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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Insulation vapor barrier, how important?

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Steve Crum

09-11-2005 11:04:27

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Went I built my 2 story house here in the northeast 18 years ago, The construction company insulated the attic with the blown in fluffy insulation. This was supposed to be R-30. For the past 10 years I've had 15 rolls of 6"x24" R-19 fiberglass insulation sitting in the attic waiting to be put it. This insulation has the kraft paper faced vapor barrier. My question is would I be ok to roll this insulation out over top of the blown in stuff, or would I need to rake up the blown in stuff and put the kraft face against the sheetrock ceiling panels. Or would I be ok if I peeled the kraft facing off the insulation? Anyway I go it's going to be a PIA, but with fuel oil the way it is now, anything can help.

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wdtom

09-13-2005 18:11:35

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to Steve Crum, 09-11-2005 11:04:27

In putting the outer layer of insulation in a double studded wall I perforate the karft paper with a tool I make. It is a piece of plywood with a lot of nails driven through it, another piece op plywood screw on the nail head side of the first, then a 2x3 handle extending up from the center of the smooth side about 3 or 4 ft. Now unroll the insulation on the floor paper side up and walk along and with your tool punch many many holes in it. Watch your feet. Haven't had any problems with the walls in my house after having used thes method of venting the paper. Been since 1985. I did put in a 6 mil poly vapor barrier on the walls and ceilings so almost no moisture is getting into the walls to start with.

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David - OR

09-12-2005 05:46:21

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to Steve Crum, 09-11-2005 11:04:27

In many jurisdictions, the building code does not require a vapor barrier in ceilings below a ventilated attic, since any moisture from the building can escape through the top of the insulation and out the attic vents.

The latex paint on your ceiling drywall is all the vapor barrier you need anyway, except in severe cold climates. Read the discussions at buildingscience dot com. (The "northeast" is not severe cold, except for the northernmost parts of NY, NH, VT, and ME.)

As the others have said, vapor barriers between layers of insulation are always a bad thing. Slice up or remove the kraft paper. Roll out your fiberglass perpendicular to the ceiling joists or truss cords. If the blown in stuff has settled below the tops of the joists, you should consider blowing in some more. The fiberglass should be in continuous contact with the insulation below it, to avoid air spaces that compromise the effectiveness of the fiberglass.

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Gus

09-12-2005 02:56:47

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to Steve Crum, 09-11-2005 11:04:27

Try not to squash the blown-in. It needs to have the air in it to work properly.

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Coldiron

09-11-2005 20:08:05

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to Steve Crum, 09-11-2005 11:04:27

Just peel the kraft paper from the batting. It will peel off very easily. If it doesnt you can slide a knife just beneath it and it will come off. You should take it off or you will begin to smell mold, then the damage begins.

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09-11-2005 18:32:40

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to Steve Crum, 09-11-2005 11:04:27

Yes..as was said..the only place you can have a vapor barrier is towards the living side of the house. Remove the vapor barrier or...better and easier,,slash it with a box cutter every few inches. You must let the vapor out. If you trap it, you'll eventually soak you insulation and rot joists or rafters.

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Doyle Alley

09-14-2005 09:56:15

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to bo, 09-11-2005 18:32:40

Not quite correct. The vapor barrier goes against the side that contains the most moisture. Up north, that will be the interior. Here in Florida, the outside will always be the moist side, so if a moisture barrier is used, it is on the outside of the studs. Most of the time, however, it simply isn't used.

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Dave Sherburne,NY

09-11-2005 18:19:44

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to Steve Crum, 09-11-2005 11:04:27

Take the paper off the insulation and roll it out
Vapor from the inside of the house has to go somewhere, you dont want it to stop at the vapor barrier.

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Midwest redneck

09-11-2005 11:45:53

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Re: Insulation vapor barrier, how important? in reply to Steve Crum, 09-11-2005 11:04:27

I have the blown in stuff in the attic. 220 bags of the stuff, on a 2500sq. ft. ranch. it is about 8 inches thick. I dont have a vapor barrier. No problems with condensation because the temp has a chance to slowly move out to the cold. I dont see any problem with rolling that insulation out over the blown stuff. I went with the celulose blow in stuff over the pink fiberglass because it was a lot easier to install. and 1/2 the cost.

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