Visqueen Vapor Barrier Basement Walls

Should i install a vapor barrier in my basement.

Visqueen vapor barrier basement walls.

Making basements appropriate places to live is more complicated than you might assume. Plastic will prevent moisture from moving through the wall. The main concerns are condensation and drying potential. 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.

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. The science of moisture movement. Thus installing vapor barriers on wall surfaces must. Use the right vapor barriers.

A vapor barrier reduces the movement of water vapor by diffusion. As we mentioned earlier the basement is naturally humid because of its lower. 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. In exterior walls that are below grade like basement walls.

Unlike cellars basements need to be dry comfortable environments that effectively keep out any possible contaminants. The standard installation of a plastic vapor barrier is between the studs and the drywall but there are some exceptions to this. When a vapor barrier is on the side of a wall where the dry air is i e outside in winter or inside in summer moisture problems can occur.