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Should You Put Plastic Behind Drywall

Without poly beneath the drywall, water vapor hits the drywall and diffuses through to the drier (in summer) indoor air. By installing a sheet of poly there, you cut off that drying mechanism and water that finds its way into walls can stay there longer and do more damage.

Are you supposed to put plastic over insulation?

Install the plastic sheeting only after the insulation, wiring and plumbing have been completed. Stretch the plastic sheet tightly across the top of the wall and staple it to the studs and plates with a hammer-tacker, a tool designed to install staples quickly and efficiently.

Can you use plastic sheeting as a vapor barrier?

Reinforced polyethylene plastic sheeting (poly) comes in a variety of thicknesses and strengths. A 6 mil thick poly is commonly used as a vapor barrier and offers short-term savings to the homeowner.

Is a Vapour barrier necessary?

A vapour barrier is an important component in building construction. Its purpose is to help prevent water vapour from reaching building walls, ceilings, attics, crawlspaces or roofs, where it can condense and cause building materials to rot or grow mould.

Does your ceiling need a vapor barrier?

It is essential to have a vapor barrier installed with your ceiling insulation. It’s not uncommon for moisture and dew to form on a ceiling because of the temperature differences; moisture can cause mold and rot if left unchecked.

Does insulation need a vapor barrier?

Because it is mostly hot and very humid outside the building, the vapor barrier should be installed on the exterior of the insulation. This is recommended to keep the outside moisture from getting into the less humid, cooler interiors and damaging the building’s structure.

Should you put plastic over ceiling insulation?

Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8,000 heating degree days. You can forego the plastic and use a vapor retarder (kraft-faced insulation or latex ceiling paint) in all other climates except hot-humid or hot-dry climates.

Do you need to put plastic over unfaced insulation?

Fiberglass Insulation In most climates, it needs a vapor barrier. Some builders rely on batts with attached kraft-paper facing to do that job, but Tom recommends unfaced batts, covered in plastic with all the seams taped shut.

Do I need to cover my insulation?

In this case, even if you don’t plan on completely finishing the basement, you should cover the exposed fiberglass insulation for safety reasons, including disturbing fiberglass insulation can send particles into the air that act as lung, eye, and skin irritants and children playing around exposed fiberglass insulation …

What happens if you don’t install vapor barrier?

Without poly beneath the drywall, water vapor hits the drywall and diffuses through to the drier (in summer) indoor air. By installing a sheet of poly there, you cut off that drying mechanism and water that finds its way into walls can stay there longer and do more damage.

Do I need a vapour barrier UK?

When you are insulating the house on the inside, a vapour barrier is always required. The only exception to this is insulation which is already provided with a vapour resistant layer.

Do I need a vapour barrier membrane?

An insulated garden room needs a vapour barrier to help prevent warm air from inside condensing within the fabric of the building. Water vapour entering the frame of a timber building can lead to mould growth and rot.

Where do you place a vapor barrier on a ceiling?

To start installing poly it does not really matter if you do the walls or ceiling first but I prefer to do the walls in a room first. So to do the walls start by deciding how big of a piece you can handle and cut if from the roll. I would start with about a 8 foot piece until you do one to make it easier.

More Answers On Should You Put Plastic Behind Drywall

Should you put plastic behind drywall? – AskingLot.com

Should you put plastic behind drywall? A continuous plastic vapor barrier behind the drywall will protect the interior walls of these areas from water damage. Click to see full answer. In this regard, do I need a vapor barrier behind drywall? No, you don’t need a vapor retarder, Class I or otherwise.

Install plastic between drywall ceilings and rafters?

There may be some truth to that. There’s a reason people use Tyvek v. plastic for a housewrap. I suspect worse than trapping moisture in the house, it could trap moisture against the backing of your drywall, which is a prime way to start mold. I’ve really only seen plastic used against earth/concrete. – BrownRedHawk Oct 14, 2015 at 14:51

Why Plastic Does Not Protect Your Drywall from Moisture

Plastic in Walls behind Drywall Walls that have mold in them. For many years and in various parts of the country, the idea to put plastic in walls as part of a protective measure to control moisture became a fairly common practice.

plastic sheet under green drywall? – DoItYourself.com Community Forums

I was under the impression I should green drywall up to its flanges. So the entire “wet” area is fiberglass. Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation. Mile, you are fine. You should apply a 6mil barrier to the studs, then apply your drywall. Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation. While I usually defer to the senior expert, (Mark in this case, being …

Do I need a vapor barrier behind drywall? – AskingLot.com

Considerations. The standard installation of a plastic vapor barrier is between the studs and the drywall, but there are some exceptions to this. In exterior walls that are below-grade, like basement walls, plastic should not be used at all. Some applications require a different use of plastic vapor barriers. Click to see full answer.

Is it okay to put plastic over insulation before drywall? – Quora

Had plastic under the drywall, used double wall construction for exterior walls. Two walls, studs offset, double insulation. Never had any issues. But it is claimed that moisture can condense on the plastic causing a mold and rot issue. Newer barriers on the outside let vapor out. Stops air movement but lets the house breath a bit.

How to Use Plastic As a Vapor Barrier in the Walls – SF Gate

A continuous plastic vapor barrier behind the drywall will protect the interior walls of these areas from water damage. Standard Installation Practices Six-mil polyethylene plastic comes in rolls…

When to Use a Vapor Barrier during Drywall Installation

A vapor barrier is essentially refers to any building material that is used for creating a resistance against the passage of water vapor and moisture within the drywalls. Vapor barriers are often installed in the form of plastic sheets or foil sheet. Contemporary landscapers also use vapor barrier paints and coatings at the time of drywall repairs.

Moisture Barrier: A Bad Place for Plastic – Hansen Buildings

This is allowed to happen only if there is good ventilation on both sides of the barrier. Vapor will penetrate any material in its way until it hits a barrier, this is why it is important to position vapor barriers on the warm (inside) side of walls. When warmer air meets colder air condensation will develop.

Plastic after insulation or no? – Fine Homebuilding

Drywall isn’t that permeable to moisture, but with a big enough area and enough time the vapour will soak the inside of the wall. This is not a good thing. The plastic also helps keeps drafts down, if done properly. Joints should be taped and/or sealed with something like an acoustic sealant.

7 Drywall Installation Mistakes You’ve Probably Made Before

Sep 2, 2020Hanging Drywall Vertically: Leave a 1/8-in. Gap. There’s no reason to measure and cut drywall for an exact fit. It’ll usually just cause trouble. Jamming in a piece that’s too tight will crumble the edge or break out a corner (left). And removing a piece to shave a too-tight edge is messy and time consuming.

What Happens When You Put a Plastic Vapor Barrier in Your Wall?

Plastic on the outside of the wall, humid air inside Of course, you can have moisture problems here even without the exterior vapor barrier because of what Bill Rose calls the rule of material wetting. That is, warm materials dry more quickly than cold materials. 4. Hot Humid Weather

3 Reasons Not to Use Plastic Instead of Housewrap

Sep 21, 2020You can use plastic if you put polyethylene between your drywall and the wall studs. This way, you should get a tighter wall without trapping moisture inside the exterior walls. If you are framing out a below-grade basement, however, do not use plastic as a vapor barrier.

Where to Install a Vapor Barrier in a Bathroom – Hunker

Using Plastic. Purchase a roll of 6 millimeter polyurethane, choosing a size that will have the fewest seams. This is important, because you don’t want to give moisture any extra places to sneak through. You’ll want to overlap any seams by 3 inches. You should also use tuck tape to connect the two edges.

Do I Need a Vapor Barrier? | CertainTeed

After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder, sometimes called a vapor barrier, if you need one. Not every wall does. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall, ceiling or floor during the cold winter. Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors …

Should You Caulk Where Floor Meets Wall?

What Should I Put Between Drywall And Floor? If you install drywall in the basement, leave a 1-inch gap between the floor and the drywall. It is also wise to add some kind of waterproof filler material (such as plastic strip) between the floor and the drywall to protect the drywall.

What Should I Put Between Drywall And Concrete?

For best results with good finish between cement board and drywall, use hardened type joint compound . This product provides a better finish than mesh tape than general purpose joint compounds. Apply the joint compound 2-3 times to the seams between the wallboards. Wait at least 24 hours between coats of joint compound.

Plastic behind drywall in the basement or not? – Reddit

Plastic behind drywall in the basement or not? We will begin converting part of our basement into a finished space (approx 350 sq ft of it). On our last house I put a layer of plastic up between the 2x4s and the rigid foam insulation, but now I’m reading some posts on here that this isn’t a good idea.

Why Plastic Does Not Protect Your Drywall from Moisture

Plastic in Walls behind Drywall. Walls that have mold in them. For many years and in various parts of the country, the idea to put plastic in walls as part of a protective measure to control moisture became a fairly common practice. The problem with this theory is that once a builder has an idea that seems reasonable in practice, that builder …

Is it okay to put plastic over insulation before drywall? – Quora

Answer (1 of 3): Well… “plastic” can mean a lot of things but if you’re talking about something like a 6 mil poly (“visqueen”) then you need to do a calculation on where the dew point is in your walls, or talk to someone who actually knows this. And what you’re doing is installing a vapor barrier…

Moisture Barrier: A Bad Place for Plastic – Hansen Buildings

If the drywall were not painted, the moisture / vapor would simply absorb into the drywall material. So think of the paint as a type of moisture barrier to protect the drywall. But vapor can occur even without obvious introduction of moisture into the air. Wherever warm air meets cold air there will be a high concentration of vapor in the area.

What Is Behind Drywall: Guide to Wall Studs and Framing

Wires. Electrical cables are usually behind drywall, either running horizontally through holes in the studs or stapled vertically up the sides of studs. Outlet cables tend to be about 12 inches high. Light switches are around 48 inches high, so expect to see electric cables around that area.

7 Drywall Installation Mistakes You’ve Probably Made Before

Hanging Drywall Vertically: Leave a 1/8-in. Gap. There’s no reason to measure and cut drywall for an exact fit. It’ll usually just cause trouble. Jamming in a piece that’s too tight will crumble the edge or break out a corner (left). And removing a piece to shave a too-tight edge is messy and time consuming.

Can You Install Green Drywall Behind a Plastic Shower Wall?

DENNIS: Yes. I just wondered your opinion on the greenboard being used behind a thermoplastic shower wall. I’m installing a shower in an alcove and they sent me the base. TOM: OK. DENNIS: And then I’ve got these three walls that I have to glue …. TOM: Usually, it’s – that kind of a liner usually goes on top of tile.

What Happens When You Put a Plastic Vapor Barrier in Your Wall?

Scenario 3: plastic on the outside, cold weather. Plastic on the outer surface of a wall in cold weather could cause problems. The humid air is indoors. The cool surface is the sheathing, assuming no exterior insulation. If water vapor diffuses or infiltrates into the wall cavity and finds the cool surface, moisture problems can occur.

drywall behind tub surround – DoItYourself.com Community Forums

Join Date: Dec 2004. Location: USA. Posts: 28,805. Received 1,396 Votes on 1,260 Posts. You generally always tape the drywall for a fire barrier (and air barrier on exterior walls), but if it will not be seen there is no need to finish or sand it, you don’t need to worry about the glue over the joints. Upvote.

Can you have a junction box behind drywall? – FindAnyAnswer.com

4.5/5 (15,701 Views . 34 Votes) The National Electrical Code (NEC) dictates that no wiring splices are allowed outside of an approved enclosure. One type of approved enclosure is a junction box. Junction box covers must remain accessible; they cannot be covered with drywall or other surface material. Click to see full answer.

Finishing basement walls should include moisture protection – mlive

Whatever you use, you still should put an interior vapor barrier over the furring before you hang the drywall. This vapor barrier should stop the moisture traveling from within the laundry room to …

6 bad ways to build a shower- What not to do – DIYTileGuy

This post covers 6 mistakes that are too common in bathroom remodels. Waterproofing is necessary on this half wall and should be flashed up on the wall where it ties in. 1. Drywall Shower Walls. Drywall (sheetrock) falls apart when it gets wet. If you want a bad way to build a shower then this is it. I should mention that there are a couple of …

3 Reasons Not to Use Plastic Instead of Housewrap

Well, “should” is too strong a term. You can use plastic if you put polyethylene between your drywall and the wall studs. This way, you should get a tighter wall without trapping moisture inside the exterior walls. If you are framing out a below-grade basement, however, do not use plastic as a vapor barrier.

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