How to Prevent Moisture for Double Layers of Drywall

Controlling moisture indoors is critically important if you want to avoid the many problems that can result from too much indoor moisture. Since walls are the barrier between the air inside and outside of your home, exterior walls are often the site of moisture problems. For this reason, it is essential to construct your walls in a manner that resists moisture.

Polyethylene film, asphalt-coated or laminated paper or kraft-backed aluminum foil
Oil- or aluminum-based paint or vinyl wallpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Install a vapor barrier in the exterior walls of your home. For most residential walls, vapor barriers are best installed inside the wall between the framing and the interior sheathing or drywall layers. Many different materials can be used for a vapor barrier, but the options with the best moisture resistance are polyethylene film, asphalt-coated or laminated paper and kraft-backed aluminum foil.
- 2
  Use vapor-resistant paint or wallpaper to finish the drywall layers. In choosing vapor-resistant paint, choose an oil- or aluminum-based paint with a perm value below 1.0 -- the perm value indicates the paint's ability to resist vapor flow.
- 3
  Control moisture inside the home. Even when you have followed Steps 1 and 2, excessive indoor moisture can still wreak havoc on your drywall. Use ventilation (windows, ceiling fans, air conditioning), insulation and electric dehumidifiers to reduce moisture in your home and prevent moisture issues on your drywall.

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