Cheapest exterior sheathing air sealing method DIY, not counting time?
mikeysp
| Posted in General Questions on
Hi.
What would be the cheapest air sealing method for exterior plywood or OSB sheathing if time/labor was NOT taken into account?
I was “thinking” that some elastomeric or poluyrethane sealant might be the cheapest way to go.
We are building on a real tight budget with no debt: I am sawing and solar kiln drying my own lumber, already collected used metal roofing, and several thousand square feet of used 2″ polyiso.
I bring up the last part, so my vision is clear. I understand that time is money, but I have lots more of the former than the latter, and would rather spend what I have more of 🙂
Thank you for any helpful ideas.
-Mike
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Search and download construction details
Replies
It makes me nervous when anyone asks for the "cheapest" solution for air sealing. This is because if you are air sealing an assembly at the structural sheathing, you will be "burying" this layer, with little to no opportunity to inspect/repair/replace the key components to the air control layer.
So, since you only have one shot at this, you can't go cheap in my opinion. Whether you select sealant or tape, it needs to be a really good one.
I like PSA tapes for air control layers because--in my opinion and in my testing--the ones that have the most give with changing moisture content and temperature--are the high performance acrylic tapes. For me, that is a tape such as Huber Zip, Pro Clima Tescon Vana, or Siga Wigluv. These are not "cheap" but they are high quality and I believe durable and robust.
For what it is worth, check this out: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/two-wingnuts-describe-their-backyard-tape-tests. Of the whole series of blogs I have written on this overall topic, Sticky Business, here: http://www.buildinggreen.com/stickybusiness.
Peter
I'd just install zip and then make up the increased cost of that with a craigslist fridge, or washer & dryer.
I agree with Peter, this is not the place to skimp.
I used Henry Blueskin on my remodel project. More time than $. I liked the satisfaction of the stickiness and seal it had. It is difficult to remove if you mess up. I was not aiming at air tight but ant proof, If you do ant proof you got airtight. It also provides the weather proof barrier on plywood also. I also used sika flex as the liquid sealant from the bigbox store.