Mike Conneely of Greenside Design Build walks through thermal bridging from the perspective of a luxury home builder balancing performance with structural demands and client priorities. Framing decisions—like oversized studs, dense corners, and engineered lumber at major openings—create unavoidable paths for heat transfer, especially where strength is critical. He explains how point loads, headers, and load-bearing walls often outweigh insulation opportunities, requiring trade-offs. Conneely also touches on material choices, noting wood’s advantages over steel in limiting heat transfer, and discusses exterior insulation as an effective but cost-sensitive upgrade. Additional examples include insulated garage slabs and managing thermal loss around steel columns with spray foam.

Watch more of Mike's full episodes on The Build Show and follow him on Instagram at the links below.
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