Best Vapor Barrier For Garage Ceiling

Insulating an attached garage has some special considerations that you must address differently then a unattached garage.

Best vapor barrier for garage ceiling.

A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. First of all a garage is not a signicant source of vapor as it is not occupied that much and you don t cook or bath in in it. Whether your vapor barrier is a facing or a film it must be placed on the warm in winter side of the wall. And the ceiling acts as a enough of a vapor retarder.

I build in a cold climate where many longtime builders swear that you shouldn t put a ceiling vapor barrier in. Unless you have converted your garage into a kitchen a bathroom a laundry room or a space that generates a lot of moisture even for that a dehumidifier can absorb all the moisture in the garage to keep the air dry. The traditional way to insulate the walls and ceiling of a typical garage is to install fibreglass batt insulation in the walls and attic space followed by a six mil poly air vapour barrier and drywall. Should you put a vapor barrier in an insulated ceiling or not.

This is normally done because it s the most cost effective method to achieve the desired level of comfort and ease of installation. Consult building inspection offices for local recommendations. Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors your climate your home and the location of the wall you re insulating. Install as directed typically cutting to fit and using a staple gun to attach the vapor barrier to the studs.

If you re adding new garage doors be sure to install insulated options. Vapor barriers keep the air moisture in your house from condensing in the insulated cavities. The most important issue is that attached garages must have a system in place to keep carbon monoxide co from a running vehicle inside the garage from filtering through the walls and ceiling into the house. So you don t need a vapor barrier in the garage ceiling.

In very cold climates the use of polyethylene plastic vapor barriers between insulation and interior wallboard may be beneficial provided all air gaps into any wall and ceiling cavities are also blocked. If you re using old uninsulated doors pick up a retrofit kit that add insulating panels.