition resistance and moisture barrier. Visit www.dowcarpetlatex.com.

About Dow

For Editorial Information:

Jan McKinnon
The Dow Chemical Company
519-339-5028

Marissa Peterson
Gibbs & Soell, Inc.
212-697-2600