Polyethylene Vapor Barrier Attic

Tips for installing vapor barriers.

Polyethylene vapor barrier attic.

Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8 000 heating degree days. You can forego the plastic and use a vapor retarder kraft faced insulation or latex ceiling paint in all other climates except hot humid or hot dry climates. This same process occurs inside the walls of your home. If your climate does not meet these conditions a vapor retarder like latex ceiling paint will work well for your house if you are in all other climates except the hot dry and hot humid.

Crawl spaces benefit from a polyethylene moisture barrier placed directly over the exposed earth. Without a vapor barrier in place condensation inside the walls could ruin the. Even though we apply vapor barriers to exterior insulated walls in cold climates it s no longer recommended for ceilings floor of the attic. 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.

This acts as a barrier to keep heated moist air from rising up into the attic during cold weather. A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed. 4 8 out of 5 stars 14. In any case the vapor barrier must point to the warm side.

You could be creating the kind of problems i described in scenario 1 above. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets. Condensation occurs whenever warm air meets cold air. Because it s nearly impossible to seal penetrations in the ceiling the reality is water vapor will get into the attic.

Attic vapor barrier detail for cold climates. A plastic vapor barrier is best installed in a vented attic within climates with over 8 000 heating degree days. Attic insulation should always be installed with the paper backing facing toward the living space the ceiling in this case. If you re in maine and never use an air conditioner a vapor barrier on the inner surface may be ok.

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