WOOHOO! Good weather = time to build

[Gary S]

At one time, the fibreglass with the tarred kraft paper was an acceptable vapour barrier here, but, as far as I know the building code now requires a continuous vapour barrier, including all interior surfaces of the exterior walls and ceilings of the living space. I used heavy-gauge plastic sheeting, but the sprayed-on foam is also acceptable

I've heard of the plastic vapor barrier, just never saw it used down here. Must be a "cold winter" versus "hardly even winter" kind of a thing.

as are the extruded foam sheets (who knew that they could use layout foam for building houses?).

Those home builders can be quite ingenious!

The next house will be 2"x6" framing, as is the current one, but with rock wool instead of fibreglass, then a continuous vapour barrier of 2" extruded foam on the inside face of all exterior walls.

Now that is some SERIOUS insulation! What would be your guess for an average temperature during winter?

We may get below freezing only two or three times in a winter, and very rarely for more than a day at a time. I'd say the average winter temp down here is in the low 50s. (That's F degrees...)

I also wrapped the outside walls with Tyvek-brand house wrap, which prevents water incursion, but allows water vapour to escape from the insulated walls.

I'm just going with the tarpaper. Tyvek seems to be gaining popularity down here though. I've just never used it.

You're making great progress, Gary. What do you plan on using for the exterior of the walls?

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It is going to be brick to match the house and my well/storage building which can be seen in this photo.

   

And the brick ledge can be seen in this photo. You can't tell from the photo, but there is a 3.5 inch difference between the top of the slab and the brick ledge.