Tagged Questions
6
votes
1answer
80 views
How do I retrofit a junction box in an insulated wall?
Typical cold climate construction: Drywall, 6mil vapour barrier, fiberglass batt insulation. How do I retrofit a junction box and maintain the vapour seal? To be clear, by 'retrofit', I mean the ...
3
votes
2answers
62 views
Should I add a vapor barrier when re-siding?
I am removing the siding on my house in Montana, which was built in 1964. From inside out I have sheetrock, 4" studs with R-11 paper backed fiberglass insulation and gypsum board sheathing. I want ...
1
vote
1answer
151 views
Should I install vapor barrier in my basement bathroom?
I have a brick house built in the 1920s. I'm installing a bathroom basement based on an existing layout, but I'm trying to keep the "wet" side (mechanical room with hot water heater, etc.) physically ...
3
votes
2answers
197 views
What can I do in this vented crawlspace to keep the room above warmer?
I've recently moved to a new home. This home had an addition that was built on top of a Crawlspace that is vented to the outside. Needless to say, the morning after the first cold night made me ...
3
votes
3answers
377 views
Is torn kraft paper vapor retarder in the attic a problem?
I'm adding additional insulation in my attic. Unfortunately, I tore the kraft paper vapor barrier of the existing fiberglass insulation in many places while air sealing. Is this a problem? Or is this ...
3
votes
2answers
251 views
What should I do about this possible mold I found under paint?
I live in Austin, Texas, which is important in that we don't receive much rain, and it's not very humid.
I was peeling paint off of the old drywall, and found what appears to be mold on the bottom of ...
3
votes
1answer
252 views
Should I install vapor barrier in a seasonal cottage?
I am installing drywall in the bedrooms of a seasonal cottage in northern Ontario. It is unheated in the winter. The cottage is insulated with R14 insulation. Will the installation of a vapour ...
2
votes
1answer
3k views
Should I install a vapour barrier if I'm using rigid foam insulation?
I'm re-insulating a room in my house from the inside. I've read that polyisocyanurate (polyiso) rigid foam insulation is the best R-value, so I plan on using that.
Details:
The house was built in ...
5
votes
1answer
3k views
What type of tape is used to seal vapor barrier seams?
If I was installing vapor barrier in Canada, I'd use Tuck® Contractors Sheathing Tape. However, after a trip to the local Home Depot (USA), I came up empty in my search for Tuck Tape.
I did find ...
1
vote
1answer
404 views
Will installing an OSB floor in the attic create moisture problems?
I installed some new OSB flooring in my attic. The area it covers is about 160 sq. ft. The total area of the attic is about 750 sq. ft. There is just blown fiberglass up there, and there is no vapor ...
1
vote
1answer
628 views
How do I install a vapor barrier and insulation in an existing floor?
I have a large room in my house that is built over a crawl space. The floor of this room does not have any insulation installed in it. I live in upstate New York so it is my understanding that I ...
5
votes
2answers
420 views
When insulating with closed-cell Spray Foam, what ERV and HVAC resizing considerations should I bear in mind?
I am building a 2800 sqft, two-story brick home in Austin, TX. I have heard many good things about the benefits of insulating with closed-cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (ccSPF)1, and have requested ...
0
votes
1answer
246 views
Is blown-in insulation appropriate for on the foundation block in a crawlspace?
Our home has blown-in insulation on the foundation block in the crawlspace. I've never seen this before. The other homes in the area I've seen had foam board glued to the wall. There doesn't appear ...
7
votes
2answers
3k views
How to properly insulate a garage?
I'm considering insulating (and drywalling) my garage, which already has insulated garage doors. My main goal is to keep it from getting much below freezing during the winter.
This garage is located ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Installing bathroom exhaust fan: what to do with vapour barrier and insulation?
I'm adding a bathroom exhaust fan, which is being mounted in the ceiling of the bathroom (in the attic) and venting out through a vent in the wall.
right now, there is a vapour barrier (paper) ...
0
votes
2answers
4k views
Should I install a moisture barrier behind drywall in house with T1-11 siding?
My home interior walls are thick redwood paneling in the bay area mountains.
i'm about to start removing the wood in my second bedroom and want to install a moisture barrier on the 1 outside wall of ...
5
votes
1answer
277 views
Beginner insulation advice
Background
I have a manufactured home from the 70's with metal siding, wood studded walls and fiberglass insulation on the inside. I had a clogged gutter, which caused water to run behind the siding, ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
What are the pros and cons of a vented vs unvented crawl space?
I find it very confusing to read and hear conflicting advice on crawl space: vent vs air seal, different ways to do insulation, vapor barriers vs not, etc.
Mine currently has some moisture and has ...
4
votes
2answers
564 views
What happens when a vapor barrier is too close to the cold side?
The vapour barrier must be installed on the warm side of the wall, that is on this interior side of the house. It is permissible to have it sandwiched in the middle between two layers of insulation, ...
1
vote
1answer
283 views
Additional Vapor Barrier with Faced Insulation?
When installing faced insulation into exterior walls, are there any benefits or detriments to adding an additional vapor barrier to either the non-faced side of the insulation?
