Plastic Vapor Barrier Basement Walls

Building codes usually require a vapor barrier 4 mil plastic sheeting on exterior basement walls if the framing is attached to masonry or concrete surfaces or if the wood framing butts up against the outer basement walls.

Plastic vapor barrier basement walls.

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. You should then use fiberglass insulation that has a vapor barrier between the studs with the vapor barrier facing in toward the living space. The main concerns are condensation and drying potential. The material is stapled to the frame of a basement wall before it is finished with plaster or drywall.

The standard installation of a plastic vapor barrier is between the studs and the drywall but there are some exceptions to this. If water vapor diffuses or infiltrates into the wall cavity and finds the cool surface moisture problems can occur. When the mold grows it will spread to everything around it studs drywall etc. Plastic on the outer surface of a wall in cold weather could cause problems.

The humid air is indoors. 1 on the interior wall between the heated and unheated portion of the basement i would not use with a vapor barrier. Basement vapor barriers and best methods for insulating basement walls vapor barrier in your basement walls basement wall vapor barrier system in use crawlseal to waterproof your walls how to install a basement vapor barrierfixing moldy basements vapor barriers can be a bad ideahow should i finish an existing basement continue reading. Polyurethane sheeting is a typical vapor barrier that contractors use to prevent moisture from penetrating the walls of a basement.

In exterior walls that are below grade like basement walls. The construction of the wall for instance is vital to the use of a vapor barrier. The cool surface is the sheathing assuming no exterior insulation.