Minimize risk by minimizing moisture

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about how SlopeShield Plus SA makes moisture management and surface protection in mass timber construction a breeze.  

Mass timber construction is when large, engineered wood products such as CLT, Glulam and LVL are utilized, is growing in popularity for a variety of reasons. This includes faster construction times that can be achieved using mass timber and the eco-friendliness of the material (reduced carbon emissions in the process).  

If you’re interested in working with this wood, it is crucial to make sure you have a comprehensive moisture control strategy. Without this, mass timber can quickly be compromised by things like staining, warping, rotting and checking. In this photo, you can see damaged timber. 

One of the best things you can do to help control the moisture in your construction and achieve long-term success with the building is using VaproShield’s SlopeShield Plus SA. This is a high-drying capacity, self-adhered underlayment membrane that protects your mass timber structure from water intrusion. Simultaneously, it is made of a permeable material that allows water vapor that might have naturally accrued in the structure to escape. 

Over one million square feet of SlopeShield Plus SA has been installed around the United States and it has proven its power time and time again. SlopeShield Plus is a monolithic surface that covers seams and splines, offering temporary weather protection for the surface it is installed on. In part because of its monolithic surface, SlopeShield Plus is incredibly effective at resisting water intrusion. If it rains while you are on the job, the water will pond on the surface of the SlopeShield Plus, not reaching the mass timber beneath it, and can be easily swept off the floor/roof. Additional benefits to using SlopeShield include: 

• It resists bulk water intrusion 
• There’s a high drying capacity: 30 perms 
• Primerless application and suitable for all climates and geographic locations, including extreme temperature areas 
• It has excellent traction and allows heavy machinery to be used on the surface 
• 180 days UV and climate exposure prior to roof system installation 
• Integrates with VaproShield's wall membranes for post/column and beam protection 
• Permanent installation works in conjunction with acoustical mat and concrete topping slab 
• It meets the ASTM E2178 air permeance material test and meets energy code 

Further reinforcing the power and performance of the SlopeShield Plus SA is a drying study conducted by the RDH Building Science Laboratories. 

For more about how SlopeShield can protect the mass timber construction industry, check out this data sheet! If you want to know more about how easy it is to install SlopeShield, make sure to visit VaproShield’s website.