Air Barrier and Insulation Services
Get the best air barrier and insulation services from the experienced team at Washington Roofing & Insulation Inc. Adding air barriers and insulation to your commercial space will help you save money on utilities by making your building a more energy-efficient facility.
Fluid-Applied Air Barriers
Washington Roofing & Insulation Inc is an ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America) certified contractor and employs certified applicators.
Air barrier systems are composed of several materials assembled to provide a complete barrier to air leakage through the building enclosure. This system essentially wraps the building shell and ensures that it protects the building from the effects of air leakage. Air leakage can have detrimental effects on how a building functions and reduces the lifespan of a building.
Please visit the ABAA website for more information today. Contact us today to get started.
Where Does Air Leakage Occur in a Commercial Building?
Air leakage can occur anywhere there are gaps or discontinuities in a building’s exterior enclosure. Connections between walls, floors, and roofing systems can be particularly important, along with cracks, crevices, penetrations, and other areas that are difficult to seal with conventional insulation.
When uncontrolled outside air enters a building, heating and cooling equipment may need to work harder to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Air infiltration can also carry moisture and outdoor contaminants into the building enclosure.
We use closed-cell spray foam for our air barrier and insulation applications because it adheres and conforms to surfaces, helping seal cracks, crevices, wall cavities, and connections between floors, walls, and roofs. The rigid material does not settle like some other forms of insulation and provides an R-value of 6.7 per inch.
By approaching the building enclosure as a complete system, we can target areas where unwanted air and moisture infiltration may be affecting energy efficiency and overall building performance.
Signs Your Commercial Building May Need Better Air Sealing
Problems with a building’s air barrier or insulation aren’t always immediately visible. Instead, you may notice their effects through inconsistent indoor temperatures, drafts, increasing heating or cooling demands, or areas of the building that are noticeably more difficult to keep comfortable.
Moisture concerns can also deserve attention. Uncontrolled air infiltration can carry moisture, pollen, pollutants, and other outdoor contaminants into the building enclosure. Over time, moisture accumulation may contribute to mold growth, reduced indoor air quality, and deterioration of building materials.
If your HVAC equipment seems to work excessively to maintain indoor temperatures, the problem may not be limited to the mechanical system itself. Gaps and air leakage throughout the building envelope can contribute to unnecessary energy loss.
We provide fluid-applied air barriers and closed-cell spray foam insulation designed to create a more continuous building envelope. Evaluating how the entire building is sealed can help identify areas where improving insulation or air control may enhance comfort, energy efficiency, and long-term building performance.
Air Barrier And Insulation
Spray Foam Insulation
Using spray foam insulation will provide the following advantages:
- Completely seal cracks and crevices
- It helps to save on utilities
- Provides you with a cleaner, higher quality air environment
- Environmentally friendly
In our air barrier and insulation applications, we use closed-cell foam. The difference between a closed-cell foam and an open-cell foam lies in the fact that the tiny cells of the open-cell foam fill up with air, making it weaker and softer, while closed-cell foam cells pack together and are filled with a gas forcing the foam to rise and expand, thereby providing better insulation.
Closed-cell spray foam provides an R-value of 6.7 per inch and has a density of 2.0 lbs per cubic foot, making it a preferred choice for insulation and air barrier needs. We also offer FREE roof inspections, infrared services, drone photography, specification writing and roof consultations.
Spray Foam Air Barriers
At Washington Roofing & Insulation Inc, we use closed-cell foam for Air Barrier and Insulation applications. The closed-cell foam is stronger, creates a better “R” value, and has a better resistance to the leakage of air and water vapor.
Spray foam prevents air, moisture, and gas infiltration. Studies have shown that as much as 40% of a building’s total energy loss is due to air infiltration. Spray foam adheres to and conforms to the walls, creating a tight seal within the wall cavity and connections between the floor, wall, and roof.
As spray foam provides a seamless layer of insulation, much like it also does on the roofing system, it prevents moisture infiltration – a leading source of dangerous mildew and mold growth. This means that unconditioned air cannot seep in from the outside, carrying along moisture, spores, pollen, and pollutants.
Spray foam seals cracks and crevices and helps to insulate those hard-to-reach areas. Many areas in building construction are difficult to insulate, and therefore cellulose is used. However, cellulose tends to settle. Due to spray foam’s rigid form, it will not settle, and it also adds to the overall structural strength of your building.
Spray foam systems seal and reduce the temperature differences between the outside and inside walls – preventing convection currents of air from looping up and down in the wall. These features of spray foam will also help your mechanical systems to be properly sized rather than having to compensate for the air leakage by “over-sizing” the equipment.
BASF closed-cell spray foam provides an “R” value of 6.7 per inch and has a density of 2.0 lbs per cubic foot, making it the right choice for your insulation and air barrier needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to improving the energy efficiency and longevity of your commercial building, air barriers and insulation play a critical role. At Washington Roofing & Insulation Inc., we specialize in providing fluid-applied air barrier systems and professional insulation services that help reduce energy consumption and increase comfort within your building. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about our air barrier and insulation services.
An air barrier is a system of materials that is applied to the exterior of a building to prevent air leakage. This system essentially "wraps" the building shell, sealing gaps and cracks that would otherwise allow outside air to infiltrate the building. By preventing air leakage, air barriers help maintain the desired indoor temperature, reducing the load on heating and cooling systems. This not only improves comfort but also boosts energy efficiency and reduces utility costs.
Air leakage can cause a range of issues for commercial buildings. It increases the workload on HVAC systems, leading to higher energy costs and inconsistent temperatures inside the building. Over time, air leakage can also cause moisture accumulation, which can lead to mold growth, reduced air quality, and potential damage to the building's structure. Additionally, unsealed gaps and cracks can shorten the lifespan of your building materials, leading to costly repairs or premature replacements.
By installing air barriers and insulation in your commercial building, you can achieve significant energy savings and improve indoor comfort. Air barriers prevent the escape of conditioned air and the entry of outside air, keeping your building at a consistent temperature year-round. Insulation further enhances this effect by reducing heat transfer between indoor and outdoor environments. Together, these systems can reduce your energy consumption, lower utility bills, and contribute to a more sustainable building. Additionally, properly installed insulation and air barriers protect the structural integrity of the building by preventing moisture buildup and temperature fluctuations.
