Latest Articles
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Building Envelope Basics: Why Flashing Is Critical to Building Envelope Performance
When discussing building envelopes, products like weather-resistive barriers, insulation, and exterior cladding often receive the most attention. Yet one of the most important components is frequently hidden from view: flashing. Flashing may not be the most noticeable part of a wall assembly, but it plays a critical role in directing water…
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Building Envelope Basics: Why Vapor Permeability Matters
When people think about protecting a building from moisture, they often focus on keeping water out. While that’s certainly important, an equally important question is: What happens if moisture gets inside the wall? No building envelope is completely immune to moisture. Construction moisture, humidity, small air leaks, and seasonal environmental changes can…
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Building Envelope Basics: Why Drainage Planes Matter Behind Exterior Cladding
Modern exterior cladding is designed to protect buildings from the elements, but no cladding system is completely waterproof. Wind-driven rain, changing weather conditions, and normal building movement can allow small amounts of water to penetrate behind siding, brick, stone, or other façade materials. This reality is why today’s building envelope…