Vapor Barriers Vapor Barrier Attic

A vapor barrier or vapor diffusion retarder is a material that reduces the rate at which water vapor can move through a material.

Vapor barriers vapor barrier attic.

Climates vapor barriers or more accurately vapor diffusion retarders should be part of a moisture control strategy for a home. Remove any transferable items from the attic so that they do not get in the way as you work. Lucy no you don t need a vapor barrier. 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 even though we apply vapor barriers to exterior insulated walls in cold climates it s no longer recommended for ceilings floor of the attic. Continue reading below our video of the day. If there is limited lighting find a way to provide more so you can see what you re doing. 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.

Adding a second vapor barrier could cause condensation to become trapped in the insulation between the two vapor barriers. 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. The goal of vapor barrier strategies is to prevent moisture from collecting and corrupting building materials. The basics of air sealing are covered in this article.

This acts as a barrier to keep heated moist air from rising up into the attic during cold weather. What you need is an air barrier that is at every step of the way you have to pay attention to airtightness. A plastic vapor barrier is best installed in a vented attic within climates with over 8 000 heating degree days.