All About Weatherproofing
Your home is built to withstand heat, cold, rain, snow, and wind. However, over time, these elements can cause natural wear and tear on your home that affects its ability to maintain indoor comfort. Small gaps, cracks, or holes in your home’s exterior allow for air and moisture exchange between your home’s interior and the outdoors, leading to leaks while letting warm air escape in the winter and cold air escape in the summer. The process of weatherproofing seals these gaps or holes to restore the air- and water-tightness of your home so you can enjoy greater comfort at lower cost.
Areas of Focus
Weatherproofing can be used in any area of your home where air exchange occurs with the outdoor environment. However, there are certain areas more likely to incur damage or allow for air exchange if careful measures are not taken. These areas include your windows and doors, your chimney, and the places where pipes or vents enter and exit your home. If you are looking to improve your home’s ability to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature with less effort, these are the first places you should look.
Types of Weatherproofing
There are many types of weatherproofing; the best solution will depend upon the area of your home in need of improvement. Caulk is typically used to seal the areas around windows and window frames, while rubber strips can be affixed to window sashes and around doors to seal any areas where they don’t fit snugly into the frame when closed. Expanding foam is a versatile solution that can be used to fill small and large holes alike, particularly around pipes and vents. Flashing is typically used around chimneys and on other areas of your roof to seal out moisture, heat, and cold.
Benefits of Weatherproofing
Weatherproofing offers many benefits for your home, both over the short and long term. After improving your home’s weatherproofing system, you’ll immediately enjoy lower energy bills because your furnace and air conditioner will work less hard to heat and cool your home. Additionally, your HVAC system will last longer overall and need less frequent repair because it is under less stress to constantly maintain your home’s indoor temperature. Better weatherproofing means your home will be more comfortable today and in the future, thanks to a lack of drafts, leaks, and hot or cold spots caused by air exchange. Improved weatherproofing also makes your home less accessible to pests, which often enter a home through small cracks and holes. If all of these defects in your home are sealed, insects, vermin, and other pests have no way to enter and cause trouble.
Better weatherproofing will ensure your home stays cleaner and more comfortable, regardless of the weather outside. You can find out more about weatherproofing and insulation for your home when you visit our website to check out our full list of home improvement services or request a free estimate. Our website also features detailed information about modern building science and innovations in the insulation industry to help you improve your home’s value and energy efficiency.