GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Plastic vapor barrier removal

wbstotlar | Posted in General Questions on

I’m in the process of removing the drywall and the plastic 6 mil poly vapor barrier behind it on my exterior 2 x6 framed walls . I live in southern Illinois which is a mixed humid climate where a class 1 vapor barrier is controversial especially when AC is used in the summer months due to sweating on the backside of the plastic ,which I have encountered .  I would like to install  tongue and grooved white pine on my  walls especially where the plastic vapor barrier has been used on the outside walls . Any recommendations on using any other vapor or air barriers behind the pine .  Krafted  insulation for example ? I have 6 in unfaced insulation now plus ,  osb board , house wrap ,then brick . Thx

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    W.B.,
    You definitely need a robust air barrier behind the tongue-and-groove pine boards, which leak like a sieve. The most robust air barrier is drywall with taped seams, and that's what I recommend you install.

  2. wbstotlar | | #2

    Thanks Martin ! I did some more research and found Intello plus .A smart air barrier sheeting made in Germany that goes on the warm side of the interior insulation that keeps air and vapor out of the wall system during the winter months but is permeable during high humidity in the walls during summer months to allow wall drying toward the inside . Any thoughts W.B Stotlar

  3. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #3

    W.B.,
    The problem is the high number of fasteners that will penetrate the membrane. While Intello Plus might work, I'm not sure how robust a solution it is.

    I know that drywall works, and multiple fasteners have little affect on the airtightness of drywall.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |