Walls & Ceilings Group Publisher Jill Bloom recently spoke with someone that has a lot to say: Jason Wigboldy, vice president of Business Development at TruFast has witnessed firsthand the dramatic changes in how wall assemblies are designed and constructed. In a recent conversation, he unpacked decades of transformation in the building envelope and introduced some of the latest innovations that are turning heads—and saving time—on job sites nationwide.

“Over the last 25 years, there’s been a remarkable evolution in how we think about exterior walls,” Wigboldy said. “It’s all about air, water, and thermal performance now, and how those systems come together with science and precision.”

Over the past 25 years, building envelope design has undergone a major shift toward high-performance wall systems focused on air, water, and thermal control. In a recent interview, TruFast’s Jason Wigboldy explained how innovations like the Thermal Insulation Fastening System and Tube Seal Fastener Technology are helping contractors build smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

The turning point came around 2010, when building codes began requiring continuous insulation. While CI brought clear energy efficiency benefits, it also complicated traditional wall assemblies. “The moment you added that continuous insulation layer,” Wigboldy explained, “you had to rethink how everything ties together—how you attach the insulation, your air barrier, and finally your cladding—without compromising performance.”

This complexity opened the door for TruFast to lead with innovation.

One of TruFast’s standout contributions is its Thermal Insulation Fastening System—a fuel-cell-powered tool designed to quickly and efficiently anchor insulation into masonry, concrete, wood, or steel. Available in a variety of pin lengths, the system offers a high-speed, high-precision solution for contractors wrestling with labor shortages and rising project costs.

“Press it to the wall, pull the trigger, and you’re on to the next one. It’s crazy fast,” said Wigboldy. “And with fewer steel elements bridging thermal layers, it addresses thermal bridging head-on.”

But TruFast didn’t stop there. Another key development is its Tube Seal Fastener Technology—an elegantly simple yet highly effective design that addresses air and water penetration at the fastener level. The polyurethane or polycarbonate tubes, attached to screws and washers, compress to form gaskets around fastener penetrations, sealing the building envelope from moisture and air leakage.

“Think about it: On a typical commercial building, you may have 15,000 fasteners. Every single one of those is a potential failure point,” Wigboldy noted. “With our tube seal approach, each fastener becomes part of the solution instead of part of the problem.”

What makes TruFast’s system stand out is its adaptability. From cavity walls to ventilated rainscreens and adhered masonry (like lath for stucco or stone veneer), the tube seal concept is being customized to support multiple façade types—all while improving performance and speed.

For instance, at a recent project in Zion National Park, TruFast’s fastening systems were used in a mass timber structure to attach thick mineral wool insulation over a fluid-applied air barrier. The results? Enhanced thermal breaks, air-tight sealing, and a flawless rainscreen cladding setup—all in one integrated solution.

TruFast isn't just innovating with products; it’s doubling down on customer service. “We’re not a faceless brand,” Wigboldy emphasized. “We’ve got a whole team in Grand Rapids, Michigan, ready to help with design assist and technical support. We love diving into project specifics.”