We hear it a lot—on job sites, at trade shows, even in casual chats:
“But if you make the building airtight... how does it breathe?”
It’s a fair question. And it stems from a deeply rooted misconception that still circulates in the construction world. So let’s clear the air—literally.
What “Airtight” Actually Means
When we talk about an airtight building, we don’t mean it’s sealed up like a Ziploc bag with no airflow at all. We mean it’s free from uncontrolled leaks—the kind that let your expensive heated or cooled air slip away through cracks, gaps, and poorly sealed penetrations.
An airtight home keeps the indoor air in and the outdoor air out—on your terms, not Mother Nature’s.
How Airtight Buildings Actually “Breathe”
Here’s the key: ventilation is not the enemy of airtightness. It’s the partner.
Modern airtight homes are designed with controlled ventilation systems—typically HRVs (Heat Recovery Ventilators) or ERVs (Energy Recovery Ventilators)—that:
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Bring in fresh outdoor air
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Filter out pollutants and allergens
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Remove stale, moist indoor air
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Maintain comfortable temperature and humidity levels
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Help prevent mold and condensation
This is intentional breathing, not accidental leakage.
It’s not just about comfort—it’s about health, durability, and energy efficiency.
Why Leaky Homes Aren’t “Breathing”—They’re Leaking
The idea that “old homes used to breathe” is... well, romanticized.
What they were really doing was leaking—often through unsealed joints, poorly installed windows, or penetrations in the wall system. This let in:
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Unfiltered outdoor air (bringing in dust, moisture, and pollutants)
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Excess humidity in summer (hello, mold and mildew)
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Cold drafts in winter (leading to skyrocketing heating costs)
And let’s be honest: “natural ventilation” didn’t mean healthy indoor air—it meant your house smelled like the crawlspace.
🧪 Bonus Tech: The Polyamide & EVOH Advantage
Let’s get a bit nerdy—because this part is exciting.
Our smart membranes are built using a Polyamide (PA) and EVOH layer—the same kind of high-tech barrier used in vacuum food packaging.
🧩 Why use food packaging tech in buildings?
Because it’s designed to preserve freshness by doing two things simultaneously:
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Allow internal moisture to escape (so nothing gets soggy and moldy)
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Block harmful substances from entering (like wood preservatives, VOCs, or outdoor pollutants)
In a wall system, this translates to dry insulation, no trapped moisture, and a healthy indoor environment—without sacrificing performance.
Think of it as putting your house in a breathable but protective shell.
Blower Door Tested. Science Approved.
Still skeptical?
This kind of products pass blower door tests with flying colors. These tests measure air leakage rates, and they’re a big deal for Passive House projects.
And we do it without sacrificing breathability—because again: breathing is planned, not accidental.
Final Thoughts: Breathe Easy with the Right System
Airtight doesn’t mean breathless—it means smarter, healthier, more efficient.
With the right materials, like Oskorp membranes and tapes, and a well-planned ventilation setup, you can build:
So next time someone says “But don’t homes need to breathe?”, you’ll know what to say:
“Yes—through the lungs, not the leaks.”