Exterior Walls & Windows

Modern design practices aim to make our buildings more energy efficient — and to a large extent, they are. Extensive use of insulation greatly slows the flow of heat out of (winter) or into (summer) our buildings. Today, great care is taken to seal up our buildings to prevent the air inside from leaving to be replaced by the too-hot or too-cold air outside. The same techniques are being used on our older buildings when repair work is done on them to help improve their energy efficiency. That’s one more step towards energy independence. Score one for our side.

We all know the saying, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Unfortunately, it is true in the case of energy efficient buildings. Modern buttoned-up buildings are having issues with condensation forming on hidden surfaces and not drying up. This can lead to rusting metal, rotting wood, and wet insulation. Under these conditions, mold and mildew have become serious problems in some buildings, requiring expensive repairs. The drafty buildings of the past may have been energy hogs, but at least they were allowed to dry out.

Modern building design seeks to prevent water from getting into the hidden recesses of our buildings and provides a path out for the water that creeps past our defenses. At Inspec, we are at the forefront of designing building systems that do just that. Our award-winning designers have years of experience in the evaluation, design, and management of window and curtainwall assemblies. Our designs include the latest technology for air barriers to prevent water from getting into your walls and degrading your building.