Hello:

I am trying to come up with a wall construction that will protect the 6 mil vapor barrier integrity.

I was thinking that I could use 2" x 2" wall strapping for the drywall to allow enough room to run the wiring and pex piping.

Is there a better way to achieve vapor barrier integrity?

Thanks, Rob.

Perhaps put up the interior walls before the exterior. Then you can tape and caulk it up.

http://blog.lamidesign.com/p/usa-new-wall-info.html

This might work or you

wrote a blogpost that explains what you are trying to do, and really helps to make your buidling airtight for the long term - protecting your airtight layer against screws and allowing you to run all your wires on the inside - build a service cavity -
http://www.foursevenfive.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=15&p=172

It would be cheap to use metal studs to build another wall in against that one. You can have the vapor barrier between the 2 and still insualte both cavities.

Posted By robert.thompson on 02 Dec 2012 01:54 PM
Hello:

I am trying to come up with a wall construction that will protect the 6 mil vapor barrier integrity.

I was thinking that I could use 2" x 2" wall strapping for the drywall to allow enough room to run the wiring and pex piping.

Is there a better way to achieve vapor barrier integrity?

Thanks, Rob.

You want to use a vapor retarder, not a vapor barrier. That means no poly sheeting. Tyvek sheeting on the exterior and latex paint on the interior.

Code may require the poly, but if not, I'd use MemBrain. Latex paint appears to be getting a bad reputation for highly unpredictable perm ratings. Plus, another air barrier is always useful.