Vapor Barrier Basement Insulation

Basement insulation vapor barriers the trick with basement insulation jobs is in understanding where water vapor is being stored and where it s moving to.

Vapor barrier basement insulation. The vapor barrier is sealed to the concrete wall at the bottom with some sort of seal and nailed directly to the concrete. The builder insulated the upper 4ft of the basement wall with a pink batt style insulation which is held to the wall with a vapor barrier. Not to be confused with a vapor barrier which is placed on the warm side of the wall just in front of the insulation and behind the drywall a moisture barrier goes against the basement wall and. Vapor barriers keep the air moisture in your house from condensing in the insulated cavities.

Concrete is like a huge sponge which holds water and water vapor for years and years. The goal of vapor barrier strategies is to prevent moisture from collecting and corrupting building materials. Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors your climate your home and the location of the wall you re insulating. Improperly installed a vapor barrier may actually trap moisture inside a wall while a wall that is more porous can breathe effectively and be less susceptible to long term moisture problems.

With fiber insulation and a vapor barrier moisture can get trapped in the insulation leading to moldy insulation and decay in the wood framing. When most homes are insulated building codes require vapor barriers. To know if you need a vapor retarder ask yourself a few basic questions. Whether your vapor barrier is a facing or a film it must be placed on the warm in winter side of the wall.

Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets. As the wall dries the water vapor leaves the concrete and tries to penetrate the insulation and wall. The vapor barrier whether separate or permanently attached to the insulation goes on the warm side of the insulation to prevent condensation wetting the insulation whenever possible. Of foam against the wall this should not be a problem in your climate.

This barrier is meant to keep moisture from getting to the insulation in the walls and ceilings and it is required by building codes when insulating most houses. The water vapor can come through the concrete from the soil or from indoor air that comes in contact with the concrete. Vapor barriers are used for a number of reasons the most prominent of which is to prevent mold. Vapor barriers are used primarily to keep moisture from building up within the insulation when your home was constructed for the purpose of keeping you warm.