Air sealing is important in the effort to help meet higher energy codes, but there are different ways to go about it. The approach you choose can mean a big difference in time, cost, labor, complexity, risk and other factors. To determine the air sealing method that’s best for your market and building practices, it’s important to understand your options.
Proponents of spray foam consider it a “one-step” solution for both air sealing and insulation, noting its ability to expand to fill gaps, cracks and holes. Other builders and insulation contractors prefer “flash and fill” or “flash and batt” methods, opting to combine a thin layer of spray foam with blown or batt insulation, with the intention of maximizing the cost and performance benefits of each.
As a leader in building science for the thermal envelope, Owens Corning has been studying the risks, costs and benefits of spray foam insulation for many years. So far, no available products have met our stringent criteria—including requirements for safety, effectiveness and environmental stewardship. For builders who want to deliver exceptional thermal and air sealing performance without the use of spray foam insulation, there are other methodologies for creating high-performance wall systems. Here are two of our favorites:
Air Sealing from the Outside
Eliminate the need to fill every crack and gap inside the house by stopping air and moisture before they penetrate the wall cavity. Continuous Insulation is a common-sense approach that can achieve the same R-value as spray foam for about one-fourth the cost—without the need for special equipment, chemicals, training, trimming or dry time.
For Owens Corning, the continuous insulation approach combines FOAMULAR® XPS rigid foam with specialized joint tape and flashing products, transferring the air sealing to the exterior. And because not all gaps have an equal impact on your air sealing and budget, the system includes a specially designed sill plate gasket and framing gasket—a simple and cost-effective alternative to spray foam.
Before and After images show how AeroBarrier particles build up to fill tiny gaps and holes to seal leakage areas without coating surfaces.
Fast, Clean Air Sealing Mist
Take the idea behind spray foam, eliminate the isocyanate chemicals, downtime and messy mixing. Then, add the ability to dial-in your specific ACH requirements and certify the results in real time. The result? AeroBarrier™ Breakthrough Envelope Sealing Technology. Its self-guided, low-VOC aerosol formula “finds” and fills the voids that are often missed with other sealing methods, in a fraction of the time of spray foam. Used with Owens Corning® PINK® FiberglasTM insulation, AeroBarrier allows builders to dial in a precise level of performance quickly and easily, down to 1 ACH.
AeroBarrier creates a tight building envelope that maximizes the performance of fiberglass batts or blown-in insulation.
Which air sealing solution is right for you? Your market, your climate and your preferred building practices are important factors to consider. Owens Corning CoLab™ services can help you learn more about your options and the building science behind them, so you can make the right decisions for your home buyers and your business.
