Insulation batts - paper side faces the interior or exterior?
#1
04-26-14, 11:02 AM
Insulation batts - paper side faces the interior or exterior?
Just wondering what other people do when insulating exterior walls. Does the paper side face the interior of the room or the exterior towards the house? I've heard that the traditional method is to face the paper side to the interior. I have also heard of facing the paper to the exterior of the house because then the paper acts as a sort of mini-vapor barrier. What do you guys do?
#2
04-26-14, 11:51 AM
Group Moderator
The paper is on the interior of the wall. Not only is it a slight vapor barrier..... the paper is a method to hold the insulation in between the beams with staples.
In a heavy moisture area, like a bathroom, a sealed vapor barrier goes between the insulation and the rock.
In a heavy moisture area, like a bathroom, a sealed vapor barrier goes between the insulation and the rock.
#3
04-26-14, 01:45 PM
Here's another thought. A vapor barrier or vapor retarder, when needed, goes to the warm side of the insulation. In the far north that is the inside and in the deep south that would be the outside. So, where you live in TX may make a difference. Most places inbetween fall into the "when needed" group as they experience both warm summers (AC) and cold winters (heat). In many cases the VB can be omitted, check your local code requirement.
What they have learned is that most moisture moves with air leakage so go crazy air sealing and a good coat of paint will do the rest. In bath areas it is important to install a good exhaust fan and add a timer so it runs for 20 minutes after you turn it off. This gets rid of excess moisture at the source.
Is this a new home or remodel?
Bud
What they have learned is that most moisture moves with air leakage so go crazy air sealing and a good coat of paint will do the rest. In bath areas it is important to install a good exhaust fan and add a timer so it runs for 20 minutes after you turn it off. This gets rid of excess moisture at the source.
Is this a new home or remodel?
Bud
#4
04-26-14, 09:09 PM
I've heard that the traditional method is to face the paper side to the interior. I have also heard of facing the paper to the exterior of the house because then the paper acts as a sort of mini-vapor barrier. What do you guys do?
For the vapor barrier I use 6 mil poly. I put it on the outside in a cooling dominant climate and on the inside in a heating dominant climate.
#5
05-08-14, 06:27 AM
Sorry guys, I forgot to respond, but I wanted to say thank you for helping me with this. This old house never had any insulation. When we redid one of the living room walls to fix a few electrical issues, we added insulation. We just went ahead and added the insulation with the paper side facing inwards.
