The TL;DR — vapor barriers belong on the outside only You should only place a vapor barrier on the exterior side of the exterior wall, allowing the assembly to dry back to the inside if water does get in past the tub surround.
Do you need a vapor barrier in bathroom walls?
Because of moisture, bathrooms are some of the primary areas of your home at risk of mold and mildew development. It is important to make sure that a proper vapor barrier (or vapor retarder) is installed on the walls in your bathroom whenever you’re building or remodeling.
Where does a vapor barrier go in a bathroom?
A vapor barrier should therefore be installed on the interior and exterior walls, making it a critical method to remedy the vapor problem that always manifests in the shower. A vapor barrier is strategically placed between the green board and the water.
Should you use vapor barrier on exterior walls?
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.
What side of a wall needs the vapor barrier?
Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions: the inner surface in colder climates and the outer surface in hot, humid climates. In existing spaces, oil-based paints or vapor-barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier.
How do you insulate an exterior bathroom wall?
Quote from Youtube video: If you're going to install a moisture resistant tile backer like Hardiebacker or durak. And membranes should be applied on the room side of those products. The other tile backers.
How do you install a bathroom vapor barrier?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The top of the board to the stud to one place. Using a straight edge and your marker draw a line on the board to the top of the one liner. This will prevent you from screwing into the one.
What is the difference between a vapor barrier and a moisture barrier?
Moisture barriers function to help in preventing water from entering inside of the wall cavity. On the other hand, vapor barriers basically prevent water vapor from the interior of the house to filter through the wall and condense on the warm side of the insulation.
What do you put behind shower walls?
Rigid air barrier materials for use behind showers and tubs include fiber-cement, fiber-reinforced gypsum, glass mat gypsum, or fiber mat-reinforced cementitious backer panels.
What insulation is best for bathroom walls?
When it comes to finding the best insulation for your bathroom walls, spray foam and fiberglass-based insulation materials are both good choices. In terms of pricing, fiberglass insulation is more budget-friendly to use than spray foam insulation.
Do interior bathroom walls need to be insulated?
Neglecting to insulate and air seal behind shower walls can cause significant heat loss, which can make showers, tubs, and bathrooms chilly. The insulation behind shower walls should be equivalent to the insulation installed in the rest of the exterior walls.
Does a shower need a vapor barrier?
They are required beneath your shower pan and behind your shower walls. Moisture barriers can be made of polyethylene or a membrane that is rolled directly onto the drywall. No matter what they are made of, without them, your shower is subject to moisture damage.
Do you need insulation behind interior shower walls?
Insulating behind shower walls improves moisture control, which in turn reduces the chances of mold growth. Apart from retaining heat and minimizing condensation, insulating behind shower walls also provides better acoustics by reducing annoying sounds from outdoors or between rooms.
What insulation should I use in bathroom walls?
When it comes to finding the best insulation for your bathroom walls, spray foam and fiberglass-based insulation materials are both good choices. In terms of pricing, fiberglass insulation is more budget-friendly to use than spray foam insulation.
How do you insulate interior bathroom walls?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: For years we accomplished this by using a six mil vapor retarder over fiberglass insulation. And it works it works ok vapor barriers need a lot of questions about them.
Do you need a vapor barrier behind tub surround?
The vapor barrier should be on the “inside” (between the insulation and drywall). There is no need to vapor barrier the non-exterior walls. If the tub shares this exterior wall I would put vapor barrier behind it (if you can) as the plastic tub surround will not give you a “vapor barrier” (I don’t think).
Should I insulate my bathroom walls?
Proper insulation will help keep your bathrooms a comfortable temperature year-round. Bathroom projects need special consideration because of the humidity and moisture that bathrooms generate. When moisture becomes trapped in walls, mold and mildew can grow, damaging your home and presenting a potential health danger.
What do you put behind a shower wall?
Install cement board or an equivalent moisture-resistant backing material on walls behind tub and shower enclosures composed of tile or panel assemblies with caulked joints. Don’t use paper-faced backer board, i.e., paper-faced drywall, behind seamed tub and shower enclosures.
Do I need a vapor barrier behind cement board in shower?
If it’s a cement board, you need a vapor barrier, because cement retains moisture, which means the wood next to it is always damp. It does retain moisture, but the advice given by others here is to move the waterproofing between the tile and cement board with products like Redguard or Ditra.
Do you have to put drywall behind shower surround?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I do this behind the enclosure all the way up to get myself a nice level wall. And it works perfect and I get no water penetration ever in my bathtubs.
