Water vapor can pass through building materials in several ways including direct transmission and by heat transfer but studies suggest that fully 98 percent of the moisture transfer through walls occurs through air gaps including cracks around electrical fixtures and outlets and gaps along baseboards.
New siding vapor barrier.
A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter.
In addition to vapor permeability barricade building wrap provides water and air resistance uv resistance tear strength and temperature resistance.
This article includes photographs of leaks on and perhaps into a vinyl sided house wall.
To know if you need a vapor retarder ask yourself a few basic questions.
The process is a little more involved than buying a roll of housewrap at the lumberyard and stapling it in place over the sheathing.
The page top photograph shows that a lot of water more than you might guess may be running over the surface of.
Unlike asphalt felt or housewrap liquid applied barriers are rolled or sprayed on to form a continuous seam free coating that is waterproof but vapor permeable.
Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors your climate your home and the location of the wall you re insulating.
Start your siding project housewrap and your siding.
Canadian codes sources.
Thus installing vapor barriers on wall surfaces must.
Housewraps and vapor barriers are usually addressed in local building codes in fact many places require some kind of weather resistant barrier so a professional contractor can also make sure that your home is up to code.
The process also helps form an effective air barrier.