Installing Vapor Barrier In Attic

This acts as a barrier to keep heated moist air from rising up into the attic during cold weather.

Installing vapor barrier in attic.

Vapor barriers in attics should only be installed on one side of the insulation. Do not overlook attic access door. The vapor barrier might be tarpaper kraft paper attached to fiberglass batts or a plastic sheet. Never compress or fluff your insulation.

To install an efficient vapor barrier you need the dimensions of the room. Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8 000 heating degree days. 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. Attic insulation should always be installed with the paper backing facing toward the living space the ceiling in this case.

If there does not appear to be a vapor barrier you might consider painting the interior ceilings with vapor barrier paint. Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions. The inner surface in colder climates and the outer surface in hot humid climates. Measure the entire area and write down the results.

How to install radiant barrier on attic rafters in 5 steps. 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. 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. Some regions don t require a vapor barrier.

The goal of adding a radiant barrier in your attic is to cover as much of the underside of the roof as possible. The insulation fiberglass or cellulose is then placed on top of the drywall with no vapor barrier above or below. If you are ready to clean up your crawl space and install a vapor barrier contact attic projects for a custom estimate or give us a call at 858 246 7421. In existing spaces oil based paints or vapor barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier.

Contact us for a free estimate. Take the measurements with you when purchasing materials. 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. 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.

Adding a second vapor barrier could cause condensation to become trapped in the insulation between the two vapor barriers.