Weatherization Essentials - Caulking & Weatherstripping

Many homeowners immediately think of attic insulation and window replacement when it comes to energy efficiency improvements. But one of the most cost effective and impactful solutions is good ole fashioned caulking and weatherstripping. Many times window replacement isn't even necessary, the windows and exterior doors are simply in need of caulking and weatherstripping to provide an effective seal.

Many homes, new and old, are inadequately caulked at the exterior and interior which will undoubtedly result in air infiltration, higher energy bills, and a less comfortable living space. St. Louis, with its hot, humid summers, is the last place you want to live without properly sealed windows and doors.

The caulking process involves installing a bead of flexible caulk to the joint where different materials (wood/brick/siding/drywall/etc.) meet. There are different types of caulks for different applications, and you really need an experienced contractor to steer you in the right direction. Installing the wrong kind of caulk can leave you with a failing seal within a year or sooner. Some homes also require caulking at the interior, where door and window trim meets drywall, as this step is sometimes skipped by builders. This is a critical part of the caulking process, and necessary to keep drafts from getting into your home. In addition to windows and doors, a thorough energy efficiency contractor (such as Green Space Construction) is also careful to caulk at electrical and gas service entrances, dryer exhaust vents, cable and phone lines, water faucets, air conditioners, and other vents.

Weatherstripping provides the same thermal benefits as caulking, by sealing the seams between operable doors and windows and the interior of the jamb/casing. Properly installed weatherstripping will allow the window or door to seal tightly when closed, but will allow it to open and close freely. Weatherstripping is available in foam, rubber, vinyl, and metal materials. Each of these materials has a place, and we recommend the right materials for your home's needs. After a number of years, old weatherstripping can become worn and ineffective, requiring replacement. Green Space Construction will assess your home's conditions and make the right recommendations to balance cost with potential savings, insuring that your home is comfortable and efficient.

If you're interested in assessing your home for caulking and weatherstripping needs, in addition to a complete weatherization assessment, please contact us for a free consultation.

Green Space Construction Co. is a general contractor and energy efficiency firm in St. Louis with a focus on green building and renovations, weatherization, energy efficiency improvements, as well as traditional building practices. Our core values are composed of eco-friendly building, superior craftsmanship, and dedication to excellent customer satisfaction. Visit our website at GreenSpaceConstruct.com.

Webster Groves Attic Insulation & Weatherization

Green Space Construction recently performed a weatherization audit on a home in Webster Groves (St. Louis, Missouri) and assessed the following issues:

• Attic knee wall spaces were poorly insulated.
• The interior walls exposed to the attic spaces had insufficient, old fiberglass batt insulation.
• The attic floor joists had a small amount of old fiberglass insulation, providing very little impact for the home's comfort.
• The exterior walls exposed to the attic spaces had exposed masonry units with many holes, gaps and cracks. These exterior walls were a main culprit of air infiltration into and out of the home.
  
• Attic spaces did not have adequate ventilation.
• Penetrations of plumbing stacks, electrical wiring and outlets, skylights, etc. were not properly sealed between the attic/exterior/floor joists and between the attic and the finished interior spaces.

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As a result of this analysis, Green Space recommended and performed the following improvements:

• Remove all old fiberglass batt insulation from the interior walls exposed to the attic spaces.
• Install fiber mesh at interior wall studs, and dense pack with blown cellulose insulation.
• Install blown cellulose insulation in floor joists to a thickness of 16", providing an R-value of 30.
• Install rigid foam insulation over exposed masonry units. Sealed all air penetrations, gaps and seams with spray foam insulation.
• Installed roof turbines at each attic space, allowing for proper ventilation at each space.
• Sealed all penetration of plumbing stacks, electrical wiring and outlets, skylights, etc. between the attic/exterior/floor joists and between the attic and the finished interior spaces with spray foam insulation.

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The end result of this project was substantially increased efficiency and comfort. In addition to providing a more comfortable living space, and lowered utility bills, this project was also eligible for tax credits. Contact us for a free assessment of your home's energy efficiency!

Green Space Construction Co. is a general contractor and energy efficiency firm in St. Louis with a focus on green building and renovations, weatherization, energy efficiency improvements, as well as traditional building practices. Our core values are composed of eco-friendly building, superior craftsmanship, and dedication to excellent customer satisfaction. Visit our website at GreenSpaceConstruct.com.

LEED Platinum Residential Homes in St. Louis

Green Space Construction is the builder on a new residential housing development in University City that will be breaking ground soon. We have partnered with U. City, Arcturis and Washington University to bring this innovative offering to market. Five new eco-friendly homes are going to be built in University City this summer and should be available for moving in by November! The project designers are focused on creating exciting modern designs that are very affordable, between $120,000 and $200,000.


Washington University recently featured the uHome designs on their news site. Check them out by clicking here.

For more information, please visit www.uhomeucity.com or call Green Space Construction at 636-675-3330.

Green Building Costs vs. Savings

One of the most common questions we hear regarding green construction, is the upfront costs of building green, compared to the long-term savings that are typically achieved. This article discusses these topics.

How cost-competitive are green buildings?

A 2003 study conducted for the California Sustainable Building Task Force shows that an initial increase in upfront costs of approximately 2% for green design will yield lifecycle savings of more than ten times the initial investment, or 20% of total construction costs (based on a conservative estimate of a 20-year building life).
Based on the study’s findings, if $40,000 in green design is initially invested to incorporate green features into a $2 million dollar project, the initial investment is repaid within two years. Over a 20-year period, savings amount to $400,000. This example shows the importance of performing a lifecycle cost analysis of green buildings, rather than simply taking a first-cost view of the green technology investments.

According to the US Green Building Council (USGBC), even the first costs of some green buildings are comparable to or less than prevailing construction prices in their areas, because of resource efficiency and correctly-sized mechanical, electrical, and structural systems. In standard buildings, these systems are often oversized, and therefore more expensive and less efficient.

Green Space Construction Co. is a general contractor and energy efficiency firm in St. Louis with a focus on green building and renovations, weatherization, energy efficiency improvements, as well as traditional building practices. Our core values are composed of eco-friendly building, superior craftsmanship, and dedication to excellent customer satisfaction. Visit our website at GreenSpaceConstruct.com.

St. Louis and recommended insulation R-values?

In St. Louis we tend to have weather that goes from one extreme to another. Temperatures can change drastically in a matter of a day or two, so proper insulation is critical. In this post we will look at recommended R-value for a home in this region, to protect from these extreme weather changes.

As discussed in prior posts a very important factor when considering insulating a home is R-value. There are recommended R-values for each component of one's home. Lets look at each area, and review its estimated R-value.

Wall framing: Walls in residential structures can vary in thickness. The most common framing materials used are 2x4's and 2x6's.
If you live in a 2x4 constructed home, a minimum of R-13 is recommended. For home's constructed of 2x6's a minimum of R-20 is recommended.

Attic Space: Attic spaces typically receive more exposure to extreme weather conditions. Therefore, this area needs to have a higher R-value to compensate. The minimum requirement for an attic space is R-38 in our region.

Check out the coverage chart above for recommended R-values in your area.

What insulating materials have the highest R-value?

R-value is resistance to air flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation material is.
One of the major factors that determines R-value, is what the insulating material is composed of.

Insulating materials and R-values:
There are many different types of materials that are commonly used in the insulation of a building. Some of these materials are more efficient than others. The following is a list of common insulating materials, arranged in order from least to most efficient.

- Rock wool : R-Value per sq. inch = 2.5
- Loose fill fiberglass : R-Value per sq. inch = 2.5
- Standard Fiberglass batts : R-Value per sq. inch = 3.1
- Icynene Spray : R-Value per sq inch. = 3.6
- Blown cellulose : R-Value per sq. inch = 3.8
-Polystyrene Board : R-Value per sq. inch = 5.0
-Polyurethane Rigid Panel : R-Value per sq. inch = 7.0
(Wikipedia, R-Value)

How insulation improves your home's energy efficiency

We are commonly asked how attic insulation improves a home's energy efficiency. This post will describe how.

Heat in your home flows naturally from warmer to cooler areas. We all know that heat rises, and cooler air drops.
In the winter months, hot air rises toward our ceilings from our air vents, and passes through our ceilings, into our attic space. The only thing stopping the air passing through is our ceiling.
In the summer months, it works the opposite way. Hot air is generated from the sun on our roofs, and passes through our attic, into the ceiling of your home.

The only way to stop this natural flow of heat, is attic insulation.

Attic insulation creates a barrier between your attic space and your ceiling. The thicker the barrier, the more resistance the air receives when trying to pass through. This resistance is called R-Value. We will cover the importance of R-Value in our next post.

Green Space Construction Co. is an insulation contractor in St. Louis Mo. that specializes in attic insulation. Please click on the link to the right, for a free installation quote.