Which seams are the most important to tape? Should I really tape the OSB, WRB and exterior insulation?
ArchitectJudge
| Posted in Green Building Techniques on
I am using standard 7/16 OSB for my sheathing, Solitex Mento 1000 for my WRB and 1″ Graphite EPS, followed by rain-screen and fiber cement siding.
My plan was to tape the Solitex Mento 1000 with Tescon Vana, but am not sure I should spend the money on taping the OSB and seams of my GPS insulation.
Thanks for the feedback!
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Replies
ArchitectJudge,
What are you using as your primary air-barrier? That decision, and how the air-barrier is made continuous right around the building envelope, informs what you need to tape and caulk.
On my jobs, I specify all three to be taped. My goals are to get ≤1ACH50 on every house, and that includes seals, gaskets and tapes, when we aren’t using sprayed WRB. It’s about belts, suspenders and a rain coat.
I have no idea how those products are going to be holding 5-30+ years from now, and if you add quality installations to the equation, or lack of it, it's worth the extra labor expence. It's allways more cost effective to invest in moisture proofing and air sealing now that to spend in repairs or remodels.