Vapor Retarder Attic Insulation

The best approach for a vented attic in a cold climate is installing a layer of drywall with a good coat of latex paint the paint creates a semi permeable vapor barrier.

Vapor retarder attic insulation. However all attics vented or unvented and in all climates should have an air barrier such as an airtight drywall ceiling. Moisture moves by two transport mechanism. Attic insulation should always be installed with the paper backing facing toward the living space the ceiling in this case. Liquid water can accumulate inside exterior walls and in roof and attic spaces.

This acts as a barrier to keep heated moist air from rising up into the attic during cold weather. In hot dry climates your attic can be vented though like in hot humid climates you should not install any vapor retarder or barrier. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. 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.

To know if you need a vapor retarder ask yourself a few basic questions. 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 older term vapor barrier is still used even though vapor diffusion retarder is more accurate. Cima does not recommend the use of vapor barriers with cellulose insulation except in circumstances of exceptionally high moisture levels such as an indoor pool facility or very cold climates.

A vapor retarder helps prevent water vapor from condensing to liquid water within the structure. In any case the vapor barrier must point to the warm side. If enough water is present wood rot and decay can cause significant damage. Adding a second vapor barrier could cause condensation to become trapped in the insulation between the two vapor barriers.

The kraft facing on insulation is a vapor retarder. A vapor barrier or vapor diffusion retarder is a material that reduces the rate at which water vapor can move through a material. That s because cellulose is the only insulation that actually manages moisture. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets.

The ability of a material to retard the diffusion of water vapor is measured in units known as perms or. Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8 000 heating degree days. 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. The insulation fiberglass or cellulose is then placed on top of the drywall with no vapor barrier above or below.