Alternatives to Solitex Mento Plus?
mikeysp
| Posted in General Questions on
Is there any budget alternatives to Solitex Mento Plus? It is a Reinforced, airtight, vapor open, weather resistive barrier and roof underlayment. Essentially a rugged WRB that can serve as an air barrier. It was used in a post frame passive house in upstate New York. But, it is a bit spendy. I was wondering what might work on a post frame building that is a budget a solution. Thanks. -Mike
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Replies
Mike,
It depends what you are trying to do. Sheet WRBs like Tyvek Commercial are also vapour-open, and can be detailed as an air-barrier. What is it you think you need the Solitex Mento Plus for, that the other sheet WRB's don't do?
I was thinking of a wrap on my post frame building since I do not need sheathing.
That's certainly what it is marketed for. Whether it's appreciably tougher the other commercial WRBs I don't know. Regular Tyvek tears if you look at it the wrong way.
Are you insulating it? If so, with what?
I'm not experienced with Mento plus, but the reinforcement is particularly necessary with blown in. I'm not sure of this (verify) but if you were using batts or not insulating at all, I don't see the need for reinforcement. Though I'd still use something fairly robust. Mento 1000 (cheaper, but still quality and somewhat pricey) is a viable air barrier.
Are you strapping and siding exterior?
Tyler, I missed your question about strapping and siding. I will have 2x girts and a rainscreen. As to siding, I will have metal or I will saw up some siding and torch it to make some shou sugi ban. I like the latter, but I am very concerned about Carpenter Bees as they devour exposed wood in this area with great zeal.
I will use poyiso. I have a traile rload I got for next to nothing from a commercial roofing outfit that wanted it out of their yard. Had been sitting there for several months froma canceled job. It has what appears to be a white plastic like surface on it. It is 2". I was thinking to use at least one layer of this, maybe two. It is 4ft x 4ft x 2in.
Hi Mike,
As Malcolm already noted, there are dozens of alternatives. Mento is a vapor-open housewrap similar to Tyvek, and those made by Certainteed, Barricade, and many, many others. They vary in design, specific perm rating, etc., but they all meet ICC-ES AC-38, which essential credentials them as a IRC "approved" product, though local building officials have the last word on what is acceptable.
The only independent testing of these products that I'm aware of, revealed just one consistent result. Perforated products (those that get there permeability through tiny punctures) don't perform as well as the rest. Otherwise, you are on your own to choose a product based on recommendations and assumptions.
The best advice you'll get from experts, which I have been told over and over, is this: include a rainscreen gap in your assembly. When water gets trapped between the siding and WRB, there's a good chance all of them will fail. Unfortunately they are not tested for this to get their ICC-ES credentials.
And keep in mind, you have to do an impeccable job detailing a housewrap to create an airtight assembly. I recommend you have a plan for the install be fore you start.