Vapor barrier for the walls of a wooden house

The content of the article

• What is vapor barrier for?
• The benefits of vapor barrier wooden houses
• What materials are used
• Features of installation of vapor barrier for the walls of a wooden house
• With external insulation
• With internal insulation of a wooden house
• Where to order and how much is the vapor barrier walls

The comfort of a home depends on the temperature and humidity level in the room. In a wooden house this can be achieved through heating and high-quality thermal insulation. In addition, in order to reduce the negative effect of moisture on walls, floors and roofs, it is necessary to control the degree of vapor barrier, and this task is difficult.

What is vapor barrier for?

Excess moisture adversely affects the wooden structure of the house. Steam generated when using a shower, cooking, washing, wet cleaning is looking for a way out of the room. Since its pressure is much higher than atmospheric, steam presses on the ceiling, walls, floor, which together with the temperature difference contributes to the formation of condensate. Slowly impregnating the wooden structure and gaskets, water deforms and destroys them: the materials decay, mold, their performance decreases.

If during the preparation of beams for roofing and walls, steam and waterproofing of materials was carried out, then boards for logs and floors do not have such protection. In addition, the flooring of the first floor of the house is arranged on the ground, which increases the negative effect of moisture on it. In order to avoid the process of destruction of the structure of a wooden house, you should take care of reliable vapor barrier. The protective layer will serve as insulation and prevent moisture from contacting the tree, freely letting air out of the room into the street. Due to this, the operational life of the house will increase significantly.

The benefits of vapor barrier wooden houses

Wood (even unprocessed) has a high degree of thermal insulation and good permeability. The naturalness of this material provides the opportunity to build houses without fear that harmful fumes will be released into the air of the room. In addition to advantages, the tree has significant disadvantages. The ability to collect moisture leads to a decrease in the level of heat transfer resistance and provokes the decomposition of wood. The appearance of the fungus on the walls and other parts of the house affects the aesthetic characteristics of the home and can cause various diseases of residents.

As a result of regular wetting and drying of the wooden structure, the tightness of the joints deteriorates, as a result of which they become blown. If vapor barrier is not provided for the walls of a wooden house, the materials pass moist air through themselves and trap some of the moisture from it. To improve the working conditions of walls and other elements made of wood, it is necessary to place a vapor barrier at the junction of warm air and cold enclosing structures.

What materials are used

The market of building materials offers various types of hydro vapor barrier, which have excellent characteristics. As a rule, breathable furniture and films are used to protect the walls of wooden houses from moisture, but there are other types of vapor barrier. What materials are suitable for home insulation and vapor barrier:

1. Ruberoid. The advantage of this type of material for waterproofing is its low cost, but the roofing material is more suitable for laying on the roofs of farm buildings than for protecting the walls of wooden houses. In addition, it is more expedient to use such a tool not as the main vapor barrier, but as an additional layer to more efficient materials.
2. Aluminium foil. The film is coated on one side with metal, and on the other has a reinforced mesh. Such a device helps create an indoor vapor barrier and a layer that reflects heat. To insulate a wooden house, a foil vapor barrier is laid out with a metallized coating. Putting such material on the walls must be done carefully so as not to damage its integrity. If you decide to foil your house, the house will not only be protected from corrosion, but also insulated.
3. Diffusion membrane. The vapor-permeable material protects the home from moisture, regulates its amount, due to its ability to pass air (from two or one side). The vapor barrier membrane has a high vapor permeability coefficient due to the microstructure of the material. A significant plus of the diffuse film is the absence of a ventilation gap between the thermal insulation and the membrane, which ensures the most efficient use of space. Such vapor barrier for the walls of a wooden house provides good insulation of the room. Unlike other types of vapor barrier, the membrane has a high price – this is its only drawback.
4. Polyethylene or polypropylene film. Compared to polyethylene, polypropylene is more durable, resistant to atmospheric phenomena. Nevertheless, the vapor barrier film made of this material used to have a significant drawback – condensation formed on it from the side of the insulation, which led to a rapid loss in the operational characteristics of such vapor barrier for the walls. The modern look of the material has a special layer of viscose with a cellulose content. It absorbs a large amount of moisture, gradually drying out under the influence of air ventilation. The main advantages of films for walls of wooden buildings is their affordable cost, strength, ease of installation.

Features of installation of vapor barrier for the walls of a wooden house

A vapor barrier is fastened not only to protect the walls of the home from moisture, but also with the goal of warming the room. The technology of installation of the material depends on the place of its application. Builders can put vapor barrier on the external or internal side of the wall, depending on the condition of the building, such as logs, other factors. There are certain features of the installation of vapor barriers when fixing the material from the inside or outside.

With external insulation

If the walls of the house are made of round logs, ventilation gaps may not be left: their function is performed by the gaps at the junction of the bars. If the structure consists of smooth wood with a rectangular or square cross-section, it is impossible to put the vapor barrier directly on the walls – this will make it difficult for the steam to escape. In this case, the logs are first filled with 2.5 cm slats (the step between them is 1 cm). After the crate is installed, on which the thermal insulation is laid. A waterproofing film is stretched over, and only after that you can start decorating the walls.

With proper work in the room, a normal microclimate is maintained, which is ideal not only for log-type houses, but also for frame buildings. The described method of outdoor installation of vapor barrier for walls is simple, due to which it can be implemented independently, without involving qualified builders.

With internal insulation of a wooden house

The first stage of the internal installation of vapor barrier involves cleaning the surface of the walls with their subsequent treatment with an antiseptic. Further, according to the instructions, a rack battens are installed. A heater (for example, mineral wool) is placed in the gaps of the rails, on top of which a vapor barrier layer is fixed with nails or a stapler. If a diffusion membrane is chosen for this purpose, it is laid directly on the insulating material or leaving a gap of 5 cm between the insulation and the vapor barrier. The film must be stretched well, otherwise the protective properties will be low.

Where to order and how much is the vapor barrier walls

Material for insulation and vapor barrier of wooden walls can be purchased at hardware stores. The widest selection is presented in specialized hypermarkets. In addition, you can order a vapor barrier on the Internet, but you can see firsthand the quality of the goods only upon receipt of the purchase. How much does vapor barrier cost for walls of a wooden house? Below is a table with examples of prices for materials from different manufacturers.