Ceiling Vapor Barrier Installation
Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8 000 heating degree days.
Ceiling vapor barrier installation. The vapour barrier always goes on the warm side of the wall between the framing and the drywall. A vapor barrier is designed to keep moisture in your home from getting inside your walls. In the worst case moisture can actually freeze within the walls accumulating until a thaw melts it and causes visible damage to your home such as wall or ceiling staining.
We complicate things when we install plastic in ceilings and assume it provides an air barrier. Poly should be used on the warm side of any building surface of which is insulated such as insulated ceilings walls and floors. A vapor barrier in an attic assembly in a severe cold climate in absence of an air barrier will likely be ineffective.
How to install a moisture barrier on the ceiling 1. Conversely an air barrier in absence of a vapor barrier can be effective. The secondary function is that it stops the infiltration of cold air from coming through the wall cavity into your home.
Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions. As mentioned earlier batt and roll insulation come with a vapor barrier attached. Measure the ceiling from side to side as well as depth wise to find the vapor barrier dimensions required.
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. Look over the ceiling joists before installing your moisture barrier. For plastic to be an air barrier it needs to be continuous.
In existing spaces oil based paints or vapor barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier.