Vapor retarder
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 1:39 pm
Hello,
I'm modifying a room in my house to be a 2nd bathroom. it used to be a sun porch, so 3 of the 4 walls and the ceiling are exterior walls/surfaces. My question is, does code require me to install vapor barrier/retarder on the interior of the studs (between studs and sheet rock)? I searched through the 2009 IRC, which my town goes by, and I didn't see a requirement for it. When you search for it on the internet, there is no clear answer, and everyone has strong opinions about it. I personally don't want to install it, but of course I will if I have to keep inspectors happy. I have done a lot of light construction in my life, most with a licensed contractor, and we never installed interior vapor barrier (granted this was 25 years ago). I also never found any in any remodel we did. I live in Connecticut, and my house is air conditioned in summer (window units). I will say that the room had a hot tub in it for over 12 years, and was unheated when it contained the tub. I recently gutted the room to the studs for this project, and found no evidence of water/vapor damage. The house itself is over 90 years old, and I have renovated many parts of it, no vapor barrier found or added, and no moisture damage to be found.
Thanks
I'm modifying a room in my house to be a 2nd bathroom. it used to be a sun porch, so 3 of the 4 walls and the ceiling are exterior walls/surfaces. My question is, does code require me to install vapor barrier/retarder on the interior of the studs (between studs and sheet rock)? I searched through the 2009 IRC, which my town goes by, and I didn't see a requirement for it. When you search for it on the internet, there is no clear answer, and everyone has strong opinions about it. I personally don't want to install it, but of course I will if I have to keep inspectors happy. I have done a lot of light construction in my life, most with a licensed contractor, and we never installed interior vapor barrier (granted this was 25 years ago). I also never found any in any remodel we did. I live in Connecticut, and my house is air conditioned in summer (window units). I will say that the room had a hot tub in it for over 12 years, and was unheated when it contained the tub. I recently gutted the room to the studs for this project, and found no evidence of water/vapor damage. The house itself is over 90 years old, and I have renovated many parts of it, no vapor barrier found or added, and no moisture damage to be found.
Thanks