In cold climates condensation is limited on the interior side of the vapor barrier as a result of installing all of the thermal insulation on the exterior side of the vapor barrier which is also the drainage plane and air barrier in this assembly.
Vapor barrier roof hot humid climate.
Therefore the ideal assembly of a frame wall keeps the interior side fully permeable and locates both an air barrier and water vapor retarder or barrier to the exterior side to minimize the entry of outside water vapor.
Classic hot humid climate wall assembly.
Asphalt shingles store water from dew condensation due to night sky cooling and rain.
In cold climates the location of the retarder is to the interior side of the thermal insulation.
In hot humid climates the design location and installation of the air and weather barriers are more critical than for the vapor retarder.
Even vinyl wall paper which has a low perm rating can induce moisture problems in warm humid climates where hot moist conditions tend to drive moisture into the wall from the outside of the building.
In hot climates any moisture that condenses on the exterior side of the vapor barrier will be.
The vapor retarder location specified above is specifically for hot humid climates.
Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions.
In existing spaces oil based paints or vapor barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier.