Insulation, Radiant and Vapor Barriers - Vapor Barrier under bonus room is full of water
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Vapor Barrier under bonus room is full of water
jaymanhomeowner
04-10-08, 11:51 AM
Hi,
I have a home with a bonus room above a partially insulated but unheated attached garage. It was built in 2006. The builder insulated the floor below and covered it with drywall on the garage ceiling side. There is a small area not coverd with the drywall, wich is exposing the vapor barrier behind it. I have recently discovered that the vapor barrier has water collecting in it (and I mean liters of it, not just moisture).
Two questions:
1) Is the vapor barrier on the wrong side (the colder garage ceiling side) of the insulation and could this be trapping so much moisture? and
2) Is this more likely water leaking in from outside?
I have a home with a bonus room above a partially insulated but unheated attached garage. It was built in 2006. The builder insulated the floor below and covered it with drywall on the garage ceiling side. There is a small area not coverd with the drywall, wich is exposing the vapor barrier behind it. I have recently discovered that the vapor barrier has water collecting in it (and I mean liters of it, not just moisture).
Two questions:
1) Is the vapor barrier on the wrong side (the colder garage ceiling side) of the insulation and could this be trapping so much moisture? and
2) Is this more likely water leaking in from outside?
mikeTN
04-10-08, 01:53 PM
Welcome to the forum!
the vapor barrier attached to the insulation should be on the warm side of the wall/ceiling. since neither room is heated, the upstairs, because of the roof/sun, is producing heat. when hot and cold come together, the moisture is on the warm side(such as a window). the insulation keeps the cold air(normallly) from reaching the heated side and stops the moisture before it can get to the drywall/heated area. in this case, it seems as if the bonus room, because of the sun heating the roof, has become the heated side; therefore, water on top of the insulation. someone will weigh in with a solution or a correction to my theory.
the vapor barrier attached to the insulation should be on the warm side of the wall/ceiling. since neither room is heated, the upstairs, because of the roof/sun, is producing heat. when hot and cold come together, the moisture is on the warm side(such as a window). the insulation keeps the cold air(normallly) from reaching the heated side and stops the moisture before it can get to the drywall/heated area. in this case, it seems as if the bonus room, because of the sun heating the roof, has become the heated side; therefore, water on top of the insulation. someone will weigh in with a solution or a correction to my theory.
jaymanhomeowner
04-10-08, 02:07 PM
Thank you for the warm welcome.
To clarify, the bonus room is heated and part of the house. The garage is unheated. Also I live in Edmonton, AB where the temps in winter can reach -40.
To clarify, the bonus room is heated and part of the house. The garage is unheated. Also I live in Edmonton, AB where the temps in winter can reach -40.