Attic Insulation Moisture Barrier

A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter.

Attic insulation moisture barrier.

Adding a second vapor barrier could cause condensation to become trapped in the insulation between the two vapor barriers. Now with attic insulation heat is no longer lost from the living space such that moisture may remain trapped in the attic vapor barriers were therefore necessary to reduce moisture flow into the attic. This really helps prevent trapped moisture between a traditional vapor barrier and the drywall. The barriers consist of a highly reflective material that reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it.

Vapor barriers in attics should only be installed on one side of the insulation. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets. The heat being lost from the house below warmed up the attic so that moisture was lost through the vents as vapor. Most forms of attic insulation benefit from the addition of a vapor barrier to protect them from the harmful effects of moisture which can reduce their effectiveness over time.

Not be trapped inside. Attic insulation should always be installed with the paper backing facing toward the living space the ceiling in this case. The insulation fiberglass or cellulose is then placed on top of the drywall with no vapor barrier above or below. In any case the vapor barrier must point to the warm side.

Since some leakage of moisture into the insulation in inevitable murphy s law you want it to be able to freely escape from the insulation into the attic. Not every wall does. The latex paint allows the ceiling to breath a bit but still help prevent significant movement of air and water vapor. This acts as a barrier to keep heated moist air from rising up into the attic during cold weather.

They don t however reduce heat conduction like thermal insulation materials. The following are a few simple steps to help you undertake the task properly so your vapor barrier retains heat without damaging the insulation. After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one.