Total control is the key to building a high performance home. The four control layers that determine the performance of
your home are: water, air, thermal, and vapor.
It might sound surprising, but many builders still don't understand the
properties or uses of various construction materials. For example, many of them
don't understand what a house wrap is. All builders understand that a house
wrap is a control layer. But what is it that it is supposed to control?
Most builders seem to believe that a house wrap is an air barrier. Some
builders believe that it is a vapor retarder. There are also builders who believe
that it is a bit of both.
If you are a builder, you should control the following elements in a home.
·
Heat
·
Water
·
Air
·
Vapor
Here is an overview of the materials and technologies that you can use to
control these elements:
Controlling heat
You can regulate the flow of heat around the home by using proper
insulation. There are many different kinds of insulation materials. Some
insulation materials also act as vapor retarders or air barriers.
Controlling air
There are still many builders who believe that you must not air-seal a
home too much. But that is not true. The old theory that the house should be
able to breathe no longer holds water. As a builder, you need to keep air
leakage at the lowest possible level.
Controlling water
This is more important than anything else. If you fail in this
department, your house will fail to achieve the desired level of energy
efficiency. This is where a house wrap helps. It helps you control water. It is
a drainage plane that protects the permeable materials behind it by keeping
water away. House wrap isn't the only drainage plane. Several other materials
are also available.
No matter what material you choose, you need to control water using all
possible means.
Controlling water vapor
So you thought the house wrap was a vapor barrier. It does have some
properties of a vapor barrier, but it is not an efficient vapor barrier. The
truth is that it is not as effective as a class III vapor retarder. As far as
vapor control goes, there are times when you need to control it and then there
are times when you should let it flow. When the climate is really cold, you
should keep the vapor on the inner side of the wall but not on the outer side.
If the home is situated in a semi-humid climate, you don't need a vapor
retarder on the inside or the outside of the walls.
Creating the perfect wall
The perfect wall is one that has got all the control layers in place. By installing all proper control layers, you can keep rain water outside
and conditioned air inside. The control layers will also make your home
durable, healthy and comfortable. So control the flows.
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