Installing Vapor Barrier In Attic

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.

Installing vapor barrier in attic.

The goal of adding a radiant barrier in your attic is to cover as much of the underside of the roof as possible. Whether using loose fill or batts put the vapor barrier closest to the warm side of your installation where hot moist air would get in facing the house s interior in cold climates beneath floor insulation and the attic s interior in hot climates on top of floor insulation. This acts as a barrier to keep heated moist air from rising up into the attic during cold weather. 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.

Not be trapped inside. Vapor barriers in attics should only be installed on one side of the insulation. Take the measurements with you when purchasing materials. You want to add the foil on all surfaces that make up the roof but you also need to keep vents open and clear of the foil.

Contact us for a free estimate. Fill out the form below to hear from one of our vapor barrier specialists. To install an efficient vapor barrier you need the dimensions of the room. Do not overlook attic access door.

Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions. In existing spaces oil based paints or vapor barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier. Never compress or fluff your insulation. Adding a second vapor barrier could cause condensation to become trapped in the insulation between the two vapor barriers.

Some regions don t require a vapor barrier. Attic insulation should always be installed with the paper backing facing toward the living space the ceiling in this case. The vapor barrier might be tarpaper kraft paper attached to fiberglass batts or a plastic sheet. If there does not appear to be a vapor barrier you might consider painting the interior ceilings with vapor barrier paint.

Measure the entire area and write down the results. The inner surface in colder climates and the outer surface in hot humid climates. While you are inspecting the attic check to see if there is a vapor barrier under the attic insulation. 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.

Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8 000 heating degree days.