Experimental Study on the Impact of Vapor Retarder on Moisture Content in Multi-Layer Log Walls
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The global climate crisis has shifted the building industry toward the ecological use of materials, often based on renewable sources. Properties of such materials, as well as their behavior in structures, need to be constantly verified both theoretically and experimentally. This article focuses on the influence of vapor retarder on the moisture content of timber log wall structures with sheep wool insulation. Moisture content was verified experimentally during the period of over 2 years with monitoring sensors and insulation samples weighing. Results show that vapor retarder has a positive and statistically significant impact on the moisture content of sheep wool insulation and log structure, depending on the season and position of insulation in the structure. The moisture content of the log structure does not exceed 16%, confirming no risk of biodegradation during the monitored period. This case study can help further the knowledge of log structure design and provide insight into the hygrothermal properties of sandwich structures.