for Cold Climate Housing and much more

Found 51 results for the keyword ‘Sealing’

  • Weather Restrictions: Crystalline growth waterproofing products

    Connect to your favourite weather forecaster and look for the following conditions:   Category: Concrete     Product: Crystalline growth waterproofing products Temperature Limitations: Use above +2 C (+35 F)  and below +21 C (+70 F) Rain Limitations: No rain until material is firm -- about 2 ...
  • What is the difference between a vapour barrier and an air barrier?

    It's become very important to understand the difference between a vapor barrier and an air barrier. If we completely seal a polyethylene sheet on the warm side of the insulation, we call it a combined air/vapor barrier. But it's possible to put the vapor barrier on the warm side of the insulati...
  • Making an X-Ray of your roof

    When there is morning frost or light snow on a roof, you can learn a lot about a heat losses from the house and how to eliminate ice dams and icicles.    What causes problems  Melting the bottom of a snow pack or melting off all snow at the crown of the roof sends water down under the snow to ...
  • What is Air Sealing all about?

    Sealing air drafts, both inside warm air escaping out and outside cold air sneaking in, is one of the most important things you can do to your house. It will both save you heating dollars and protect the structure of your house. This animation gives you a quick and visual overview of the task at ...
  • WHERE SHOULD I SEAL AND HOW?

    The smoke test described in the previous answer should be used to verify the presence of typical leaks and discover those peculiar to your own house. Before sealing, read the section on Ventilation to avoid any future condensation problems. The leaks high in the house are not necessarily the lar...
  • Should I seal my brick wall with Silicone to protect the house from water?

    Hilda has a century-old house and is repointing the bricks. She wants to know if it is wise to seal the wall with Silicone to prevent water from getting in. The answer is -- no. Brick is designed to shed water, absorbing a bit, but drying out quickly as soon as the rain stops. In addition the a...
  • Just how do you install windows properly?

    The reality is that there is not just one good way to install windows, but there are certain principles that must be taken care of with any installation to prevent cold air or water leakage later. Basically a window installation must shed most of the water with the siding, what does get through ...
  • Repairing Marble surfaces

      Cleaning stone People often create hazed patches on polished marble surfaces simply by using the wrong cleaner. Anything like vinegar or most glass cleaners will actually etch the surface of marble, requiring re-grinding of the surface. This is not just some substance sitting on the marble th...
  • OVERVIEW:Improper exhaust fans can pollute your home -- could even kill you

    More and more people are asking for powerful kitchen range hoods or bathroom exhaust fans. The logic appears simple, increase the power of the exhaust fan and get rid of pollutants quicker. In more and more modern homes which have been weather-stripped and sealed against cold air leaks and heat l...
  • Insulating a foundation with embedded floor joists

      Certain parts of Canada, particularly in the Winnipeg region, have a traditional construction technique that presents serious challenges when you want to insulate a basement -- the ends of the joists are actually embedded in the concrete foundation wall.  Chris, from Winnipeg, asked for some f...