Masonry Magazine August 2016 Page. 22
AIR BARRIERS
Blower door testing and HERS ratings are focusing atten�tion on the integrity of the air barrier.
When leaks in the air barrier are identified as the prob�lem, the contactor is the most likely person to be blamed. The contractor may then be expected to remedy the situ�ation, which can be expensive if it requires removal of the cladding. The architect, builder and house wrap manufac�turer will all point out that it was the contractor's installa�tion errors that caused the problems.
Two Choices
CDNTRACTORS HAVETWO QIOICFS to protect themselves while assuring the builder and homeowner of an airtightenclosure.
The first choice involves continuing to use a house wrap product. In this case, the contractor needs to make sure that the installers pay extra attention to the installation details. The contractor will need to make su.re every detail is in�spected, then plan that some details will have been missed and need to be corrected by his crew.
The contractor will also need to inspect the barrier an additional time just before the exterior cladding is installed to see ifthere has been any damage caused by high winds or openings created in the barrier by other trades (e.g., utili�ties). The remaining openings will need to be repaired one final time before the final cladding is installed.
.~ --_,_
The second choice for the contractor is to insist on or encourage the builder to use a higher-performing, fully ad�hered air and water barrier, such as DELTA-VENT SA from Cosella-Dorken or VP 160 by Henry.
Self-adhered air and water barriers eliminate many po�tential problems with fasteners and poorly taped (or un�taped) overlaps and seams. They also won't be damaged by high winds. A fully adhered air barrier costs more than an ordinary house wrap but saves the time it takes to install a mechanically fastened house wrap correctly and repair sub�sequent installation issues.
A fully adhered membrane also makes it easier for the builder to pass a blower door test and improve the HERS rating, while protecting the contractor from costly callbacks.
It's a New World
WITH THE GROWING FOCUS on energy efficiency and technology that can quantify a structure's air leakage rate, contractors need to protect themselves by knowing what products will result in the best results. Contractors can no longer just do what they are told or be satisfied with just meeting building code. IMAS
Peter Barrett is product manager for Cosel/a-06rken Products, Inc. He can be reached at pbarrett@cosella�dorken.com .
-
� ~--...
-=J:;;�
~ .--~
~�
-~ -'
Elevate any home design with the unmatched aesthetics and performance of Arriscraft Building Stone. Our Natural Process technology uses only natural materials (plus color pigments) and replicates how stone is created in the earth. Choose Arriscraft and deliver
the best realism and durability of any manufactured stone.
_,,, Arriscraft
arriscraft.com Building Stone � Brick � Limestone
20 I MASONRY � August 2016 � www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry