WEST HOUSTON Blog

Support Your Building Envelope With Insulation and Air Sealing

As a homeowner, you're already juggling a mountain of tasks and reminders to help keep the ship smoothly sailing. That's why learning new information about how to keep your home safer and more comfortable is a never-ending adventure. If you're also invested in improving your household's monthly savings, you'll be interested in learning more about what it takes to support your building envelope (and why it matters!).

What is a “Building Envelope”?

Your home’s “building envelope" is the barrier between the inside of the house and the outside, dividing the interior and exterior of the building. When well-maintained and supported, a  building envelope is able to keep your environment properly climate-controlled and temperature regulated. The systems that make up and support your home's structure include windows, doors, the roof, the floor, and even the foundation and insulation. 

When there’s something lacking in the support system, you may begin to experience discomfort from poor indoor air quality, air leaks, and irregular temperatures. Some of your first lines of defense against this will be updated insulation and air sealing. Having a better understanding of these materials can help you and your household avoid unnecessary hazards and costs throughout the year. 

Why is My Home So Uncomfortable? 

The quality of your home’s insulation and air sealing coverage helps to provide a key line of defense. These materials are optimal supporters of a strong and efficient building envelope, largely thanks to the fact that they share a common goal: improving climate control and regulating temperature. 

Why Do I Need Insulation & Air Sealing?

The ability of heat to move through structures like walls, floors, and objects is known as heat transfer. Properly installed insulation helps to reduce the rate of heat transfer so your home stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This reduces the need for your HVAC to run more often throughout the year to keep the house at a comfortable temperature. The R-value, short for resistance value, measures how effectively the material slows this movement; the numerical value will not only vary by material but also by type. For example, fiberglass can be installed as blown-in material, which has an average of R-2.7 per inch of depth, or batts, which can range in average from R-3.1 to R-3.7.

On the opposite side of insulation’s coin of efficiency, air sealing helps to reduce air leaks by plugging the cracks, gaps, and openings throughout your building envelope. The unsealed spaces allow for heat and conditioned air to escape while also letting in outdoor air and pollutants. Air sealing helps to reduce cold spots and drafts while also helping to significantly reduce health risks and respiratory irritants. 

Improving Your Home’s Comfort

Every level of your building envelope needs to be supported, from floor to ceiling - updated insulation and air sealing go a step further by contributing to the defense between each room as well! One of the most common ways a household can tell that their insulation is lacking is whether there’s a room commonly referred to as “the hottest/coldest in the house”. 

There are a variety of materials that help maintain the structural integrity and lifespan of your building envelope and structure. Even if you’re already familiar with the material that’s in your attic, did you know that you can find insulation within the walls and floors, as well as in between ceiling joists? While the Department of Energy has a breakdown of guidelines and basic requirements to insulate a home, the specific needs and codes for your house can vary depending on where you live. 

In order to catch deteriorated or damaged material before it creates a significant problem for your health and budget, you should regularly schedule evaluations and inspections. Looking out for moisture, pests, and other disturbances can help to catch problems that could uncover dangerous hazards like mold growth, rotting wood, or infestations. 

Supporting Your Home’s Building Envelope

There isn't a "One Size Fits All" solution to insulation and air sealing, especially when it comes to providing support along every inch of your building envelope. Properly installed materials need to have sufficient coverage all throughout your home, which means different materials will provide more advantages in different areas!

On top of improving the quality of temperature regulation, your home’s building envelope and its supporting systems help to contribute to the safety and integrity of the structure itself. There are many different types of insulation materials that are treated during production or have natural properties that benefit your home. While certain types are more suited to reducing moisture and deterring pests, others can help improve the strength of your structure or reduce damage from heat.

While understanding the benefits of each insulation type can seem overwhelming at first, it’s also important to remember that having the right team at your side can greatly simplify the process. Your home has unique needs that are influenced by everything from regular household habits to your area’s climate zone. With industry experts helping you to better understand the specific qualities of your home, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of insulation will work best within the different areas of the house. 

Where Can I Find Insulation Professionals in the West Houston Area? 

It’s important to find solutions that don’t just improve your comfort and safety; updated insulation and air sealing should also be cost-effective and energy efficient! These materials are designed to effectively increase savings and reduce energy waste. Our team of industry professionals at Koala Insulation of West Houston is dedicated to helping our community learn more about how to improve their environment without breaking the budget!

With Koala Insulation’s free evaluations, our team conducts a thorough inspection of your home to determine the current condition of your insulation and air sealing. Once your household has a better understanding of pain points, you can target areas that need to be focused on while also taking into account your current budget and schedule. Contact Koala Insulation of West Houston today to schedule your free evaluation and learn more about how you can improve your environment.