Whether it’s a new construction or a property that you’ve been living in for years, keeping your home air-tight is key to its overall energy efficiency. Minimizing air movement in and out of your house is also important if you want to keep moisture under control. This is why, over the years, builders have developed many techniques and methods to seal air leaks. In today’s post, we list three of the most popular.
1. Air barriers. The application of air barriers is a good way of blocking unwanted air movement through building cavities. Although they’re very effective at stopping air movement, they’re not necessarily vapor barriers. Air barriers are also largely climate-dependent, so it’s important that you work with a local contractor with an intimate knowledge of the building standards in your area.
2. Caulking. Caulking is also used to seal joints and seams. It’s generally intended for small gaps no larger than a quarter-of-an-inch wide. It comes in a wide variety of materials, from vinyl latex to asphalt, and its use will depend on which part of your house you’re trying to seal.
3. Weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is typically used to seal gaps between moving parts in a home, such as around windows and doors. They’re also useful in instances where the caps or seams are too wide for caulking to be used. As with caulking, knowing which kind of weatherstripping material to select can be confusing, so be sure to speak to your contractor before applying.
Whether you’re building a house from the ground up or would like to minimize air leakage in your existing home, turn to Entergis Testing and Sealing, LLC. We offer code-compliant leakage testing for residents throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and East Texas. Call us today at (225) 445-2362 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.