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  1. #1
    Robert Alexander's Avatar
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    Default batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    This is first time I have seen batt insulation installed in crawlspace that did NOT have a vapor barrier (paper or foil face) at all. Usually I expect to see this and it is installed toward heated side of home (of course).

    Is this Ok?

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  2. #2
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    From the 2006 IRC.
    - SECTION R318
    - - MOISTURE VAPOR RETARDERS

    - - - R318.1 Moisture control.
    In all framed walls, floors and roof/ceilings comprising elements of the building thermal envelope, a vapor retarder shall be installed on the warm-in-winter side of the insulation.
    - - - - Exceptions:
    - - - - - 1. In construction where moisture or freezing will not damage the materials.
    - - - - - 2. Where the framed cavity or space is ventilated to allow moisture to escape.
    - - - - - 3. In counties identified as in climate zones 1 through 4 in Table N1101.2.

    I suspect that each of the exceptions above apply to the area you are referring to.

    First, you are in Climate Zone 3, which means exception 3 applies.

    Second, exceptions 1. and 2. look like they will also apply.


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Unfaced insulation is the standard in my area.

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  4. #4
    Robert Alexander's Avatar
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Perfect. Thanks Jerry.


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Gunnar - The apostrophe troll? First of all, you haven't told us the answer to "What is the circumference of a moose". Or is that a Zen koan, like "what is the sound of one hand clapping"?
    Does the apostrophe troll pop up when people write "it's" inappropriately? As in, "I seen this moose the other day, and it's circumference was unmeasurable"?

    Sorry, I have nothing useful to add to the actual subject of this thread.


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Robert,

    Aside from Jerry Peck's authoritative code answer (thank you), my experience leads me to recommend against faced insulation in vented crawlspaces. You also have to understand that I live in a cold climate with moderate levels of seasonal humidity.

    Specifically for the insulation installed at the rim joists. I have inspected countless number of crawlspaces that may look fine initially, but I have learned to always pull the fiberglass batting away from the rim joists for an extra look. Many, many homes will have at least some discoloration from condensation trapped against the rim joists by insulation with vapor barrier, and sometimes the beginning (or worst) of wood rot. Even with unfaced fiberglass batting, it still appears, but to a lesser extent. I saw one house with a 4-yr old addition where the rim joists were completely rotted out (there were muliple problems there though).

    I don't find as many problems with insulation installed on the underside of the sub floor, but still do find it sometimes. Plus, about 99% of the people that do install fiberglass batting on the underside of the sub floor, like to install it upside down with the vapor barrier facing the crawlspace, not the floor.

    I have begun leaning toward recommending some sort of rigid foam board sealed with caulking at the rim moist, or spray on foam insulation, to prevent the intrusion of moisture ladder air against the joists. But even there, the jury is out. These effects of course will vary based on local climate.


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by John Arnold View Post
    Gunnar - The apostrophe troll? First of all, you haven't told us the answer to "What is the circumference of a moose". Or is that a Zen koan, like "what is the sound of one hand clapping"?
    Does the apostrophe troll pop up when people write "it's" inappropriately? As in, "I seen this moose the other day, and it's circumference was unmeasurable"?

    Sorry, I have nothing useful to add to the actual subject of this thread.
    John,

    Someday I will have a good answer for the moose circumference.

    Yes, I have started whining about improper use of the apostrophe and might start pointing out improper word usage again. I think Billy Stephens labeled me "the apostrophe troll" in the "cool room" thread, and I gleefully adopted it.

    Things like their/there and your/you're drive me nuts.

    I know, I should probably get a life, watch some football and mellow.

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist View Post
    Things like their/there and your/you're drive me nuts.

    I don't know, Gunnar, those things, along with hear/here, site/cite/sight, and all the other drive me nuts too (as well as to/too/two). One would think that HIs would have, and us, a spell checker, being as proper grammar in their reports is typically indicative of their professionalism (or at least taken as representing their professionalism by their readers).

    I'm not an English Major, and in fact hated English so much that I found away around taking it seriously in high school, but still, we should know how to write, being as writing is so much of what we do (and add ad/add and do/due to that list of things).



    Last edited by Jerry Peck; 10-19-2008 at 04:28 PM. Reason: Gosh, nobody caught my spelling error in my post about spelling and grammar? It is still there. :-)
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist View Post
    .
    I think Billy Stephens labeled me "the apostrophe troll"

    .
    .
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    JP,

    Thanks for that. I agree with your comments regarding professionalism as well. I realize that someone's knowledge of construction and the various systems is not necessarily related to his/her ability to write, but I do feel that knowledge of the proper word (to/too/two), grammar and spelling is important as it does reflect on that individual's care and dedication to her/his profession as well as the profession as a whole.

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist View Post
    JP,

    Thanks for that. I agree with your comments regarding professionalism as well. I realize that someone's knowledge of construction and the various systems is not necessarily related to his/her ability to write, but I do feel that knowledge of the proper word (to/too/two), grammar and spelling is important as it does reflect on that individual's care and dedication to her/his profession as well as the profession as a whole.
    .
    New Avatar for your new signature.
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  12. #12
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    I don't know, Gunnar, those things, along with hear/here, site/cite/sight, and all the other drive me nuts too (as well as to/too/two). One would think that HIs would have, and us, a spell checker, being as proper grammar in their reports is typically indicative of their professionalism (or at least taken as representing their professionalism by their readers).

    I'm not an English Major, and in fact hated English so much that I found away around taking it seriously in high school, but still, we should know how to write, being as writing is so much of what we do (and add ad/add and do/due to that list of things).
    (my bold)

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist View Post
    JP,

    Thanks for that. I agree with your comments regarding professionalism as well. I realize that someone's knowledge of construction and the various systems is not necessarily related to his/her ability to write, but I do feel that knowledge of the proper word (to/too/two), grammar and spelling is important as it does reflect on that individual's care and dedication to her/his profession as well as the profession as a whole.

    Eye halve a spelling checker
    It came with my pea sea
    It plainly marques for my revue
    Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

    Eye strike a key and type a word
    And weight four it to say
    Weather eye am wrong oar write
    It shows me strait a weigh.

    As soon as a mist ache is maid
    It nose bee fore two long
    And eye can put the error rite
    It's rare lea ever wrong.

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  13. #13
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    maybe we should just type in the psycho abreviations that teens do in their I-M's...................4 = for, waddup = whats up, kind of like that.


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Brandon

    Gud won.

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Zborowski View Post
    .
    ...............4 = for, waddup = whats up, kind of like that.
    .
    Or even less typing .
    .

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Gunnar, Hola, no ablo english. No hablo mucho español. So please correct me when I am wrong. Gracias por su ayuda.

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Schulz View Post
    Gunnar, Hola, no ablo english. No hablo mucho español. So please correct me when I am wrong. Gracias por su ayuda.

    'Choo becha!

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    My father inlaw was a big stickler for grammer and such, I would always get with "irregardless" . You could just see the fire in his eyes sometimes.
    I miss that old boy


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by bruce m graham III View Post
    I would always get with "irregardless".
    "irregardless" is like a double negative.

    "ain't got no", which actually means "you got some".

    "irregardless" means without without regard, or, with regard.

    irregardless

    One entry found.
    Main Entry: ir·re·gard·less
    Pronunciation: \ˌir-i-ˈgärd-ləs\
    Function: adverb
    Etymology: probably blend of irrespective and regardless
    Date: circa 1912
    nonstandard : regardless
    usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by bruce m graham III View Post
    My father inlaw was a big stickler for grammer and such, I would always get with "irregardless" . You could just see the fire in his eyes sometimes. I miss that old boy
    grammar, not grammer.

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    FWIW "Fowler's Modern English Usage" is my go-to book when I'm not sure if I'm using our language correctly.

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  22. #22
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Hi,
    I am new in this forum and hopefully, I am not boring you all with the "same" question. However, so far I have not found an answer to my problem. I am living in NJ and we bought a house a few weeks ago (finished basement, 1st floor (hardwood), partially 2nd floor (carpet)). After taking out the carpet we realized that the cats had ruinded the subfloor and we will replace a big part of this as well. Because I like to be energy efficient, I was thinking to use the open floor to put in some insulation. On both floors there are 2x10s - 15" apart. There are articles that say don't put insulation into the foor and others that say do it.
    The reason is simple: I want the living and family room (and the floor) to be warm and the bedrooms colder. The questions I have are:
    - can I use unfaced R-30 (home depot is haveing a good sell ;-) and put it between the 2x10s?
    - do I really need a vapor barrier? The temp. difference between the basement, 1st and 2nd floor shouldn't be that much to have condensation?
    - JM R-30 is also used for sound proofing- any experience?

    It's amazing but you ask 5 people and you get 6 different opinions. All I am looking for is a warmer floor and some soundproofing.
    Thank you so much for your help!
    Rainer


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Rainer Michelis View Post
    Hi,
    I am new in this forum and hopefully, I am not boring you all with the "same" question. However, so far I have not found an answer to my problem. I am living in NJ and we bought a house a few weeks ago (finished basement, 1st floor (hardwood), partially 2nd floor (carpet)). After taking out the carpet we realized that the cats had ruinded the subfloor and we will replace a big part of this as well. Because I like to be energy efficient, I was thinking to use the open floor to put in some insulation. On both floors there are 2x10s - 15" apart. There are articles that say don't put insulation into the foor and others that say do it.
    The reason is simple: I want the living and family room (and the floor) to be warm and the bedrooms colder. The questions I have are:
    - can I use unfaced R-30 (home depot is haveing a good sell ;-) and put it between the 2x10s?
    - do I really need a vapor barrier? The temp. difference between the basement, 1st and 2nd floor shouldn't be that much to have condensation?
    - JM R-30 is also used for sound proofing- any experience?

    It's amazing but you ask 5 people and you get 6 different opinions. All I am looking for is a warmer floor and some soundproofing.
    Thank you so much for your help!
    Rainer
    It's funny, I actually read the entire thread and when I got to the last post, wondered why this individual was posting a question about insulation when it was clearly about grammar & spelling. Had to go back to the beginning to remind myself about the original post.

    Rainer,

    You will get different opinions here as well. It depends on where you are putting the insulation. If I read your post correctly, it sounds as though you want to put insulation in the floor between the first and second floor. Unfaced insulation should be fine there. However, if you are putting insulation between heated and unheated areas, such as under the first floor, it should be a faced insulation with the vapor barrier toward the living space.

    However, the benefit of insulating between the first and second floor will be minimal. There won't really be any significant energy savings because it is all within the building envelope and still will be heated. Yes, fiberglass insulation is used for sound insulation and there might be some benefit there. But, sound isolation is a specialty in itself and typically requires hanging the drywall from special channels to help minimize the sound transfer through the joists.

    If you are looking for sound insulation between floors, there might be other sites that would be more helpful.

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  24. #24
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by Rainer Michelis View Post
    Hi,
    I am new in this forum and hopefully, I am not boring you all with the "same" question. However, so far I have not found an answer to my problem. I am living in NJ and we bought a house a few weeks ago (finished basement, 1st floor (hardwood), partially 2nd floor (carpet)). After taking out the carpet we realized that the cats had ruinded the subfloor and we will replace a big part of this as well. Because I like to be energy efficient, I was thinking to use the open floor to put in some insulation. On both floors there are 2x10s - 15" apart. There are articles that say don't put insulation into the foor and others that say do it.
    The reason is simple: I want the living and family room (and the floor) to be warm and the bedrooms colder. The questions I have are:
    - can I use unfaced R-30 (home depot is haveing a good sell ;-) and put it between the 2x10s?
    - do I really need a vapor barrier? The temp. difference between the basement, 1st and 2nd floor shouldn't be that much to have condensation?
    - JM R-30 is also used for sound proofing- any experience?

    It's amazing but you ask 5 people and you get 6 different opinions. All I am looking for is a warmer floor and some soundproofing.
    Thank you so much for your help!
    Rainer
    Insulation goes on at the thermal barrier between the inside and outside of the house or between conditioned and unconditioned areas of the house.
    If you really wanted different room temperatures and have no openings (like open stairways) between floors then go for it. Un-faced would be the correct choice between the 2nd and 3rd floors since there would be little thermal or moisture drive between interior rooms and you would want it to dry to both sides.

    Jim Luttrall
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  25. #25
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    I don't see any problem with installing the unfaced insulation. It is done all the time when homes are built and the owners want to reduce the amount of noise that is heard in the rooms. I doubt that you will notice any major difference in the room temperatures just by using batt insulation.

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  26. #26
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    I recommend using Insulation designed for noise reduction. Higher end homes will install in bathroom walls adjacent to living room, family room and god forbid the kitchen.

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  27. #27
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Insulating bathroom and laundry room walls has become standard for me, all the feedback I get says it makes a big difference.

    The last custom home I built the owners wanted the master bedroom walls insulated. They claimed it was so the TV in the family room didn't interrupt their sleep .


  28. #28
    Rainer Michelis's Avatar
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Wow ... that went fast. I am amazed how fast I got the responses and best of all, I think they are pretty usable and confirm what I was thinking.
    Regarding the vapor barrier - I have checked underneath the subflooring and ... voila, some areas have insulation without any vapor barrier.
    Once again thank you all for the fast and competent help!
    Rainer


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Rainer,

    In out area I believe if the soil is covered with plastic vapor barrier you can use un-faced Insulation. May be a better solution to cover the ground then replace the Insulation.

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  30. #30
    gary gramling's Avatar
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Jerry,
    I found a way or method to get past those English requirements; but, I was away at the time.


  31. #31
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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    hey all
    have been following this thread

    yesterday came across a new 16 foot kitchen addition-with a crawl access--could not see anything except vapor barrier on insulation hanging out of press board nailed to joists. remember this is 16 feet long and some 25 feet wide. i couldn't even see any center support or what kind of beams were installed {see photo}

    so question is--contractor said insulation is double sided vapor retarder--is this right and should it be covered with this wood--city inspector finaled it

    what do you think

    charlie


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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Picture?

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    senior moment sorry

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    Default Re: batt insulation - no vapor barrier

    Quote Originally Posted by CHARLIE VAN FLEET View Post
    hey all
    have been following this thread

    yesterday came across a new 16 foot kitchen addition-with a crawl access--could not see anything except vapor barrier on insulation hanging out of press board nailed to joists. remember this is 16 feet long and some 25 feet wide. i couldn't even see any center support or what kind of beams were installed {see photo}

    so question is--contractor said insulation is double sided vapor retarder--is this right and should it be covered with this wood--city inspector finaled it

    what do you think

    charlie
    That would be all wrong where I live. The insulation needs to breath. Moist air or moisture can get trapped on top of the press board. But maybe it won't.

    I've seen basements or crawls where they had stapled poly under the insulation and everything looked bone dry. I still call it wrong, suggest they monitor for moisture problems.

    Maybe they had a rat problem and solved it that way?

    The lack of a beam under that floor is a concern, all right. Any spring in the floor?


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