If you do there is a chance that moisture that has slipped by the first vapor barrier will become trapped by the second vapor barrier decreasing the value of your insulation.
Blown in attic insulation without vapor barrier.
Such a location works both as a vapor barrier as well as an air barrier and eliminates the need for an external air barrier not a easy application on a multi storried building as well as any special electrical pans and their sealing.
If you ve tried everything else and are determined to insulate the walls of an old house follow these.
The paper facing contains a layer of impermeable asphalt that prevents water vapor from passing through it.
Install siding over the insulation.
Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.
Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.
Replace old windows with energy efficient units.
I install my vapor barrier in the middle of the wall system between the two walls.
Not every wall does.
The insulation fiberglass or cellulose is then placed on top of the drywall with no vapor barrier above or below.
A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter.
On the other hand an air barrier a properly detailed air tight drywall ceiling for example in the absence of a vapor barrier can be effective since it stops the flow of vapor laden air.
Attach 1 inch foam board insulation.
Do not add a vapor barrier on top of the insulation in your attic since the paper facing on the existing insulation is the vapor barrier.
Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls.
They come with or without a paper or foil facing that acts as a vapor barrier.
Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks.
After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one.
Thousands of houses have had insulation blown in without incident mostly because old houses are so leaky that there is little or no chance for water vapor to build up to cause the insulation to.
This flexible insulation material is most often packaged in rolls that come in various thicknesses and standard widths usually 16 inches and 24 inches to fit between joists or studs in a house s framing.