I have recently gutted my house. I'm to the step of adding insulation. Some people tell me to to put up R-13 w/ vapor barrier. They also tell me to put up 6 mill plastic over top, and to also do that on my ceilings. I beleive the walls but to put it on the ceilings I'm unsure. For instence in the bathroom where will the moisture go! Any info will help Thanks
COMMUNITY FORUM
It's been my experience that you should not put plastic on the ceiling, especially in the bathroom. Most air transfer comes thru the walls and the roof does need to breath a little to prevent moisture build up in the summer which leads to mildew and a horrable smell that can only be eliminated by replacing the insulation. If you have an attic you may not experience this problem as badly due to attic venting and if insulation is blown in over the ceiling it should provide sufficient warmth without a vapor barrier.
Indoor air quality, including moister control, is not an insulation or vapor barrier issue!
Imagine purchasing the latest parka, guaranteed to keep you warm to -100. What would you think if someone told you: "To work properly, leave it un-zipped. It needs to breath." What would you think? Probably that that person is nuts. But yet, when someone tells us virtually the same thing on or house, people are eager to believe it. It's a myth!
The simple truth is that the tighter the better, but you also need to take control on the indoor air quality (by a heat exchange or some other ventilation system).
Imagine purchasing the latest parka, guaranteed to keep you warm to -100. What would you think if someone told you: "To work properly, leave it un-zipped. It needs to breath." What would you think? Probably that that person is nuts. But yet, when someone tells us virtually the same thing on or house, people are eager to believe it. It's a myth!
The simple truth is that the tighter the better, but you also need to take control on the indoor air quality (by a heat exchange or some other ventilation system).
