Working With Vapor Barriers

Have you ever heard of a vapor barrier? These are typically membranes or coatings that are designed to control the amount of moisture that is transferred through the walls of a home. In milder climates, simple materials like painted wallboard and plaster wall coating could be enough to do the job. In more extreme climates, other materials are required for new construction like sheet metal, polyethylene, and concrete block.

Depending on where you live, vapor barriers may not be necessary. It’s also very important to know if the vapor barrier should be on the inside or outside of your home. Additionally, it can be difficult to sufficiently install an additional vapor barrier layer on an existing building. In fact, in some cases, having too many vapor barrier layers can be a bad thing, actually trapping moisture inside a home. For these and other reasons, it’s important to enlist the help of a professional when working with vapor barriers.