Windows | Door | Building Science / Envelope and More

Thermal Bridge vs  Thermal Break If you’re new to building science these terms may seem esoteric but hopefully you will come to a better understanding of them after reading this.  Think of the term thermal as HEAT .  Think of term bridge   (in thermal bridge) as a connection between point A and point B - which is what an actual bridge is. So thermal bridge is simply the act of heat transporting through or on the “bridge” from point A to point B. Think of the word break (in thermal break) as in shutting down a lane of traffic on that “bridge.” Now it’s a one lane road, cars are going much slower and there is a greatly reduced number of vehicles crossing. During peak hours more cars might travel through then other times of the day. But nonetheless there has been a great interruption. In terms of heat transfer (or thermal bridge), once a thermal break is incorporated, heat (and cold) has a much harder time traveling from point A to point B.  Heat/...

Windows Play a Crucial Role in a Homes Performance If you’ve ever lived in a 100 year old house then you likely know what it feels like to live with old single pane double hung windows. You know the kind that barely slide up (if they aren’t painted shut) and have two beautifully tattered ropes on each side which go into the jamb and are attached to lead weights?  Many of these turn-of-the-century homes were built by highly skilled carpenters who completed every stage of the building process. They were building things to the best of their knowledge and as it turns out, these homes are some of the best built houses still standing today... they just lack the energy efficiency that we now know is paramount to a homes structure and life. These old windows may look pretty with the special grid detail and the wavy glass but they are drafty and let all of the heat right through or out depending on season/temperature. What is the NFRC ( National Fenestration Rating Council ) label? Window m...