SNAFU
Major
The
Vapor Barrier
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Although
State code clearly indicates the minimum requirements for
sheathing paper (around windows and rough exterior walls), the framing subcontractor, Framing 2 Finish,
ignored them.
Neither the project manager (MyHome) nor general
contractor (Touch of Class Home Improvements) took notice.
Overlapping sheathing paper such as Tyvek is especially
critical inside window cavities and around the corners of walls,
since water vapor gets drawn through these cracks during changes
in temperature and atmospheric pressure.
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French
doors and windows on east elevation showing thin strips of tar
paper around frames.
NYS
code and standard building practice require at least six inches
of overlap between these strips and the rest of the vapor
barrier.
{Click
any photo to enlarge}
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Windows
on north elevation showing thin strips of tar paper.
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Interior
view of windows showing no vapor barrier wrapping onto struts.
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Proper
way to wrap a vapor barrier around the inside edges of window
openings.
Photo
from a construction site in upstate New York.
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Unprotected
corner between front dormer and master bedroom showing
lack of vapor barrier wrapping behind siding (on left).
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A
Touch of Irony
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Even
as MyHome agreed with our Engineer's recommendation to remove
and reinstall all windows and French doors with a proper vapor barrier,
MyHome sent painters to apply final stain and polyurethane to those same
new windows.
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