PROJECT DESCRIPTION

WrapShield Water Resistive Vapor Permeable Air Barrier Membrane and SlopeShield Water Resistive Roof Underlayment are helping Treetop Hideaways, a luxury treehouse hotel located in north Georgia, to achieve Living Building Challenge Certification*. Known for its rigorous standards, The Living Building Challenge (LBC) evaluates buildings on seven performance categories or “Petals,” to determine the structure's overall sustainability and positive environmental impact. WrapShield and SlopeShield were chosen for their ease of installation and detailing to create a complete air barrier system for reduced energy loads and for being free of red list chemicals. Treetop Hideaways' luxury treehouses are the first LBC Certified building in the Southeastern US.

Two hundred year old reclaimed barn wood clads the treehouses. Behind the barn wood is a ventilated cavity, in a rain screen design, that ensures continuous and ongoing air movement around the barn wood. This method [rain screen] mimics the original aggressive ventilation characteristics of a barn allowing the wood to “live on” in a different capacity.

By using both WrapShield and SlopeShield, plus VaproLiqui-Flash for rough openings, the treehouses have a continuous air barrier system which means improved indoor air quality, lower energy cost and consumption, and adds to the treehouses' overall longevity. These positive environmental impacts contribute to the health of the globe and guests alike.

The first treehouse was completed in the summer of 2015. Described as “part glamping, part boutique hotel,” the lodging features full amenities, as well as net-positive energy status, meaning more energy is produced than is utilized.

Learn more about Treetop Hideaways here.

*Treetop Hideaways expects to receive full Living Building Certification by end of 2016.  LBC certification process can last up to 12 months.