Overview of wind protection films

During the construction of buildings and structures, special attention is paid to their insulation and waterproofing. In recent years, the arrangement of ventilated facades, consisting of several layers of membrane, has been very popular. A vapor-permeable windproof film for such structures is one of the main elements of the system. In our review, we will talk in more detail about all the advantages and disadvantages of the material.

Wall windscreening plays an important role in any construction. The need for its arrangement is explained by the fact that heat tends to leave the building, there are several reasons for this.

• Infiltration - leakage of streams of heated air through cracks, as well as cracks and pores in the walls and floor.
• Breathability - even the most durable thermal insulation materials have micropores, so air masses spread throughout the entire internal volume of the insulation. This reduces its functionality, this figure can reach 90%.

That's why it is extremely important to use a windscreen, thanks to which you can adjust the temperature in the room. In addition, the wind and moisture protection film prevents the appearance of fungi and mold, dangerous to life and health, which invariably appear when condensation occurs. There is an opinion that wind protection and vapor barrier are one and the same, but this is not so. Materials have a similar effect, however, the differences between them are very significant.

Vapor barrier is needed to protect the insulation layer from wet condensation coming from the room. It is used in construction as an addition to thermal insulation coatings. Wind protection is indispensable in situations where you need to protect the structure from the adverse effects of wind, precipitation and other weather phenomena. Ventilated facades have the ability to pass steam, so liquid in the form of condensate does not accumulate inside the insulation and retains its functional characteristics.

There are several main types of membranes for wind protection.

• Glassine... One of the most budgetary options, it has a short service life and poor biostability. Nowadays, it has found application exclusively as a temporary shelter.

• Polyethylene film. It retains water well, but at the same time does not allow steam to pass through, so the fumes condense - over time, this leads to the destruction of the insulation.

• Windproof slabs... They are made of finely ground wood, the upper part of the material is impregnated with special compounds, thanks to which the coating creates an effective protection against gusty winds.

• Non-woven membranes... Forms an effective barrier to the penetration of precipitation and cold air currents. The surface of the material is rough, thereby preventing the accumulation of condensation.

• Diffusion membranes... These materials act selectively, they do not trap water vapor indoors, but at the same time create effective protection against moisture and wind.

In order to select the optimal hydro-windproof film, it is necessary to correctly decipher all its technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer.

• Working temperature regime - indicates the highest and lowest operating temperature.
• Water resistance - determines the parameters of fluid resistance, usually calculated in millimeters of water column. The higher the parameter value, the more reliable the wind protection will be.
• Resistance to external weathering - this number indicates the time during which the film can be left without an external topcoat.

Since the ability to wind and water protection in most types of films is approximately the same, then when buying, you need to pay special attention to some additional characteristics.

• It is desirable that the outer side of the film is slightly rough - this will allow condensate to disappear naturally, and not accumulate in the under-roof area.
• An important role is played by the strength for mechanical rupture - the larger this parameter, the longer the film will serve.
• If you want to take a short temporary break between the installation of the insulation layer and the installation of the finishing cladding, then it is better to give preference to a windproof membrane with a UV factor.
• When calculating material consumption you need to focus on the square of the coverage, since many unscrupulous manufacturers are cunning and slightly reduce the typical dimensions of the roll. It will not be superfluous to ask the seller if the actual length of the material corresponds to the declared one.
• And finally, when choosing a windproof film or membrane should be based on the features of the scope of its application - it can be walls or a roof.

Before starting installation, you need to read the user manual - it is printed on the package. It is important to consider the following points.

• If the windscreen has no texture or print, then it can be laid with either side to the thermal insulation plates.
• Super Diffusion Coating fixed with the logo outward, the unprinted part must be in contact with the thermal insulation boards.
• When installing sections between the seal and the membrane it is necessary to provide an air gap for ventilation with a layer of 4-5 cm.
• When fixing the film with vertical fixation, the covering material should fit as tightly as possible to the insulating material. In this case, the ventilation gap is left outside.

The work of laying a hydro-windproof film includes several steps.

• First you need to prepare the necessary working tools... In your work, you will need a stapler for construction work, a drill-screwdriver, as well as a fastener for mounting the lathing. If there is no adhesive surface on the membrane, then you will additionally need to buy mounting tape to secure the joints.
• Next, cut the roll into several pieces of the optimal size., you can use bars of soap or a simple pencil to mark the markings.
• The cut canvases are laid from the bottom up. taking into account the side of adhesion of the membrane to the insulation layer.
• It is necessary to fix the layers with an overlap so that the intersection is 10-20 cm, all places of inconsistency are additionally glued with mounting tape.

In the next video, you will find a detailed installation of a hydro-windproof membrane on the facade.