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How do I air seal a wall cavity?

ekheerdt | Posted in Green Building Techniques on

I am looking for a cost effective DIY way to air seal the inside of a wall cavity during new construction. I am sure this has been written up someplace on this site, but I cannot find it.

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    Dana Dorsett | | #1

    Caulking the studs to the sheathing from the interior side with acoustic sealing is pretty straightforward stuff (but buy a powered caulking gun, eh?)

    An air-tight drywall primer lives here:

    http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/air-barriers-airtight-drywall-approach/files/bscinfo_401_airtight_drywall_approach.pdf

    Note, the harder part to seal well at the gypsum layer is the electrical boxes, but there are purpose-made flanged boxes available designed to be foam-sealed, eg:

    http://airfoilinc.com/demo/demo.html

    Using fire-block foam or caulk to seal the electrical penetrations of wiring runs through studs and stud plates is also a high-value/low-cost air sealing enhancement.

  2. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #2

    Eric,
    The two most common techniques used there days are the sealed sheathing method and the Airtight Drywall Approach.

    Here's an article on sealed sheathing: Airtight Wall and Roof Sheathing.

    Here's an article on the Airtight Drywall Approach: Airtight Drywall.

  3. michaelbluejay | | #3

    Dana's link to the "air-tight drywall primer" is dead.

  4. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #4

    Michael,
    Try this link instead: Air Barriers: Airtight Drywall Approach.

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