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Exeric · 02-03-13, 05:07 PM

Hi AC,

I just glanced through the course notes, specifically chapter 7, moisture control. And they have a whopper there. It shows that a vapor retarder should be on the warm side of the walls. That's just wrong.

I agree with SF on this. Who wants to be wrapped in plastic. All moisture is retained within the enclosure then, kind of like being in a wetsuit. Yuck. Bad info is just being handed down from generation to generation on this subject and when someone points it out all you hear is crickets chirping. Why doesn't anyone question these unexamined assumptions?

EDIT:

Here's a good article that talks about all the myths about the required use of vapor retarder and also the very few times and places they are needed:

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/...vapor-retarder

02-03-13, 05:07 PM	#12
Exeric Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: California Posts: 274 Thanks: 19 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	Hi AC, I just glanced through the course notes, specifically chapter 7, moisture control. And they have a whopper there. It shows that a vapor retarder should be on the warm side of the walls. That's just wrong. I agree with SF on this. Who wants to be wrapped in plastic. All moisture is retained within the enclosure then, kind of like being in a wetsuit. Yuck. Bad info is just being handed down from generation to generation on this subject and when someone points it out all you hear is crickets chirping. Why doesn't anyone question these unexamined assumptions? EDIT: Here's a good article that talks about all the myths about the required use of vapor retarder and also the very few times and places they are needed: http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/...vapor-retarder Last edited by Exeric; 02-03-13 at 05:38 PM..