Should I use a vapor retarder with mineral wool batts and gps rigid foam exterior insulation?
I’m slowly progressing my personal build in the mountains of North Carolina, climate zone 5a. Framing is 2×6, sheathed with 7/16 zip. R21 rockwool batts in the walls and 1.5″ Halo Exterra gps rigid foam on the exterior . According to Halo literature, the r value is 7.5 and has a perm rating of 1.34. I’ll also have a furred rainscreen and wood siding.
I asked a related question in the spring and it was suggested that I use Certainteed Membrain on the inside. I have 2 walls that will be wood inside and the remainder will be drywall.
In response to another post in 2016, Martin Holladay wrote:
“From a moisture management perspective, it’s hard to improve on a 2×6 wall with an adequate thickness of rigid foam on the exterior side of the wall sheathing.
Everything on the exterior side of the rigid foam dries to the exterior.
Everything on the interior side of the rigid foam dries to the interior.
The rigid foam prevents inward solar vapor drive during the summer.
The rigid foam keeps the wall sheathing warm enough during the winter to prevent condensation or moisture accumulation.
According to researchers who have monitored the moisture content of wall sheathing in a variety of wall types, this wall stays dryer than any other wall.”
I have met the thickness requirements of the rigid foam , and for simplicity would prefer not to use the Membrain. Also, the Halo exterra claims to be semi-permeable , which may aid exterior drying.
I have, however already installed Membrain in the walls which will have wood paneling on the inside. I did not seal the edges of the Membrain though, as I followed instructions from their installation video which did not include that. Interesting, my building inspector saw the Membrain already installed and suggested that I put slits in it, claiming that in our humid summers, moisture would accumulate on the inside of the Membrain and not be able to escape. I have no intention of doing so.
Any advice? Should I install Membrain throughout or am i safe as is?
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
Bill Pressly,
You may find this recent discussion useful:
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/internal-vapor-membrane-with-thick-exterior-eps-insulation
Thank you Malcolm. I read that and delved further into the many links referenced. Bottom line seems to be as long as I meet the minimum interior/exterior requirements, which I do, then it's been proven to perform well without an interior vapor retarder.
I have installed zip sheathing, rolled the tape, and sealed the perimeter including corners with liquid flashing. Since this will serve as my wrb and primary air seal, is there any need to tape the seams on the exterior rigid foam? Halo Exterra comes with a perforated foil face that also qualifies as a wrb if the seams are taped. Any Thoughts?