Title: Why Thermal Bridging and Thermal Breaks Matter in Construction | ECHOtape
Headings: Why Thermal Bridging and Thermal Breaks Matter in Construction
Why Thermal Bridging and Thermal Breaks Matter in Construction
What is Thermal Bridging?
How to Prevent A Thermal Bridge
Common Ways to Reduce Thermal Bridging in Construction

Content: If you put an R-20 batt into a steel stud wall, you may only get an effective R-value of approximately R-4. The keyword here is “effective”. Because building codes are beginning to require effective R-values rather than the number on the package, thermal bridging becomes more important. But this isn’t about just meeting code; it’s also about energy bills. Energy prices tend to go up, so an investment in using less energy is an investment that pays bigger dividends every year. Another issue with thermal bridges in insulated walls is moisture accumulation. You can see it inside the house as dark stains that telegraph framing members. It happens on ceilings and in closets where a lot of framing gets mashed together. This is often called ‘ ghosting ‘ because the moist cool air attracts dust and forms dark lines on the ceiling which ‘ghost’ the joists.