01-24-2010, 07:58 PM
Thanks for your interest, Marty. Also, The forum says that this is only your second post, so I feel honored that my thread got you to make your first post! 
Before the discussion in this thread, I had never even considered a vapor barrier. The reason why is that nobody ever uses one down here. Like I mentioned, I have been in construction since 1980 in Houston. I'm not an engineer or architect, I just copy the designs I have seen before.
From what little research I have doen since the topic came up, it seems that in cold climates like yours, the vapor barrier is needed. But in milder climates, it isn't a vapor barrier that is needed, but a vapor retarder. Seems our walls need to "breathe".
Therefore, kraft paper and tarpaper. From the little bit of research, it seems that in hot, humid climates, the vapor barrier causes more issues than it solves.
Before the discussion in this thread, I had never even considered a vapor barrier. The reason why is that nobody ever uses one down here. Like I mentioned, I have been in construction since 1980 in Houston. I'm not an engineer or architect, I just copy the designs I have seen before.
From what little research I have doen since the topic came up, it seems that in cold climates like yours, the vapor barrier is needed. But in milder climates, it isn't a vapor barrier that is needed, but a vapor retarder. Seems our walls need to "breathe".
Therefore, kraft paper and tarpaper. From the little bit of research, it seems that in hot, humid climates, the vapor barrier causes more issues than it solves.
Three Foot Rule In Effect At All Times