About Thermal and Moisture Protection

Our Thermal and Moisture Protection Department focuses on the control function of a building envelope to give proper rain, air, heat, and vapor control contributing to the sustainability and durability of construction.  Proper envelope systems are critical components to a building’s environmental and energy performance.  Our Team is prepared to work with your design engineers to ensure the performance requirements between the envelope and the building core are integrated as specified.

Our staff members have more than 24 years of experience and constantly update their training on both thermal and moisture protection system installation and safe work practices.  We take pride in our ability to respond to the needs of the job site as they arise and meet our clients’ requirements within the agreed upon timeline.

G&M Services is also an ABAA Accredited Contractor so you can take comfort in the fact your project will be completed to the highest standards.

G&M Services’ installers are certified with the industry’s major product manufacturers. As part our service offering, we are able to assess abnormal field conditions and, with the manufacturer’s technical support assistance, provide engineering judgments in a timely fashion to comply with contract specifications.

Our Field Journeymen undergo ongoing training, including mandatory monthly safety meetings, weekly Toolbox Talks where safety and equipment information is shared, and training on safe work standards and best practices.  As Union members of the Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 197, you can take comfort in knowing you have the best of the best on your project.

Services Performed by our Thermal and Moisture Protection Department

All thermal and moisture protection systems are UL Tested or provided Engineering Judgements if there is no UL Tested System available.  Our experience and services include:

• Thermal Insulation
  • Board Insulation (Foam, Fibrous, Mineral)
  • Blanket Insulation
  • Reflective Insulation
• Weather Barriers
• Air Barriers
  • Sheet Metal Membrane
  • Fluid-Applied Membrane

Correct Thermal and Moisture Protection System installation is required for a “Tight” Building Envelope

When choosing a Thermal and Moisture Protection Contractor, it is important to go with a company that is knowledgeable, experienced, and responsive with proper installation procedures.  Ensuring a building’s environmental and energy performance meet and exceed specifications requires a detailed understanding of correct practices.   Our employees are fully trained and experienced, capable of solving problems on the jobsite making sure your project is completed in a timely and efficient manner.

Thermal Insulation

Thermal Insulation provides a barrier in a wall, ceiling, or floor providing multiple benefits to include:

• Increased Energy Savings
• Control moisture
• Control noise
• Climate control
• Provide fire protection

Especially in today’s “Green” marketplace, it is more important than ever to have an energy-efficient building with a low carbon footprint.  Proper insulation systems save money, provide a more climate-friendly building core, and lowers maintenance and ownership costs over the life of the structure.

Board Insulation

Board insulation can be a rigid barrier made out of foam, a flexible fibrous material that can be made rigid with additives, or mineral wool board that provides fire-rated applications.   G&M only uses the best manufacturers such as Thermafiber, Rockwool, and Owens Corning in its applications.  Thermafiber products have been awarded SAFETY Act Designation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Under the SAFETY Act, commercial building professionals – including architects, engineers, contractors (both general and firestopping), smoke sealant manufacturers, curtain wall OEMs, as well as building owners who use the Thermafiber SAFETY Act Designated solution in their structure receive powerful liability protection in the event of a foreign or domestic terrorist attack on that building.  Visit SafetyAct.gov for more information).

Blanket Insulation

Blanket insulation is the most common type of insulation you may have seen come in a batt or roll.  It is usually made of fiberglass though can also be comprised of plastic or even natural fibers such as cotton or wool.  This type of insulation is typically used to perform a heat barrier reflecting heat away from the core.  Blanket insulation provides some fire-resistance depending on the type of material specified, but is not the best choice for fire-rated applications.

Reflective Insulation

Reflective Insulation (also known as Foil Insulation) is different from other types of insulation as it is not as affected by moisture and does not degrade over time.  This also makes it a vapor-barrier candidate.  It is safer to install than other forms of insulation as it is non-toxic does not require special safety equipment.  Sometimes blanket insulation is combined with reflective insulation as a backing foil to get advantages of both products.  Effective installation requires a clean and dust free surface, and with metal foil faulty electrical wiring can cause an electrical hazard, so these must be taken into consideration with designing a system with this product.

Weather Barriers

Weather barriers keep the bad weather out and the comfortable air in.  These types of systems are used in critical areas of walls and roofs such as seams, and can also be used to cover sensitive areas in a building exterior to prevent deterioration from outside weather.  You may have seen one type of this class of barrier in residential home construction with DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap.

While weather barriers can act as air barriers, often both types of systems are required depending on the application.  As with all exterior systems, proper installation is critical to ensure moisture does not enter the structure to cause damage.  It is also important to understand how the design and installation of this barrier will work with the other exterior wall systems.

When choosing an installation contractor, it is important to go with a company that is knowledgeable, experienced, and responsive with proper installation procedures.  You can rest easy knowing G&M’s Journeyman Carpenters and project team have over 24 years’ experience to include the training and skills to install these systems to the proper specifications every time the first time.

Air Barriers

Air barriers are similar to weather barriers but focus more on controlling air movement from one area to another.  Typically the air barrier is the primary enclosure separating the air from one environment to another, whether that be outside versus inside, or one interior space to another interior space.  Air barriers can be used not just to control environmental climate, but also act as fire barriers, smoke barriers, and gas vapor barriers.

While air barriers can also act as weather barriers, often both types of systems are required depending on the application as not all air barriers can control vapor.  As with all barrier systems, proper installation is critical to ensure moisture does not enter the structure to cause damage.   G&M uses Henry® Blueskin® barrier systems that contribute to sustainable design, efficiency, and LEED credits and are compliant in NFPA 285 wall assemblies in fire tests.

Types of air barriers G&M installs include:

Sheet Metal Membrane

Sheet metal membrane air barriers are typically a sheet or transition strip that is adhered to a piece of sheet metal, such as metal cladding, block, concrete, copings, and other materials. 

Fluid-Applied Membrane

Fluid-applied membrane air barriers come in a liquid form that can be sprayed or brush-applied to a seam.  These types of barriers are waterproof and impermeable to air.  The application of this system can be seen in joint seals and areas with metal flashing in building construction. 

When choosing an installation contractor, it is important to go with a company that is knowledgeable, experienced, and responsive with proper installation procedures.  You can rest easy knowing G&M’s Journeyman Carpenters and project team have over 24 years’ experience to include the training and skills to install these systems to the proper specifications every time the first time.