Hello everyone knowledgeable!
I'm wondering about the (potential) danger of covering the interior walls in the new part of our house.
The construction was without a roof for some months, but has had a roof since March and walls since the summer. I recently installed insulation and plastic and haven't seen the slightest trace of moisture on the plastic.
Do you think it's safe to continue building???
I'm wondering about the (potential) danger of covering the interior walls in the new part of our house.
The construction was without a roof for some months, but has had a roof since March and walls since the summer. I recently installed insulation and plastic and haven't seen the slightest trace of moisture on the plastic.
Do you think it's safe to continue building???
When we built the house, we measured the moisture in the framing and the joists, used dehumidifiers until it was right, and then we added insulation and continued building inward. How did you do it? Just guessed?? I wouldn't seal anything with plastic until I was sure!
I think you benefit from having a little knowledge 
Father-in-law was a construction manager so I don't know where he got the meter from but it was simple, you held it in your hand and pressed it against the wood and got a number on the display.
Father-in-law was a construction manager so I don't know where he got the meter from but it was simple, you held it in your hand and pressed it against the wood and got a number on the display.
No, I actually just tore down the plastic. As you know, there are as many ideas as there are people when it comes to this, but yesterday I had an interesting conversation with a friend that made me change my mind...mats_o said:
But I have to put plastic on the ceiling, right?!
Jan-Å: I found a moisture meter that seems good and works as you described.
Not if you have a warm space above that is itself plastic-wrapped. But if you have a cold space above, then you should plastic-wrap your ceiling.
Generally, you can say that you can have the plastic between two spaces that have large variations in temperature differences. If your upper floor is warm, then you do not need (should not) have plastic between the lower and upper floors.
However, there are those who claim that you should not have plastic in your house at all and try to solve moisture movement in other ways.
Hm. It is indeed a big responsibility to decide which approach to use...
After our discussions here on the forum and with the friend I mentioned above, it will be as follows: Only wind barrier in the walls to allow the house to breathe on its own. However, in the inner ceiling, I'll put plastic because much of the warm, humid air rises, so my belief is that a moisture barrier is needed there...
Then we have a sunroom that I’m insulating, but it is not heated at all, so there it will be "self-breathing" in both walls and ceiling.
After our discussions here on the forum and with the friend I mentioned above, it will be as follows: Only wind barrier in the walls to allow the house to breathe on its own. However, in the inner ceiling, I'll put plastic because much of the warm, humid air rises, so my belief is that a moisture barrier is needed there...
Then we have a sunroom that I’m insulating, but it is not heated at all, so there it will be "self-breathing" in both walls and ceiling.
Well, moisture meter purchased, but where on earth can I find info about what humidity levels are within the limit???
I bought the type that has two pins you stick into the wood, and the only thing I can find online is that it seems to be okay if the construction timber (studs?) has a moisture content below 20%. I was at 16-17%.
What do you say about that???
I bought the type that has two pins you stick into the wood, and the only thing I can find online is that it seems to be okay if the construction timber (studs?) has a moisture content below 20%. I was at 16-17%.
What do you say about that???
It's completely okay to finish building the wall. However, first check to make sure there are no discolorations on the timber since it was previously exposed to the weather. If so, you should brush Boracol on these spots before closing.