Hi Forum
We are choosing between three different home builders who have presented a good price for the house we want to build. Now, it's the case that they all use different wall constructions.
One uses an exterior gypsum board as a wind barrier
Number two uses a so-called wind barrier fabric
Number three works with something they call asfaboard or asphalt board.
Now to the question, which is best? From a moisture and insulation point of view.
Regards
P
We are choosing between three different home builders who have presented a good price for the house we want to build. Now, it's the case that they all use different wall constructions.
One uses an exterior gypsum board as a wind barrier
Number two uses a so-called wind barrier fabric
Number three works with something they call asfaboard or asphalt board.
Now to the question, which is best? From a moisture and insulation point of view.
Regards
P
The materials you mention have the task of preventing drafts from entering the insulation, and they probably fulfill that task equally well. They are also likely equivalent for the moisture load they are exposed to. The boards/fabric have little insulating value themselves as their main task, as mentioned, is to make the wall windproof. From an insulation perspective, it is the wall's total U-value that is of interest, not the value of a single material.
All three methods are essentially equivalent. They do not matter to you as a house consumer. If you are going to study the wall construction in detail, there are other things that are more important. Like how much insulation there is and how to avoid köldbryggor.
As mentioned, in terms of insulation, they are probably equivalent. As I understand it, it is more about construction technique.
Exterior gypsum provides better stability to the wall during the construction period (once the wall is finished, it becomes stable anyway, through the sheet materials on the inside). Exterior gypsum is then a bit stiffer than asfaboard (I believe), and obviously much stiffer than fabric.
Asfaboard provides a little worse fire protection. But since the wall inside is anyway filled with insulation that doesn't burn, and probably has cladding that burns on the outside, I believe it is a marginal deterioration in terms of fire protection.
Exterior gypsum provides better stability to the wall during the construction period (once the wall is finished, it becomes stable anyway, through the sheet materials on the inside). Exterior gypsum is then a bit stiffer than asfaboard (I believe), and obviously much stiffer than fabric.
Asfaboard provides a little worse fire protection. But since the wall inside is anyway filled with insulation that doesn't burn, and probably has cladding that burns on the outside, I believe it is a marginal deterioration in terms of fire protection.
In terms of cost, you obviously save a lot with the tarpaulin, it is slightly cheaper per sqm (I think), it can be mounted incredibly quickly, cheap transportation, and general handling. The savings can then, depending on how the builder constructs, be eaten up by costs for temporary stabilization measures.