Drafts: The Hidden Threat to Home Comfort

David Lindenmann had lived in homes his entire life that felt… cold.

The original house, built in the 1970s, used tar paper, aluminum siding, and minimal insulation. Even after later renovations to another one of his homes using conventional housewrap, he still experienced drafts and uneven temperatures.

“Growing up, the house always felt cold. Even in my newer home there are still chilly spots.”

During a major renovation and 1,200-square-foot expansion, David made a key decision: he wanted this house to be different.

His goals were clear:

• Improve comfort
• Reduce energy use
• Support a forced-air heating and cooling system
• Prevent moisture problems behind the siding

To make forced-air HVAC efficient, contractors explained the home would need to be properly airtight; leading to a critical question: what do we do with the building envelope?

Initially, David planned to use traditional house-wrap, the same material he had used on previous homes.

But while researching building methods and watching construction projects, he began to question whether typical housewraps sealed a home. He wondered about penetrations and how it would affect the housewrap.

“You staple it everywhere. With the wind moving it, those holes get bigger. So, where’s the airtightness?”

He also considered competitor peel-and-stick membrane systems but found they created new problems:

• Difficult to reposition
• Messy installation
• Temperature limitations
• Challenging winter application

With winter construction being unavoidable and temperatures regularly near freezing, David mentioned that “Other membranes would never have worked in those conditions.”

After learning about SIGA’s airtight building system and speaking with a technical representative, David chose a self-adhered weather barrier and sealing tapes to seal his home.

Several features influenced the decision:

1. Ease of install

The membrane could be repositioned during installation.

“If your line was off, you could pull it up within the first 10–15 minutes and reapply it. That was a huge plus.”

2. Cold-Weather Application

Unlike other adhered membranes, installation could continue in colder conditions (as low as 14°F / - 10°C).

3. No Staples Required

Eliminating mechanical fasteners reduced potential air leakage points.

4. Airtight + Vapor-Permeable

The assembly blocks air and water from entering while allowing moisture to escape. As David said, “It lets the house breathe but keeps cold air out.”

The project included 37 windows. Proper window integration was a major concern because the original home had virtually no air or water sealing around openings.

Previously:

• fiberglass stuffed in cavities
• minimal water control
• air leakage

With the SIGA system, installers used pre-formed corners, tapes, and rollers to seal each opening.

After installing the windows and sealing the openings, spray foam was applied at the interior perimeter to complete the air seal.

Watching the install of SIGA products, David was impressed saying, “It’s airtight and watertight. I watched them install it - it was impressive.”

The installation crew had experience with competing adhered membranes.

Their reaction was immediate. The foreman told him that they have installed other membranes and after they used Rissan they ‘loved’ the product.

They cited:

• ability to reposition material
• ability to squeegee flat
• easier detailing
• cleaner installation

Even before insulation and heating were fully operational, David noticed a major difference, saying “We had no heat in the house. But the warmth that was inside stayed inside.”

Outside temperature: ~31°F (-0.5°C)
Interior temperature: ~41°F (5°C)
No active heating system running. The building envelope — windows, sealing tapes, and weather barrier — was already retaining heat.

David expects the completed home to deliver:

• lower heating and cooling costs
• improved comfort
• consistent interior temperatures
• reduced drafts
• protection behind fiber-cement siding

Moisture control was especially important, with David commenting, “Moisture is the biggest killer behind siding. This system protects against that.”

Switching from baseboard heating to forced air made the building envelope critical. Contractors explained that forced air perform the best in an air-tight building; otherwise, the system runs constantly and wastes energy.

What began as a standard renovation evolved into a high-performance building project. Through research, contractor input, and hands-on installation experience, David chose an easy to install, self-adhering membrane and adhesive tapes to seal the building envelope rather than use conventional housewrap.

The result is a home designed for durability, comfort, and efficiency, with David saying, “It checked every box I wanted - airtight and watertight. I truly believe we now have an airtight house.”