Visqueen Vapor Barrier Basement Walls

The standard installation of a plastic vapor barrier is between the studs and the drywall but there are some exceptions to this.

Visqueen vapor barrier basement walls.

A common question people have when finishing a basement is should i use visqueen or plastic sheeting on one side or the other of the framed basement walls the answer is no. Use the right vapor barriers. Thus installing vapor barriers on wall surfaces must. The science of moisture movement.

In exterior walls that are below grade like basement walls. In winter the dew point of the interior air is typically about 50 f assuming an air temperature of 70 f and a relative humidity of 50. Making basements appropriate places to live is more complicated than you might assume. Plastic will prevent moisture from moving through the wall.

Holes in the vapor barrier that allow humid air through may allow a lot more water vapor into an assembly than the vapor barrier is stopping. Water vapor can pass through building materials in several ways including direct transmission and by heat transfer but studies suggest that fully 98 percent of the moisture transfer through walls occurs through air gaps including cracks around electrical fixtures and outlets and gaps along baseboards. 1 on the interior wall between the heated and unheated portion of the basement i would not use with a vapor barrier. Because of this you ve likely asked yourself.

The main concerns are condensation and drying potential. Should i install a vapor barrier in my basement. Unlike cellars basements need to be dry comfortable environments that effectively keep out any possible contaminants.