Keep the Home Energy Efficient by Installing the Correct Control Layers

If you are a builder, one of your chief concerns should be ensuring the energy efficiency of your homes. This involves using the correct building materials and installing appropriate control layers.

Total control is the key to building a high performance home. The four control layers that determine the performance of your home are: water, air, thermal, and vapor.

It might sound surprising, but many builders still don't understand the properties or uses of various construction materials. For example, many of them don't understand what a house wrap is. All builders understand that a house wrap is a control layer. But what is it that it is supposed to control?

Most builders seem to believe that a house wrap is an air barrier. Some builders believe that it is a vapor retarder. There are also builders who believe that it is a bit of both.

If you are a builder, you should control the following elements in a home.

·         Heat

·         Water

·         Air

·         Vapor

Here is an overview of the materials and technologies that you can use to control these elements:

Controlling heat

You can regulate the flow of heat around the home by using proper insulation. There are many different kinds of insulation materials. Some insulation materials also act as vapor retarders or air barriers.

Controlling air

There are still many builders who believe that you must not air-seal a home too much. But that is not true. The old theory that the house should be able to breathe no longer holds water. As a builder, you need to keep air leakage at the lowest possible level.

Controlling water

This is more important than anything else. If you fail in this department, your house will fail to achieve the desired level of energy efficiency. This is where a house wrap helps. It helps you control water. It is a drainage plane that protects the permeable materials behind it by keeping water away. House wrap isn't the only drainage plane. Several other materials are also available.

No matter what material you choose, you need to control water using all possible means.

Controlling water vapor

So you thought the house wrap was a vapor barrier. It does have some properties of a vapor barrier, but it is not an efficient vapor barrier. The truth is that it is not as effective as a class III vapor retarder. As far as vapor control goes, there are times when you need to control it and then there are times when you should let it flow. When the climate is really cold, you should keep the vapor on the inner side of the wall but not on the outer side.

If the home is situated in a semi-humid climate, you don't need a vapor retarder on the inside or the outside of the walls.

Creating the perfect wall

The perfect wall is one that has got all the control layers in place. By installing all proper control layers, you can keep rain water outside and conditioned air inside. The control layers will also make your home durable, healthy and comfortable. So control the flows.

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