Moisture Barrier Brick Walls

When a vapor barrier is on the side of a wall where the dry air is i e outside in winter or inside in summer moisture problems can occur.

Moisture barrier brick walls.

Generally speaking for drywall a safe moisture content mc would be less than 1 mc. With walls that are intended to absorb some moisture and let it evaporate later spray testing can take some time to allow the wall area to become fully saturated. The point is to prevent moisture from the living spaces from penetrating into the insulation. Moisture is a problem in most climates as air conditioning creates cold air in warmer temperatures.

These moisture retaining claddings can worsen moisture challenges in the wall cavity. Trapped water can saturate your insulation and. A vapor barrier reduces the movement of water vapor by. Anything above 1 mc in drywall would indicate a level of moisture that could compromise the integrity of the gypsum board.

If you install the vapor barrier on the cold side of the insulation i e the inside of the brick you will trap moisture inside the walls and make the moisture problems worse. Census bureau 2009 statistics more than half of all new homes are clad with absorptive materials such as brick stucco wood fiber cement or stone. A vapor barrier is used on the inside of the insulation not on the outside walls. If you put plastic a vapor barrier on the brick wall significant amounts of moisture will condense on the inside of the plastic.

Solution to a drafty brick wall. According to the u s. This moisture now a vapor is trying to get through the walls to the exterior. Above grade exterior walls with semipermeable exterior finishes like brick over oriented strand board sheathing require the placement of an additional vapor barrier on the exterior side of the.

It can result in enough trapped moisture to create a. Exterior walls may use a variety of materials from wooden siding to vinyl aluminum brick and stone. A vapor barrier s job is to keep water vapor in humid air from diffusing through one side of a wall and finding a cool surface inside the wall. Drainage system considerations weather resistive barriers including flashings need to be interfaced with elements that penetrate the wall windows vents electrical conduits.

Installing a vapor barrier on the warm interior wall of your cement brick house will prevent condensation and reduce air leakage through your walls and insulation.