Rethinking Air Sealing in Residential Home Remodeling

It’s time to rethink West Michigan home remodeling, focusing not only on aesthetics but also on energy efficiency, indoor air quality and home comfort.

A major challenge in existing homes is air infiltration – a problem that can appear in multiple areas of a home, including the attic, rim joist and crawlspace. Using polyurethane foam to seal these critical areas is one the most cost-effective and easy solutions to stop air infiltration.

Existing homes typically have multiple air infiltration points, from the attic down to the basement. Closed cell foam is the best option when air sealing because it will also act as a vapor retarder, assisting with another common problem in existing homes that can lead to mold and poor indoor air quality.

Attics
Vented attics are the best environment for employing air sealing methods with polyurethane foam, as they usually contain several spots of air and moisture penetration.

Rethinking Air Sealing in Residential Remodeling

These problem-areas include junction boxes, can lights, pipe penetrations and drywall-to-wood connections. A quick flash of spray polyurethane foam (approximately ½ inch thick) will seal around these areas. When used in conjunction with traditional insulation methods, such as blown-in cellulose or fiberglass, this small amount of foam will stop air infiltration while maintaining the R-value designated by building codes.

Rim Joists

Rim joists are another common spot for air and moisture infiltration. Traditionally rim joists have been insulated with fiberglass, which can lead to mold problems when exposed to the elements and doesn’t stop air infiltration. Removing the existing fiberglass and spraying a flash of spray foam (approximately ½ to 3” thick) around the rim joist will create an airtight seal. The fiberglass can be placed over the foam to further insulate.

Crawlspaces

Crawlspaces can be a major contributor of moisture in a home, as well as cause “cold spots” in the floor. Spray polyurethane foam is one of the easiest ways to insulate these hard-to-reach areas. Most crawlspace retrofits can be completed with one laborer in less than a few hours when using a spray foam kit.

source: Sprayfoam.com