By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
The insulation under my home was installed upside-down, that is, with the vapor barrier facing the ground, rather than against the floor. Is this a serious problem? Also, does the material need to be replaced, or can it simply be reversed and reattached? - Bonnie
Dear Bonnie,
Installing subfloor insulation with the vapor barrier on the downward side can cause moisture condensation on the framing and subfloor. Possible consequences include dry rot and mold infestation. Hopefully, this has not occurred beneath your home. To make sure that no such problems have developed, the insulation should be removed to enable inspection of the wood framing and subfloor surfaces. This evaluation should be done by a licensed pest control operator (commonly known as a termite inspector).
If removal of the insulation is done carefully, you should be able to reuse the material by simply turning it over and re-securing it to the framing. If you do the work yourself, be sure to wear a high quality respirator.
Copyright 2003-2006 Barry Stone. Distributed by Inman News.
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