diff --git a/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_mesh.py b/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_mesh.py
index 75df7dad5f2..896b76c59f6 100644
--- a/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_mesh.py
+++ b/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_mesh.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class DATA_PT_context_mesh(MeshButtonsPanel, Panel):
         ob = context.object
         mesh = context.mesh
         space = context.space_data
-
+        layout.prop(context.scene.tool_settings, "mesh_select_mode", index=0, text="Vertex")
         if ob:
             layout.template_ID(ob, "data")
         elif mesh:
diff --git a/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_modifier.py b/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_modifier.py
index e4bbd7d7d7d..179921c3c85 100644
--- a/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_modifier.py
+++ b/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_data_modifier.py
@@ -577,13 +577,13 @@ class DATA_PT_modifiers(ModifierButtonsPanel, Panel):
         sub = col.column()
         sub.active = bool(md.vertex_group)
         sub.prop(md, "invert_vertex_group", text="Invert")
+        sub.prop(md, "thickness_vertex_group", text="Factor")
 
         col.prop(md, "use_even_offset")
         col.prop(md, "use_quality_normals")
         col.prop(md, "use_rim")
 
         sub = col.column()
-        sub.label()
         row = sub.split(align=True, percentage=0.4)
         row.prop(md, "material_offset", text="")
         row = row.row()
diff --git a/source/blender/makesdna/DNA_modifier_types.h b/source/blender/makesdna/DNA_modifier_types.h
index 3787675f339..053f3b38168 100644
--- a/source/blender/makesdna/DNA_modifier_types.h
+++ b/source/blender/makesdna/DNA_modifier_types.h
@@ -712,16 +712,16 @@ typedef struct ShapeKeyModifierData {
 typedef struct SolidifyModifierData {
 	ModifierData modifier;
 
-	char defgrp_name[32];		/* name of vertex group to use */
+	char defgrp_name[32];	/* name of vertex group to use */
 	float offset;			/* new surface offset level*/
 	float offset_fac;		/* midpoint of the offset  */
+	float offset_fac_vg;	/* factor for the minimum weight to use when vgroups are used, avoids 0.0 weights giving duplicate geometry */
 	float crease_inner;
 	float crease_outer;
 	float crease_rim;
 	int flag;
 	short mat_ofs;
 	short mat_ofs_rim;
-	int pad;
 } SolidifyModifierData;
 
 #define MOD_SOLIDIFY_RIM			(1<<0)
diff --git a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_modifier.c b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_modifier.c
index ba655915fb6..5c5391b0bba 100644
--- a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_modifier.c
+++ b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_modifier.c
@@ -2265,6 +2265,13 @@ static void rna_def_modifier_solidify(BlenderRNA *brna)
 	RNA_def_property_ui_text(prop, "Thickness", "Thickness of the shell");
 	RNA_def_property_update(prop, 0, "rna_Modifier_update");
 
+	prop= RNA_def_property(srna, "thickness_vertex_group", PROP_FLOAT, PROP_FACTOR);
+	RNA_def_property_float_sdna(prop, NULL, "offset_fac_vg");
+	RNA_def_property_range(prop, 0.0, 1.0);
+	RNA_def_property_ui_range(prop, 0, 1, 0.1, 3);
+	RNA_def_property_ui_text(prop, "Vertex Group Factor", "Thickness factor to use for zero vertex group influence");
+	RNA_def_property_update(prop, 0, "rna_Modifier_update");
+
 	prop= RNA_def_property(srna, "offset", PROP_FLOAT, PROP_FACTOR);
 	RNA_def_property_float_sdna(prop, NULL, "offset_fac");
 	RNA_def_property_range(prop, -FLT_MAX, FLT_MAX);
diff --git a/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_solidify.c b/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_solidify.c
index 0b1fac06e14..afe6da8b38a 100644
--- a/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_solidify.c
+++ b/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_solidify.c
@@ -232,8 +232,10 @@ static DerivedMesh *applyModifier(ModifierData *md, Object *ob,
 
 	float (*vert_nors)[3]= NULL;
 
-	float const ofs_orig=				- (((-smd->offset_fac + 1.0f) * 0.5f) * smd->offset);
-	float const ofs_new= smd->offset	- (((-smd->offset_fac + 1.0f) * 0.5f) * smd->offset);
+	const float ofs_orig=				- (((-smd->offset_fac + 1.0f) * 0.5f) * smd->offset);
+	const float ofs_new= smd->offset	- (((-smd->offset_fac + 1.0f) * 0.5f) * smd->offset);
+	const float offset_fac_vg= smd->offset_fac_vg;
+	const float offset_fac_vg_inv= 1.0f - smd->offset_fac_vg;
 
 	/* weights */
 	MDeformVert *dvert, *dv= NULL;
@@ -391,8 +393,9 @@ static DerivedMesh *applyModifier(ModifierData *md, Object *ob,
 			dv= dvert;
 			for(i=0; i<numVerts; i++, mv++) {
 				if(dv) {
-					if(defgrp_invert)	scalar_short_vgroup = scalar_short * (1.0f - defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index));
-					else				scalar_short_vgroup = scalar_short * defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					if(defgrp_invert)	scalar_short_vgroup = 1.0f - defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					else				scalar_short_vgroup = defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					scalar_short_vgroup= (offset_fac_vg + (scalar_short_vgroup * offset_fac_vg_inv)) * scalar_short;
 					dv++;
 				}
 				VECADDFAC(mv->co, mv->co, mv->no, scalar_short_vgroup);
@@ -405,8 +408,9 @@ static DerivedMesh *applyModifier(ModifierData *md, Object *ob,
 			dv= dvert;
 			for(i=0; i<numVerts; i++, mv++) {
 				if(dv) {
-					if(defgrp_invert)	scalar_short_vgroup = scalar_short * (1.0f - defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index));
-					else				scalar_short_vgroup = scalar_short * defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					if(defgrp_invert)	scalar_short_vgroup = 1.0f - defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					else				scalar_short_vgroup = defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					scalar_short_vgroup= (offset_fac_vg + (scalar_short_vgroup * offset_fac_vg_inv)) * scalar_short;
 					dv++;
 				}
 				VECADDFAC(mv->co, mv->co, mv->no, scalar_short_vgroup);
@@ -466,15 +470,21 @@ static DerivedMesh *applyModifier(ModifierData *md, Object *ob,
 
 		/* vertex group support */
 		if(dvert) {
+			float scalar;
+
 			dv= dvert;
 			if(defgrp_invert) {
 				for(i=0; i<numVerts; i++, dv++) {
-					vert_angles[i] *= (1.0f - defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index));
+					scalar= 1.0f - defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					scalar= offset_fac_vg + (scalar * offset_fac_vg_inv);
+					vert_angles[i] *= scalar;
 				}
 			}
 			else {
 				for(i=0; i<numVerts; i++, dv++) {
-					vert_angles[i] *= defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					scalar= defvert_find_weight(dv, defgrp_index);
+					scalar= offset_fac_vg + (scalar * offset_fac_vg_inv);
+					vert_angles[i] *= scalar;
 				}
 			}
 		}