44 Ways #22: Review Building Wraps to Manage Moisture for Climate

Hello! This is Episode 422. This is Way #22 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re continuing through Section Five: The Building Envelope.

In the last two episodes, we covered thermal mass and window selection. Before that, in Way #19, we talked about what building tight actually means: why you want a continuous air barrier, and why airtightness and ventilation have to be designed together. This episode is about a layer that sits within the wall and roof assembly of your home: the building wrap.

Way #22 is: Review Building Wraps to Manage Moisture for Climate.

[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/422]

Historically, especially in Australia, we’ve seen foil sarking act as this layer.

However, with learnings over time about how this has detrimentally affected the performance of the building envelope, as well as how it has trapped moisture inside the wall, bringing issues such as mould and rot, better products are now available to do this job.

Yet, the industry isn’t up to speed with this, and in some cases, is still installing the wrong building membranes, and using the wrong detailing, which continues to create long-term issues.

Getting it right with building wraps involves knowledge of building science and construction detailing, and your climate and construction methodology is key to ensuring the best solution for your project.

So, what I’m sharing in this episode will get you started, but it’s super important to be discussing this in detail with your team. Don’t assume that, just because it’s in the local building regulations, your team is across it.

As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/422.

Now, let's dive in!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: