Hunter Blueskin VP100 (self-adhering) versus Solitex Mento WRB (sheet applied)
I am building a new house in Climate Zone 6 (Northern Vermont) and am trying to assess different WRB’s. The construction will be 2×6 wood stud with R23 Roxul Comfobatt insulation, CDX plywood sheathing (not OSB) and 2″ Rockwool Comfortboard R8 exterior insulation with vertical strapping and LP Smartside Board and Batten siding in a rainscreen detail. Given this wall section, I believe it is important to have vapor permiability in the WRB to allow drying. Can anyone tell me which of the following would be a better WRB choice?
1) Hunter Blueskin® VP100 – Self-adhered water resistive air barrier membrane
2) Solitex Mento WRB
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Blake
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Replies
Blake,
All WRBs are permeable,so you have a lot more choices than just those two. Whether you want a self-adhered one or not, depends on where the WRB will be located - in front of the Rockwool or on the sheathing?
Thanks . . . . I plan to put the WRB on the sheathing with the Rockwool comfortboard on weather side of the WRB. Which would you recommend knowing that?
Blake,
Unless you are using it as an air-barrier, I don't see a lot of advantage to a self-adhered WRB. I'd pick the Mento, or Tyvek Commercial.
If you locate the WRB on the sheathing, you have to run all your flashing at penetrations and openings back to that point, and integrate it into the bucks you use.