Vapour Barrier Attic Floor

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

Vapour barrier attic floor.

If there is limited lighting find a way to provide more so you can see what you re doing. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets. Very hot and humid climates may benefit from an exterior vapor barrier that keeps outside humidity from penetrating into walls. Below grade walls and floor slabs transmit ground moisture through concrete walls or slabs.

Attic vapor barrier detail for cold climates. This barrier is meant to keep moisture from getting to the insulation in the walls and ceilings and it is required by building codes when insulating most houses. This vapor can become trapped inside walls resulting in mold and mildew growth which can damage your home and present a potential health concern. In the typical crawl space with a dirt floor a 6 mil plastic vapor barrier is used to prevent moisture from the soil from coming up into the crawl space area.

Even though we apply vapor barriers to exterior insulated walls in cold climates it s no longer recommended for ceilings floor of the attic. To know if you need a vapor retarder ask yourself a few basic questions. A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter.

Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors your climate your home and the location of the wall you re insulating. In any case the vapor barrier must point to the warm side. 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.

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. Insulation provides a barrier between vapor and the structure. Everyday activities such as cooking washing and bathing add moisture to the air in your home in the form of water vapor. That vapor barrier is laid directly.

Remove any transferable items from the attic so that they do not get in the way as you work.