Do I Need A Vapor Barrier In My Attic

The paper facing contains a layer of impermeable asphalt that prevents water vapor from passing through it.

Do i need a vapor barrier in my attic.

Should a vapor barrier be used over attic insulation. If your current insulation is a cellulose product similar to the greenfiber natural insulation your existing 6 is equal to about a r 19. Hi beth do not add a vapor barrier on top of the insulation in your attic since the paper facing on the existing insulation is the vapor barrier. In hot humid climates attics should not be vented and vapor retarders should not be installed on the interior of assemblies.

A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. Now let s look at your situation which is a little different. 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. To heck with the experts here s my answer.

However all attics vented or unvented and in all climates should have an air barrier such as an airtight drywall ceiling. In hot dry climates your attic can be vented though like in hot humid climates you should not install any vapor retarder or barrier. Either install un faced fiberglass loose fill fiberglass or cellulose directly on top of the drywall. Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8 000 heating degree days.

After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one. 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. The vapor barrier is always installed facing the heated side of the wall or ceiling because that s where the moisture is coming from. Not every wall does.

By the time you paint the drywall though you ve brought it into the class iii vapor retarder range between 1 and 10 perms and even less water vapor will diffuse through. Seal the air leakage pathways.