Jan 02, 2013, 10:28 AM
thomashenryinsulation and Vapor barrier
I have a house in dallas that was built in 1984 by Fox and Jacobs it has a brick exterior and a 1/8 inch thick foil backed piece of sheeting on the outside of the studs and there is a air gap of approx 1/2 inch between it and the bricks and insulation between the studs. In the winter the rooms in the house get very cold and in the summer they get very warm. I am remodeling my kitchen and taking the walls down to the studs, can i or is it wise to put a vapor barrier on the inside over the insulation?
Jan 02, 2013, 11:53 AM
JaybeeNot a good idea. That 1/8" foil board acts as a vapor barrier on the outside. If the fiberglass insulation that is already there is faced, then you already have enough of a VB. If you added a solid VB on the interior surface, like a 4 or 6 mil poly sheet, then what you would do is trap any moisture that got through the outside within the cavity of the walls. Not good.
If you already have full insulation between the studs and the house is still uncomfortable, then you have something else going on. Either somewhere unseen is missing insulation or you do not have enough H/A for the space.
Jan 02, 2013, 12:02 PM
thomashenrythanks
i knew you would have the answer
Jan 03, 2013, 09:19 AM
Sparky617How is the attic insulation? Heat rises so more of your heat loss is through the ceiling/attic than walls. Also your attic will be very hot in Dallas so you'll get a lot of radiant heat from the attic in the summer.