Preventing the inward flow of moisture through steel siding while still allowing the outward transfer of moisture trapped in a wall system requires a permeable wrb like barricade building wrap.
New siding vapor barrier.
The science of moisture movement.
This article includes photographs of leaks on and perhaps into a vinyl sided house wall.
Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors your climate your home and the location of the wall you re insulating.
The process also helps form an effective air barrier.
The process is a little more involved than buying a roll of housewrap at the lumberyard and stapling it in place over the sheathing.
Thus installing vapor barriers on wall surfaces must.
To know if you need a vapor retarder ask yourself a few basic questions.
Housewraps and vapor barriers are usually addressed in local building codes in fact many places require some kind of weather resistant barrier so a professional contractor can also make sure that your home is up to code.
Unlike asphalt felt or housewrap liquid applied barriers are rolled or sprayed on to form a continuous seam free coating that is waterproof but vapor permeable.
A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter.
We describe the requirements for house wrap or vapor or moisture barriers beneath vinyl siding and cite u s.
Canadian codes sources.
In addition to vapor permeability barricade building wrap provides water and air resistance uv resistance tear strength and temperature resistance.