Basement Wall Vapor Barrier Installation

The material is stapled to the frame of a basement wall before it is finished with plaster or drywall.

Basement wall vapor barrier installation.

If you have a framed wall that is adjacent to a concrete foundation wall where the vapor barrier is next to the drywall in front of the studs the fiberglass insulation gets wet and becomes a breeding ground for mold. Water vapor can pass through building materials in several ways including direct transmission and by heat transfer but studies suggest that fully 98 percent of the moisture transfer through walls occurs through air gaps including cracks around electrical fixtures and outlets and gaps along baseboards. If you have a wine cellar or basement add a vapor barrier there too. Follow these steps to instal a basement vapor barrier.

A vapor barrier is also helpful to keeping a basement insulated and warm. I live in central ontario canada. Installing a vapor barrier in your basement walls is actually very easy as long as you have the right tools and enough time to complete the job. The construction of the wall for instance is vital to the use of a vapor barrier.

A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. When the mold grows it will spread to. If water has already accumulated on the surface clean it before you start the installation process. After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one.

Is it ok to add this vapor barrier. Polyurethane sheeting is a typical vapor barrier that contractors use to prevent moisture from penetrating the walls of a basement. My basement wall is insulated with a 2 inches of styrofoam on the interior and i built a 2 4 wall and added roxul insulation. If your basement walls are damp and moldy vapor barriers may be an effective way to prevent water from being able to seep inside your house.

Not every wall does. I planned to install vapor barrier on top. The area on which you are installing the vapor barrier should be clean. Also be sure to use treated lumber for the bottom plate on the wall framing.

Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors. Step 3 install the barrier. The other option is to set the 2 4 wall framing in 4 from the masonry or concrete basement walls and use just the vapor barrier on the insulation facing toward the living space. The science of moisture movement.