Getting lost in all the WRB, flashing, and air barrier options
joenorm
| Posted in General Questions on
Trying to come up with an affective and affordable system for an Air Barrier, WRB, and window/door flashings.
This is a rapidly changing and heavily researched industry with advertisements coming from every direction.
The information on this site is both liberating a overwhelming because it presents so many good options.
What is the down and dirty, budget, yet effective solution?
I am not trying to build a Passivhaus. But I do want a tight house.
This will be a personal project where I do a lot of the work. So I can spend a little more time in places when necessary.
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Replies
Joe,
1. Air barrier at walls: Exterior sheathing (OSB or plywood with seams sealed by a quality tape, for example Zip System tape).
2. Air barrier at ceiling: Drywall, with careful detailing at the wall/ceiling intersection to make sure that there is a continuous air barrier at this intersection.
3. WRB: Housewrap installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Don't forget the rainscreen gap.
4. Flashing: This is a big topic. See my most recent article: "All About Flashing."
Thanks Martin,
I'm pretty good with where they need to be. It's the product choices and interactions that are confusing.
For instance why is any housewrap different from Tyvek or Typar if the rain screen is considered? Why not tar paper? Vaproshield? Henrys Bluskin? I see all these product being used, some are wildly more expensive than others.
Can Pretty Good House standards be achieved with tar paper as the WRB and taped plywood seems?
Hi Joe -
It seems to me that you are trying to get optimal results/selections/answers for an industry in which you have little experience.
That is not a criticism. But I think it means that you need to focus your time on identifying the general contractor you feel has the best answer to your questions and/or who does the same type of research you have been doing, but for a living.
My very experienced architect and close friend Steve Baczek--who did all of the drawings for GBA back in 2007 - 2009 has a favorite saying: Which type of flashing, wall system, window, do I like the best? The one installed correctly and well. Quality trumps many if not most of the selection dilemmas.
Peter