Vapor Membrane Roof

A roof design that includes an adhered roof membrane with multiple layers of insulation with board joints offset and staggered over a vapor retarder air barrier helps lower the risk that air and the moisture it carries will infiltrate the roof system.

Vapor membrane roof. And the membrane on the bottom is also a vapor barrier. That reduction of air and moisture infiltration can then help improve roof longevity. In fact it is almost a perfect vapor barrier. The firestone v gard vapor control membrane is designed to be used as vapor control layer in firestone roofing systems.

When discussing air barriers roofing membranes and the building envelope another important topic comes to mind. Vapor control membranes play a very important role in this. The bottom membrane s primary function is that of an air barrier but it s material characteristics are such that historically it has also been a vapor barrier. There is often confusion between air barriers and vapors retarders.

The purpose of a vapor retarder is to minimize or reduce water vapor diffusion into a low slope roof or wall system. A separate air barrier would need to be installed below the membrane likely below the insulation layer as well. The roof is a large part of the building envelope and therefore has a significant impact on the flow of energy in and out of buildings. A vapor retarder is a material or system that is designed as part of the roof system to substantially reduce the movement of water vapor into the roof system where it can condense.

The roof membrane on the top is clearly a vapor barrier. The billowing roof membrane can also create a sound issue for the owner as it flaps up and down.