Thermal bridging is an often overlooked factor in the construction of a building that can significantly impact airflow and energy efficiency. Thermal bridges occur in a structure’s building envelope when there are breaks in insulation or where two different materials meet, such as wood frames or a brick wall. Working with building envelope consultants can help identify these potential areas of thermal bridging and provide foolproof solutions.
Spots with thermal bridges allow heat to escape within the walls, resulting in humid indoor climates, uncomfortable temperatures, higher heating bills, and possible structural damage. Understanding the basics of thermal bridging is essential for ensuring safety and comfort in your residential space. Read on to learn more about this vital subject.
Why Does Thermal Bridging in Homes Matter?
Thermal bridging is a significant source of heat loss, which undermines the efforts of insulating structures to a higher level. Therefore, this contributes to the performance gap between the building’s expected and actual energy demand.
The inner surface area where bridges occur will become cooler than the rest of the area. It will allow condensation to form, which may damage the surface and lead to mold growth. Mold is dangerous and should be avoided, as it poses health risks.
Where Do Thermal Bridges Occur?
There are three general categories of thermal bridges. These are:
- Repeating thermal bridges: These happen when there are regular elements in the building envelope, such as studs or wall ties.
- Geometrical thermal bridges: These may appear two-dimensional or three-dimensional and highly depend on the structure’s shape. These usually occur on wall corners or at junctions, such as adjacent walls or wall and roof junctions.
- Linear or non-repeating thermal bridges: These are most commonly caused by discontinuities in the building and may appear in the junctions between elements, such as windows and roof lights.
How to Break Thermal Bridges
Identifying the thermal bridges is essential to deal with the issues. Infrared thermal imaging is the standard method used to detect heat anomalies and determine the location of thermal bridges. Once identified, proper techniques can be applied, such as the following:
- Continuous insulation
- Thermal barrier coatings
- Thermal break materials
- Improved vinyl sidings
During construction, incorporating thermal barrier coatings in your structures will significantly reduce heat loss. It reduces condensation, has high solar reflectance, and extends the life of the substrate while offering protection against outside elements.
Thermal Barrier Coating as Protection for a Structure’s Building Envelope
Building envelope consultants highly recommend thermal barrier coatings to prevent thermal bridges in a building’s envelope. ThermaCote is a leading choice due to its high-performance properties and superb corrosion resistance for interior and exterior surfaces.
ThermaCote® benefits:
- Efficient planning for your building envelope
- Energy-savings
- Environmentally friendly with low VOCs
- Fights corrosion by sealing porous substrates
Effectively Fight Thermal Bridging with ThermaCote®
ThermaCote® is a certified thermal barrier coating that acts as a defense for your property’s building envelope. It reduces the risk of thermal bridging by keeping surfaces warm and dry. Save money and increase your structure’s life by incorporating ThermaCote® as your primary thermal barrier coating solution.
Contact us today and talk to one of our building envelope consultants. You may also browse our broad range of product selections that can prevent your properties from wearing down prematurely. Choose reliable solutions and break thermal bridging today!