Harmony Basements builds steel frame building envelope systems as part of our basement renovation services. But what is this exactly? A building envelope is also called the building’s shell. So which is it? An envelope or a shell? Neither, but both words serve to describe what it does. It’s an assembly, with some harder components (like a shell) and some softer components (like an envelope).

Building envelopes have 3 main functions, which we will investigate: 

• Air management
• Moisture protection
• Structural Integrity

What is a Building Envelope? 

The building envelope separates the interior from the exterior. Let’s break down which building components are, and are not parts of building envelope systems.

Interior walls, including partitions and load-bearing interior walls, doors, and openings between interior spaces, floors and ceilings, are NOT part of the building envelope.

All wall assemblies that have contact with the outdoors, and all HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air-Conditioning, ARE parts of the building envelope. Everything that keeps the interior safe from outside weather is part of the building envelope. Plumbing and electrical services are parts of the building envelope where they connect to the HVAC system.

Types of Building Envelope Systems

There are 2 main types of building envelopes: tight and loose. 

What’s Included in Building Envelope Design?

We’ve covered some of the components of a tight building envelope assembly, let’s look a little closer at all of these parts now, and at what each one adds to the whole.

Walls

Walls are an assembly, or system. For exterior walls, that system consists of structural elements for support, insulation, a vapour barrier and exterior cladding for curb appeal. Exterior sheathing adds more insulation and may also add structural support.

Foundation

Concrete slabs, footings, and/or walls connect the load of the building to undisturbed earth for structural stability. As a component in the building envelope, a foundation has waterproofing and drainage to keep moisture out.

Movement

All buildings move, due to temperature changes, high winds, and ground movements including minor earthquakes that we may not even notice. A building envelope engineer must acknowledge that fact. In other words, all components need to be at least a bit flexible, otherwise, foundations crack and structural integrity is compromised.

Acoustics

When building envelopes came into use to save energy, acoustic damping turned out to be a side benefit that was quickly noticed. People working and living in tightly enveloped buildings endure much less annoyance and distraction from the outside.

Air

A tight building envelope can cut heating and cooling costs by 20%. We achieve these results with

• Membranes
• Sealants
• Sheathings
• Spray foams
• Energy-efficient windows and doors
• Energy-efficient ventilation systems

Energy

Air movement is only one way your home can leak energy. Your building envelope also needs to resist thermal transfer by radiation, convection, and conduction. This keeps a more consistent interior temperature, so in addition to saving your money, it also keeps you and your household more comfortable.

Durability

Renovating an older home to have a tight building envelope is a major undertaking, and It’s key to both the structural integrity and the aesthetic appeal of your property.  Done right, it shouldn’t need to be done again while you own the same house.

Harmony Basements’ Envelope Building System

A tight building envelope is crucial for your home’s climate control, structural integrity, and energy efficiency. When it fails – whether through slow-developing drafts or sudden issues – the results can be costly and even dangerous.

Having worked in and around the GTA for over 20 years, Harmony Basements understand which products and procedures perform best for basement conditions, and we’re always looking for and testing new technologies for even better solutions. Our success comes from coordinated, in-house teams and careful attention to timing and materials.

We use premium materials throughout our building process: steel framing instead of wood for superior strength, specialised mould-free gypsum board instead of standard drywall, and mould-resistant paint formulated for damp conditions.

We avoid the common pitfalls of rushed construction and poor coordination that can compromise building envelope integrity. Our confidence in our materials and workmanship is backed by a LIFETIME warranty – well beyond the industry’s typical 1-2 years.

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