Vapour Barrier Exterior Wall

Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets.

Vapour barrier exterior wall.

A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. To know if you need a vapor retarder ask yourself a few basic questions. In hot climates any moisture that condenses on the exterior side of the vapor barrier will be drained to the exterior since the vapor barrier is also a drainage plane. This barrier is meant to keep moisture from getting to the insulation in the walls and ceilings and it is required by building codes when insulating most houses.

A continuous plastic vapor barrier prevents condensation from forming on the internal surfaces of the exterior wall. A vapor barrier s job is to keep water vapor in humid air from diffusing through one side of a wall and finding a cool surface inside the wall. Frame wall with cavity insulation and brick or stone veneer. This wall assembly will dry from the vapor barrier inwards and will dry from the vapor barrier outwards.

A vapour barrier sometimes referred to as vapour retarder is typically a plastic or foil sheet used for damp proofing to prevent interstitial condensation from forming in various building assemblies such as walls roofs foundations and floors. Very hot and humid climates may benefit from an exterior vapor barrier that keeps outside humidity from penetrating into walls. Finished basements often receive a vapor barrier layer between the concrete and the floor treatment to prevent damage from heavy rains or other moisture seepage. Any condensation on a properly installed continuous plastic vapor barrier will.

Below grade walls and floor slabs transmit ground moisture through concrete walls or slabs. In any case the vapor barrier must point to the warm side. A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed.