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Because drywall makes up the largest part of a home’s interior and is visible immediately, customers focus closely on its quality. Problems such as edge cracks, nail pops, visible seams and sloppy or unfinished work can make new homeowners upset or even angry. Plus, many customers judge the quality of the construction by the quality of the interior finish.
However, these are just cosmetic issues of drywall quality. In addition to providing the final surface finish for a home, drywall is also an important factor in determining its air tightness. Employing best practices when installing drywall means going deeper than just keeping up appearances; it means air sealing drywall to ensure the comfort and satisfaction of the homeowners.
Properly sealing drywall is crucial to maintaining a tightly insulated home and will prevent a variety of problems. Poorly sealed drywall will allow moisture and outdoor air into the home, which can lead to discomfort and the tendency for the air conditioning system to run for long periods of time, especially in hot and humid climates.
In addition, moisture tends to move from the outside in a hot, humid climate, through the wall and into the house. By air sealing using foam sealant or caulking around all penetrations through the drywall (particularly electrical, plumbing and ductwork penetrations), the easiest pathway for moisture into the home is eliminated.
On the other hand, in a cold climate, moisture and heat often move through poorly sealed drywall and out of the house. The resulting heat loss will make the house feel cold and dry, causing the furnace to run more frequently and the homeowners to complain about dry skin and deal with unnecessarily high energy bills.
Properly sealing drywall is an essential best practice when building high performance homes, although it's one that is easy to overlook. Click on the table at upper right for tips on sealing drywall will help ensure the comfort and satisfaction of your clients.
For more information see U.S. DOE Technology Fact Sheet on Air Sealing.
This information is taken from Building America’s Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Hot and Humid Climate, one of a series of handbooks that focuses on best practices for all U.S. climate zones. Building America's system design recommendations and process improvements can help all builders interested in re-engineering their home designs to achieve high performance. This best practices handbook helps builders develop durable, comfortable homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in hot and humid climates. The handbook contains chapters for every member of the builder's team, from managers to site planners to designers, site supervisors, the trades, and marketers. There is also a chapter to help homeowners select the best systems for their new home. View the entire guide at www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/hot_humid_best_practices.html.
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