Vapor Barrier For Garage Walls

A vapor barrier s job is to keep water vapor in humid air from diffusing through one side of a wall and finding a cool surface inside the wall.

Vapor barrier for garage walls.

Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions. Vapor barriers keep the air moisture in your house from condensing in the insulated cavities. 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. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter.

Vapor barriers when to use them when to not. Most garages don t need vapor barriers because the amount of vapor that diffuses through garage walls ceilings and the floor is not enough to cause wet walls that result in moisture damages. In existing spaces oil based paints or vapor barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets.

If you re adding new garage doors be sure to install insulated options. 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. A vapor barrier reduces the movement of water vapor by diffusion. After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one.

In any case the vapor barrier must point to the warm side. However if you live in a cold climate zone such as alaska it s a good idea to install a vapor barrier on the warm in winter side of the wall. Without a vapor barrier in place condensation inside the walls could ruin the insulation and promote the growth of harmful mold and bacteria. Not every wall does.

On this special edition of the build show matt takes us on a guided tour through the ins and outs of vapor. If you live in a cold climate place the vapor barrier between the interior of your home and the insulation. Install as directed typically cutting to fit and using a staple gun to attach the vapor barrier to the studs. When a vapor barrier is on the side of a wall where the dry air is i e outside in winter or inside in summer moisture problems can occur.

If you re using old uninsulated doors pick up a retrofit kit that add insulating panels.