Should I use poly or a smart membrane?

Most straightforward Hollick-Kenyon walls are fine with 6-mil poly, continuous and sealed. A variable-permeance membrane is worth it on retrofits and some basement details because it gives the assembly a drying path in both directions.

Does it matter where the sheet meets the ceiling and floor?

It is the whole job. Left loose at the top or bottom plate, warm air simply goes over or under a perfectly installed sheet. The junction into a vaulted ceiling is the most commonly skipped and the wettest point in the room.

What if there is already a vapour barrier in the wall?

We tie into it, and we check whether there is a second one somewhere that would trap moisture between the two. Older Hollick-Kenyon renovations quite often have both, and finding that before boarding is worth the hour.

Which side does the vapour barrier go on?

The warm side of the insulation. Through an Alberta winter moisture pushes outward from the heated space, and the barrier stops it before it reaches a cold surface where it can condense.

Is a bathroom done differently?

Same rules, larger consequences. A bathroom pushes far more vapour into the wall, so a gap shows up faster. The fan housing and duct are sealed rather than trimmed around, and we check the fan vents outside rather than into the attic.

Can I add poly over insulation that already has a facing?

Usually no. Two retarders leave any moisture that gets in with no direction to dry. We check what is already in the wall before adding to it rather than assuming the cavity is bare.

Vapour Barrier Installation Hollick-Kenyon Edmonton | 6 Mil Poly

Poly and air sealing in Hollick-Kenyon before the board goes on

Alberta winters put a large vapour drive from inside to outside, so the barrier belongs on the warm side of the insulation. Getting the position right matters as much as getting it sealed: a second barrier on the cold side traps moisture in the assembly with no way to dry.

Rim joists air-sealed before insulating
Window and door returns detailed properly
Left ready for inspection before boarding
Seams lapped at framing and sealed, not just taped
Electrical boxes poly-hatted and sealed
Poly on the warm side of the insulation

What a vapour barrier is not

It is not an air barrier by itself

Poly slows vapour diffusion. Sealed properly it also slows air, and unsealed it does very little of either. The sealing is what turns a sheet of plastic into a working assembly.

It is not a damp-proofing fix

If a Hollick-Kenyon basement has water coming through the wall, vapour control is not the answer and installing it will hide the evidence. That is a drainage and waterproofing problem, and we will say so rather than board over it.

Hollick-Kenyon drywall in context

About Hollick-Kenyon

The neighbourhood was named after Herbert "Bertie" Hollick-Kenyon, who piloted flights over the Antarctic as part of the first mapping of that territory.

What we see in Hollick-Kenyon

In Hollick-Kenyon the drywall work is first-year settling, basement dev for first owners, Level 5 over builder-grade. We confirm what your home actually needs on site, in writing, before anything starts.

Warm side, always

The one rule everything else follows

The barrier goes on the heated side of the insulation. In an Hollick-Kenyon climate that is the room side of an exterior wall.

Why position decides everything

Put it on the cold side and you have placed a moisture stop exactly where indoor humidity will condense against it, inside the wall, where nothing dries and nothing is visible until the damage is done.

Inspection, and leaving it visible

It gets checked before it is covered

Vapour barrier and air sealing in Hollick-Kenyon are inspected before drywall covers them. We sequence to your inspection date rather than boarding ahead and covering something the inspector needs to see.

If it does not pass

We want the inspector's note directly. Most failures are specific — an unsealed box, a floating seam, a torn return — and they are corrected faster from the actual note than from a second-hand summary.

Seams belong on framing

Not floating in a bay

A lap sealed in the middle of a cavity has nothing solid behind it. Any movement or pressure opens it, and it cannot be inspected properly.

How we run it

Sheets are sized so seams land on a stud or plate, lapped, and sealed against solid backing. It uses slightly more material and it is the difference between a barrier that holds and one that is only continuous on the day it was installed.

Where poly is the wrong choice

Not every assembly wants it

Some Hollick-Kenyon walls, such as an insulated concrete basement or an assembly with exterior rigid insulation, are designed to dry inward, and a full poly layer stops that.

How we approach it

We look at the whole assembly rather than defaulting to poly because it is what is usually done. Where a smart or variable-permeance membrane is the right call, we say so.

Electrical boxes, the usual failure point

A hole in the plane

Every outlet and switch in an Hollick-Kenyon exterior wall is a cut in the poly. Left unsealed it is a direct path for moist air into the cavity, and the boxes are usually the coldest spot on the wall.

Poly hats and sealant

Boxes get a poly hat or an air-sealed box, and the poly is sealed to it rather than simply cut around. It is a small detail repeated dozens of times, which is exactly why it gets skipped.

How it works

Simple, clean, on schedule — Vapour Barrier Installation in Hollick Kenyon Edmonton

Free quote

We come out to your Hollick Kenyon Edmonton property, take a real look at the vapour barrier installation, and hand you a fixed price on the spot — no guessing, no vague ballpark. Every vapour barrier installation quote in Hollick Kenyon Edmonton starts with an honest, on-site assessment.

Book a day

We pick a day that works for your schedule and show up on time, ready to start the vapour barrier installation in Hollick Kenyon Edmonton. No back-and-forth rescheduling — once it's booked, our team is there.

The work

We keep the dust under control and protect your Hollick Kenyon Edmonton home while we finish the vapour barrier installation to a clean, paint-ready standard. Floors covered, doors sealed off, and the site left tidy at the end of every day.

Walk it with you

We don't pack up till you've walked the finished vapour barrier installation with us and you're happy with the result in Hollick Kenyon Edmonton. If anything needs a second look, we handle it before we call the job done.

Reviews

Rated by Edmonton Homeowners

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Emplastrum Drywall is the vapour barrier installation contractor Hollick Kenyon Edmonton trusts for repair, restoration and finishing — rated on Google by Edmonton homeowners.

Read the reviews, or leave your own after your vapour barrier installation project in Hollick Kenyon Edmonton.

Read our reviews on Google

FAQ — Vapour Barrier Installation Hollick-Kenyon Edmonton

Vapour Barrier Installation Hollick-Kenyon Edmonton: your questions answered

Should I use poly or a smart membrane?: Most straightforward Hollick-Kenyon walls are fine with 6-mil poly, continuous and sealed. A variable-permeance membrane is worth it on retrofits and some basement details because it gives the assembly a drying path in both directions.
Does it matter where the sheet meets the ceiling and floor?: It is the whole job. Left loose at the top or bottom plate, warm air simply goes over or under a perfectly installed sheet. The junction into a vaulted ceiling is the most commonly skipped and the wettest point in the room.
What if there is already a vapour barrier in the wall?: We tie into it, and we check whether there is a second one somewhere that would trap moisture between the two. Older Hollick-Kenyon renovations quite often have both, and finding that before boarding is worth the hour.
Which side does the vapour barrier go on?: The warm side of the insulation. Through an Alberta winter moisture pushes outward from the heated space, and the barrier stops it before it reaches a cold surface where it can condense.
Is a bathroom done differently?: Same rules, larger consequences. A bathroom pushes far more vapour into the wall, so a gap shows up faster. The fan housing and duct are sealed rather than trimmed around, and we check the fan vents outside rather than into the attic.
Can I add poly over insulation that already has a facing?: Usually no. Two retarders leave any moisture that gets in with no direction to dry. We check what is already in the wall before adding to it rather than assuming the cavity is bare.

Get Your Free Drywall Quote

Tell us about your project — we’ll get right back to you, 7 days a week. Prefer to call? (403) 829-8702.

Full Name / Company

Phone Number

Email Address

Area

Service Needed

I agree to be contacted by Emplastrum Drywall about my project by phone, text, or email.

No obligation. We never share your information.

📐 Plan Your Project

Estimate Your Insulation

📐 Materials Calculator

How much do you need?

Enter your room size for a quick materials estimate.

Room length (ft)Room width (ft)Ceiling height (ft)Number of rooms Include ceilingSheet sizeCoats of paintCavity depthFraming spacingInsulation already there (in)Top up to (in)Stud spacingDoorsWindowsWaste allowance (%)

Estimate only — rounded up, based on standard coverage rates (drywall +10% waste; paint ~350 sq ft per gallon per coat; batt bundles by cavity depth, less a framing factor; studs at your chosen spacing plus waste). Product coverage varies by brand — confirm quantities before buying. Ask us about the right R-value for your project.

Rather we handle it? Get a free estimate →

Vapour Barrier Installation Hollick-Kenyon Edmonton

Poly and air sealing in Hollick-Kenyon before the board goes on