Ashton Thermal .:|:. Building Performance Specialist

Ashton Thermal performs building analysis and weatherization services for buildings in north-western Vermont. As a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor, we use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to analyze the building envelope for air and moisture intrusion, indoor air quality, occupant safety, and energy efficiency. Using our findings, we can quickly and accurately determine where and how to properly seal a structure, thereby making it a more comfortable, healthy, energy-efficient and structurally sound living or working environment.

We look at a building as being more than just the sum of its parts; it is a system that requires each component to perform properly. If one part fails to do its job, it can compromise the entire system. When we survey a building, we look at all of the components that affect the integrity of the structure and the health of the occupants.

After having thoroughly evaluated your home, or other building, we then make recommendations for improvements. These will often include adding insulation, air sealing, ventilation and other measures designed to make your building function harmoniously.

Ashton Thermal is not only a building consultant; we are a building performance contractor. This means that we can fix the problems for you. One of the benefits of working with us is that you have the assurance of quality control provided by Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, as monitored by Efficiency Vermont. We submit each of our completed jobs to them for review and follow-up, so you will have the peace of mind of knowing that we have performed our services effectively.

There is a lot of information available on this site, as well as links to information on external sites. We hope you'll find this site useful and valuable. Bookmark us, so you can visit again!

Every project begins with testing. May we suggest that you begin your tour of this site here.

House sketch - roll over to learn about building defects.

Ashton Thermal, LLC - 1463 Taylor Road - East Fairfield - Vermont - 05488 - ph: 802-849-2908
©2006 Ashton Thermal, LLC
-All Rights Reserved-

Roll your mouse around over the house in the picture above to spot some common problems with today's houses. There are 8 rollover points on this image - can you find them all?

7. Weatherstripping around entry doors is an easy and inexpensive way to stop drafts in a building. Check your weatherstripping for tears or gaps. We use top quality, long lasting weatherstripping.

4. Attic insulation not sufficient for the climate: DOE now recommends R-49 for Vermont - that's 15" of cellulose or fiberglass! Call us for your insulation needs.

6. Skylights, chimneys, plumbing stacks, etc. are all roof penetrations that will eventually leak, or otherwise fail. Roofs are the first line of defense against the number one building killer: water.

5. Wall cavities should be filled with insulation. The thicker the wall, the better the insulation. We can usually add insulation to a finished wall, as a retrofit.

3. Attached garages are a potential health hazard. Carbon monoxide from vehicles can enter the home through poorly sealed walls and doors. The same places that you're losing heat! Let us seal the connections to garages, porches and additions.

2. Gutters, along with effective grading, help to keep water away from the building. If water is getting into your basement, bad gutters are often the reason why.

8. Stop! You may not need to replace your windows! Payback on window replacements takes longer than many people own their homes. Maybe we can fix them, but if not, we can sell and install your replacements.

1. We can fabricate airtight, insulated doors for almost any opening. Think about your bulkhead or attic doors/ hatches. If yours are like most, they could probably be better.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR: A drafty home, rooms that are too hot or too cold, and high energy bills are all common issues for homeowners. Installing a new heating or air conditioning system, buying replacement windows, or adding more insulation may fix part of the problem. But the way to better results is through an integrated "whole-house" approach that looks at your house as a system. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, a national program from the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE, offers a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, while helping to protect the environment.

Try the Energy Performance Yardstick! See how your home compares with others.