Airtight & Weatherproof

Caulk, caulking, silicone, sealant - the gooey stuff in a tube used to seal windows, doors and to fill the gaps in buildings, comes in all different types - some of which usually gets on your clothes! Here we look at which caulk is best. Which is the best caulk or sealant? Finding the right caulking, and better…

A blower door test identifies air leakage in a home; you can find and fix those air leaks for a more airtight, mold & rot-free and energy-efficient sustainable green home. What is a blower door test? Blower door tests are becoming part of many State and Provincial mandatory building codes - the new BC Energy Step…

Aerobarrier is a non-toxic acrylic spray that quickly and affordably seals air leaks in attics and homes. We cannot overstate the importance of airtightness in homes and attic rooms. A proper air barrier reduces heat loss in winter, overheating in summer, and prevents moisture build up in walls which can lead to…

Weather barriers (or more accurately water-resistive barriers) keep bulk water away from vulnerable building components and allow walls to dry at the same time. A technical guide to understanding the role weather barriers and rainscreens play in a wall, choosing the right products and installation tips for optimum…

Odds are that at any given time the air pressure in a house is out of balance & either drawing air in or forcing it out. Learn the causes, the effects & the solutions for air leakage in homes & why it's important. Air Tightness in Houses - All about Balancing Air Pressure in the Home We go on incessantly here about…

Air leakage is responsible for a large portion of the heat loss and moisture damage in walls. Watch more green building videos on the Ecohome YouTube channel here The Ecohome Demo House has a vapour permeable exterior air barrier and with an ACH rate of .69 is many times more airtight than the average new home. Air…

3/4 inch OSB sheathing on the interior can be an excellent air barrier and a great vapour barrier as well. There has been a steady evolution in the way we build homes over the last couple of decades, and the old standby wall recipe of 2x6s, fiberglass insulation and polyethylene doesn't measure up anymore with…

Approximately 100 times more water vapour is carried into our walls by air leakage than is carried by vapour diffusion. That makes air barriers 100 times more important than vapour barriers, so why is no one talking about them. Approximately 100 times more water vapor is carried into our walls by air leakage than is…

Vapor retarder latex based primers can be twice as effective as the requirements laid out in many building codes regarding vapor barriers requirements. Vapor Barriers in walls, why polyethylene can be problematic It would probably surprise many home builders to hear what really causes moisture accumulation in walls…

Can a house be too airtight? No it cannot. The difference between air barriers and vapour barriers is often confused. Also confused, is which one is more important. The difference between air barriers and vapor barriers The job of a vapor barrier is to prevent vapor diffusion, and the job of an air barrier is to…

The energy efficiency of your home is greatly affected by doors and windows, so choose well. Here are some tips about what to look for and what to avoid. Material choices for window frames: Window frames can be made from a variety of materials offering different levels of performance and insulation values. Air in…