Ghost leaks and instances of rotting or corrosion of bottom plates are often the result of the building getting wet from the inside. As buildings are increasingly being designed as air tight and well insulated, such problems are becoming more widespread.
If insulation is not installed correctly in relation to vapour barriers and breather membranes, it can lead to structural damage and health problems for occupants due to mould spreading unnoticed within the building fabric.
To avoid ghost leaks, Dynamic Composite Technologies recommend the installation of a breathable membrane on the cold (exterior) side of the insulation. Proctor breather membranes prevent rain, snow and dust from entering the roof space, but also let moist air escape.
Proctor Roofshield and Wrapshield breather membranes are textile products with a very low vapour resistance of less than 0.3MNs/g. Proctor breather membranes should not be confused with some perforated foil type products labelled as ‘breathable’, which have a vapour resistance 10 to 70 times the minimum requirement in Europe.
Due to the increasingly high levels of insulation required, insulating and ventilating the roof is becoming more complex and the building industry is starting to recognise the need for real breather membranes