The Essential Step You Can’t Overlook: Proper Air Sealing

Hey, what's up everybody, it’s TJ with Sanctified Homes, and today we’re talking about a critical step in homebuilding that too many people overlook—proper air sealing. We’re out here at our Bush Hill Haven project, and we’ve reached a point that many builders, unfortunately, cut corners on. Let’s talk about why air sealing is an essential part of creating a durable, energy-efficient, and comfortable home.

Why Air Sealing is Essential

When you're building a home, there's a lot of focus on using high-quality materials—whether it’s LP siding with a built-in weather-resistant barrier or advanced sheeting systems like Zip or Weather Logic. But here's the thing: no matter how good the materials are, if you don’t air seal properly, you’re compromising your entire system. Essentially, air leaks can create inefficiencies that lead to higher energy bills, drafts, moisture damage, and even poor indoor air quality.

So, if you’re going to spend the money on premium materials, it’s vital that you ensure those materials are properly sealed to maximize their performance.

Common Mistakes in Air Sealing

One of the biggest mistakes I see is that builders or contractors often neglect to air seal around penetrations made in your home. What do I mean by penetrations? Well, these are the points where things like venting, plumbing pipes, and wiring come through your home’s sheeting and siding. Without proper air sealing around these areas, you're leaving open gaps for air, moisture, and even pests to get through.

Here’s an all-too-common scenario:

• The builder uses great sheeting material, but when it comes time to install pipes, vents, or any other external penetrations, they skip the sealing step.

• They throw the siding up without paying attention to these small but important details, and as a result, air is flowing in and out of your home through these gaps.

That defeats the entire purpose of paying for high-performance materials. If you're not detailing the penetration points properly, you're losing all the benefits of that premium siding or sheeting system.

Exterior Insulation: Another Layer to Consider

At this project, we’re going a step further by wrapping the entire home in inch and 5/8 XPS foam insulation. This adds an extra layer of thermal protection to the home, making it more energy-efficient. But again, just adding this insulation isn’t enough—you have to air seal properly around it.

Too often, people will install exterior foam insulation but won’t take the time to seal it, especially around penetrations or windows. This leads to thermal bridging and air leakage, which undermines the purpose of using the insulation in the first place. Proper air sealing ensures that your insulation works effectively and prevents unwanted air infiltration.

The Importance of Detailing

When it comes to air sealing, detailing is everything. You can have the best materials in the world, but if your builder doesn’t detail the project right, you’re not getting the full value. That’s why it’s critical to have a builder who knows what they’re doing and takes the time to make sure every gap, crack, and penetration is sealed tightly.

This attention to detail ensures:

1. Energy Efficiency: Proper air sealing reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home.

2. Comfort: Sealing prevents drafts and temperature fluctuations inside your home.

3. Moisture Control: A sealed home is less likely to have moisture-related issues like mold and rot, which can develop if air leaks allow humid air to condense inside the walls.

4. Indoor Air Quality: Air sealing keeps unfiltered air, including allergens, pollutants, and even smoke from wildfires, from entering your living space.

5. Durability: Proper air sealing extends the life of your home by keeping structural elements like wood and insulation dry and free from rot.

How We Air Seal at Sanctified Homes

Here at Sanctified Homes, we make sure to detail everything properly when we’re sealing a home. For example:

• We air seal every penetration, ensuring there are no gaps around plumbing, wiring, or vents.

• We use tapes and sealants specifically designed for air sealing, such as flashing tape for windows and weather-resistant barrier tapes for siding penetrations.

• We take extra care to ensure that when we install exterior insulation, it’s sealed tight to prevent any air leakage around it.

It’s not just about slapping up materials and hoping for the best. We take the time to ensure every joint, every edge, and every penetration is sealed so that you get the energy efficiency and comfort that you deserve in your new home.

Conclusion

Air sealing is an essential part of homebuilding that you simply can’t overlook. It’s the key to making sure your home is energy-efficient, comfortable, and durable for years to come. If you're investing in high-quality materials like advanced sheeting systems or exterior insulation, make sure you’re also investing in proper detailing to protect that investment.

Don’t settle for shortcuts when it comes to air sealing. Work with a builder who understands the importance of attention to detail and who will ensure that your home is sealed up right. It’s worth the extra effort for the long-term benefits.

If you have any questions about air sealing or want to know more about how to ensure your home is built to the highest standards, feel free to reach out to us. And as always, don’t forget to raise your standard. We’ll talk to you soon!