Basement Wall Vapor Barrier

For reference my basement is currently finished with concrete exterior walls then charcoal colored wrap material there seems to be an inch or two between this wrap and the exterior walls then stud framing with r12 batt insulation between the studs then a vapor barrier and finally drywall on top of the vapor barrier.

Basement wall vapor barrier.

Thus installing vapor barriers on wall surfaces must. The science of moisture movement. When the mold grows it will spread to. A basement vapor or moisture barrier is installed during the new construction of a home or the remodeling of a basement.

After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one. 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 material is stapled to the frame of a basement wall before it is finished with plaster or. Also be sure to use treated lumber for the bottom plate on the wall framing.

So we thought it might be a good idea to clear up some of the confusion. Polyurethane sheeting is a typical vapor barrier that contractors use to prevent moisture from penetrating the walls of a basement. In winter the dew point of the interior air is typically about 50 f assuming an air temperature of 70 f and a relative humidity of 50. The main concerns are condensation and drying potential.

Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors. 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. Basement vapor barrier and insulation. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter.

The construction of the wall for instance is vital to the use of a vapor barrier. We ve written several articles about basement insulation and a cost effective approach to basement insulation using foam board and fiberglass insulation since writing those articles we ve received quite a few questions about when to use a basement vapor barrier and when not to. Not every wall does.