Choosing the Right Sealant |
| Building Tight - Main9 | |
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Windows and all other fenestrations in the exterior of our buildings and homes need careful consideration and attention. Not only must we make sure that the product we are putting in that opening is suitable and correctly sized, we also have to make sure that we are flashing, forcing water to flow outside of the building envelope and sealing these openings appropriately. That being said, we do Energy Star inspections all the time and although we always make sure that the opening between the window or door frame and the framing of the house is properly sealed, up until recently we never thought to check if the pressure of the foam sealants being used were within the acceptable range for the unit installations. After reading an article a few months ago in Mold & Moisture Management Magazine , we were reminded that the pressure exerted by sealants used at these locations is very important. If the pressure being exerted is too great, it can actually bend the frame of a window and open gaps that can greatly degrade the window’s performance.Generally you will be safe with foams made specifically for windows and avoiding the temptation of using more general use sealants. However, if you have any doubts about your particular product you can always check with the American Architectural Manufacturers Association . The AAMA brings together professionals in all industries including windows, doors, curtain walls, store fronts, and skylights and provides independent third party validation of product performance and quality. They claim that in general if a foam does not change in size by more than ± 10 percent, then it should sufficient. However, they also provide much more in depth information to help us use the most appropriate sealant for our particular application. Visit the AAMA website to look up information on your products today. |
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