VaporWise interior vapor retarder not only helps protect wall cavities from moisture damage, it works in concert with insulation to create high-performance wall systems.
What Is VaporWise?
VaporWise is an interior membrane that provides advanced moisture management through its vapor-variable design. With a perm rating ranging from 0.14 to 14, VaporWise adapts to seasonal changes: During winter, VaporWise acts as a Class II vapor retarder, helping to prevent interior moisture from entering the wall cavity; in the summer, the membrane’s permeability increases, allowing moisture to escape and ensuring a dry, healthy wall cavity year-round.
Beyond vapor management, VaporWise provides an additional layer of air control to help improve energy efficiency and indoor comfort alongside cavity insulation.
How Does a Vapor Retarder Work With Wall Insulation?
VaporWise is designed to work with wall cavity insulation—including blown-in, loose fill, dense pack, batts, and spray foam—ensuring vapor management does not sacrifice wall system R-value. When insulation and VaporWise are designed, detailed, and installed correctly and in accordance with manufacturer instructions, both products will perform as intended to achieve overall wall assembly performance.
In fact, VaporWise provides added benefits for wall cavity insulation beyond just vapor control. For vapor-open batts (fiberglass, mineral wool, cellulose, and wood fiber), VaporWise acts as the focal point of the vapor control layer. For vapor-open loose-fill and dense-pack insulation (cellulose and wood fiber), VaporWise not only provides that focal point, but its reinforcement grid provides added strength.
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What Considerations Should Be Taken When Installing VaporWise With Cavity Insulation?
VaporWise can be installed directly over batt and spray-foam insulation with no additional steps needed. For blown-in, loose-fill, or dense-pack insulation, install VaporWise first and then add furring strips horizontally over the membrane to provide added support when the insulation is installed.
Like all membranes, it’s important to install VaporWise while keeping continuity in mind—air infiltration will affect vapor control inside the cavity. Be mindful of transition details and other elements that may interact with VaporWise. For insulation, this will include taping any cuts made for adding blown-in, loose fill, or dense-pack products.
Elsewhere, when VaporWise is part of the air control/sealing strategy, be sure to tape seams and termination transitions, and tape or seal around penetrations and outlet boxes. Explore our flashing products to create a high-performance system. Be mindful of other trades that may follow VaporWise installation—ensure they are aware of the importance of sealing any penetrations they make in the membrane.
An Innovative Solution to High-Performance Wall Systems
Regardless of the home’s insulation material and strategy, VaporWise provides code compliance for an interior vapor control layer, and when detailed and installed properly, it adds to the wall system’s air control and sealing strategy. VaporWise offers a reliable, high-performance vapor barrier to meet the demands of cold climates while ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of your insulation system.
Want to learn more about integrating VaporWise into your wall systems? Schedule a virtual training session today.
