Vapour barrier?

3/3/2020 at 9:10:58 AM

Wow is my first thoughts.

My personal opinion is hire another contractor have everything you want laid out, bye looking at the picture I would honestly remove the remaining dry wall on the half exposed wall do all electrical and plumbing that needs to be completed then if it's in the budget have a company come and spray foam in the walls of foam is not in the budget use batts with a 6 mill poly. I wish you the best of luck try to stay positive through this situation and focused on the end result even as unfortunate the situation is try to push through.

Scott.

3/3/2020 at 9:31:52 AM

I would fire him ASAP. Not only is it code to have a 6 mil Vapor Barrier on exterior walls from the look of your picture it only makes sense and it would be easier in the long run anyways. This contractor does not know what he's doing obviously. I strongly recommend you call a trusted Pro drywall contractor in your local area and have him come over and give you a free quote tell him your situation and have him deal with your existing contractor. I know if you were in Calgary I would deal with this contractor for free. Remove all that existing drywall remnants 100% concerning insulation if you have additional money I recommend using a 2-lb spray foam this way it has 6 mil Vapor built into it and there's no need for vapour barrier if not use an exterior batt insulation and then vapour barrier. Since your contractor has issues I wouldn't even let him back in your house. Regardless of your previous contract this is by code and needs to be done properly. Good luck I wish you the best

3/3/2020 at 9:34:11 AM

Hi Elise,

I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation, that's very unfortunate.

I totally agree with you that the remaining drywall should be removed before continuing for a number of reasons.

1. Taking down the drywall will be the only way to ensure the vapor barrier is continuous and done correctly. It will be almost impossible to do it right with those sections of drywall still up.

2. The time the contractor could "save" by not removing the drywall will quickly be lost to a greater degree when he goes to install the new drywall up and has to cut around and fit pieces around the old drywall. This will be extra difficult as those cuts don't look particularly straight and square. He would also have to add backing where the drywall is overhanging into a cavity.

3. The contractor will lose even more time during the taping and mudding of the drywall if he try's to patch around the remaining drywall. It would be much easier and faster to tap and mud a few straight drywall joints rather than working around all the patching.

I see no logical reason why he wouldn't remove the drywall, even if you weren't offering to pay more. He needs to remove it to do the job properly and in my opinion it will be much easier and less time consuming if he does. You could try to explain these three points to him to try to convince him if you wanted, but I would be very hesitant to continue working with him. He appears hard to work with and "got physically violent towards your property". In my mind that is call for immediate dismissal. Pay him for the work completed up to this point and ask him to get all his stuff out of there.

3/3/2020 at 10:52:15 AM

Yes I would fire him lol. If you do not install a vapour barrier you will have mold problems, especially in the kitchen where there is high moisture and dead air spaces behind the cabinets.

If you are willing to pay him, then he is mad not to. Plus the cost and time of cutting the drywall in will be more than ripping out and installing full sheets with easy taping. He does sound like a problem with the violent response and I would remove all his tools etc from the property before getting rid of him. You will have to pay him for his time and materials to this point but make sure he breaks it all down for you. If he does cause any more damage you can charge him.