In this episode of the Build Better Homes Podcast, Royal is joined once again by building envelope expert Nate McIntyre for one of the most comprehensive building-science deep dives of the season.

Nate shares 25+ years of experience diagnosing failures, reviewing assemblies, and consulting for architects, engineers, contractors, and developers. Together, he and Royal unpack the real reasons buildings succeed — or fail — across spray foam installations, WRBs, compatibility issues, exothermic reactions, continuous insulation systems, product failures, and the unintended consequences of airtight construction.

They also explore the rise of digital twins, 360 capture, Matterport models, drone documentation, and how these tools are transforming inspections, forensics, and QA/QC across the industry.

Key Topics Covered

• Nate’s path from commissioning and mechanical systems to building envelope forensics
• Why product incompatibility is one of the top causes of failures
• The real pros, cons, and risks of spray foam (including exothermic reactions)
• Why “tight homes” require smarter ventilation and building science
• Common failures with continuous insulation & ZIP systems
• When WRBs are required — and why many builders misunderstand them
• Why mockups matter (and how they prevent major failures)
• How digital twins, drones, and Matterport models are reshaping construction QA/QC
• Real case studies: moisture traps, incompatible sealants, shrinkage failures, and membrane issues
• Why retrofits are often riskier than new construction
• The coming wave of defect claims tied to energy-code-driven assemblies

Modern construction requires more than “following the plan.”

It requires understanding how materials interact, testing assemblies, calling manufacturers, documenting work, and using the right experts at the right time. The best builders aren’t guessing — they’re verifying.

Plans • Engineering • Envelope Support

👉 pliris.co