Spray-Applied Latex: A New Tool for Air-Sealing

Fiberglass insulation provides good thermal insulation when properly installed, and its vapor and air permeability can aid the drying of a building’s structure, but this permeability is also its weakness. If outside air gets into a home’s interior through cracks and penetrations in the building envelope, the result can be moisture damage, mold, and energy losses.

Knauf and Owens Corning created their sealants in order to bring their fiberglass insulation products up to par with other insulations that provide better protection against air infiltration, such as spray polyurethane foam (SPF) and dense-pack cellulose. “We looked at our core product, fiberglass insulation, and recognized the conversation was shifting away from just R-value to total home performance,” said Matt Girand, Owens Corning’s director of products.