The vapor-barrier tag has no wiki summary.
7
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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 ...
7
votes
1answer
94 views
How do I deal with vapour barrier for central vac inlets in exterior walls?
I'm retrofitting a central vac system, and it will be easiest to put a couple of the inlets in the exterior wall between the garage and the house (the vacuum itself is going in the garage). One ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
5
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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) ...
4
votes
1answer
99 views
What is the purpose of a vapor barrier?
I live in southern Brazil and I don't really know if I need a vapor barrier, mainly because I'm still confused about its purpose.
The house in question have brick exterior walls and interior drywall. ...
4
votes
2answers
566 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, ...
4
votes
2answers
111 views
Is the lack of a vapor barrier in the attic causing my mold issue?
For the last couple of days we have noticed more and more mold growth on the ceiling throughout the house. Wondering what was going on, I climbed into the attic this past weekend and notice that no ...
3
votes
2answers
198 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
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2answers
3k views
How can I measure water/moisture content within a wall cavity?
Related to improper placement of a vapour barrier within wall insulation, are there any tools or methods for measuring water/moisture content within a wall cavity?
3
votes
2answers
253 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
170 views
Are there any special steps when installing drywall over vapour barrier?
I have a simple (I think) question about installing drywall overtop vapour barrier.
Obviously the drywall screw will puncture the vapour barrier. What is typically done to prevent that puncture ...
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
65 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
Should I vapour barrier an (inside) sistered wall when the exterior wall already has it?
I have a 8' x 8' garage wall w/vapor barrier on warm side attached to house. This wall has 2 vertical duct runs. It had 5/8x drywall with fire stops insulated with R13FG batts except on the 2 duct ...
2
votes
1answer
195 views
How to attach plastic (vapor barrier) to the studs?
What's the best way to attach 4 mil plastic (vapor barrier) to the studs? I tried to use regular nails (sinkers 4d 1 - 3/8'') but the plastic sheet goes off the studs (through the head of the nails) ...
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
796 views
Removing Tuck Tape from an unfinished window frame
The builder taped the vapour barrier to the window frames in my basement. Is this normal? I attempted to peal it off but the glue residue is stuck to the wood.
Any suggestions on how I can remove ...
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4answers
7k views
Do I need a moisture barrier between my bedroom and attic?
This is related to my other question about moisture barriers.
There is an attic above the bedroom and there is insulation with paper backing in place. The attic area seems far more likely to get ...
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?
1
vote
1answer
406 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
156 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
How do I install vapor-retarder underlayment paper under vinyl floor planks?
Do I overlap the sheets of paper or are the seams supposed to lay flat against each other? Is it okay to use nails to hold it down, or does it have to be stapled? Can I use silicone to seal the ...
1
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1answer
250 views
Can I use plastic as moisture barrier under fiber cement siding?
I want to attach fiber cement siding planks to furring strips over concrete wall. My understanding is that I need some moisture barrier to prevent water from getting to the wood. So can I staple 6mil ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Can I install Delta-FL in only part of a basement?
I've been looking at finishing my basement and am leaning towards using 7/16" OSB over Delta-FL for the subfloor. I was also considering leaving some areas as bare cement (laundry room, utility room, ...
1
vote
1answer
629 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 ...
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 ...
0
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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 ...
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0answers
141 views
Should I spread lime in my crawlspace before laying moisture barrier?
The crawlspace is currently just earth. I'm going to be raking it, laying moisture barrier and then taping to seal.
Should I spread lime onto the earth before laying the barrier?
