You could use an adhesive instead of drilling holes in your foundation wall in order to attach foam board and a vapor barrier to the wall if you are apprehensive about doing so mechanically and are worried about water damage. In most cases, our butyl tape with two sides would perform quite admirably. Due to the presence of loose granules that are prone to falling off, the tape does not adhere particularly well to it; as a result, the tape will eventually come off as well.
How exactly does one go about affixing a vapor barrier to the walls of a crawl space?
After you have adhered the vapor barrier material to the foundation seal tape, you can use mechanical fasteners to ensure that it will remain in place permanently. Create holes in the block by drilling through the plastic, as well as through the seal tape. If you drill through the seal tape, the plastic will not peel off when you remove the drill because you will have prevented it from doing so.
Do you install a vapor barrier on the interior walls of the building?
In order to prevent condensation from forming, a vapor barrier should be placed on the warm side of your insulation to stop warm, moist air from condensing on a cold surface inside your wall. For most of the year, the vapor barrier should be on the inside of the insulation.
Should the vapor barrier be installed on the walls?
In most cases, the best place to install a vapor barrier is on the side of the wall that is subjected to the hotter temperatures and more humid conditions. This would be the inner surface in climates with colder temperatures and the outer surface in climates with hotter temperatures and more humid conditions.
Is it necessary to use plastic behind the drywall?
Without poly under the drywall, water vapor will hit the drywall, and then it will diffuse through to the drier (during the 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.
Is a vapor barrier necessary for exterior walls?
Because it is typically very hot and very humid outside the building, the vapor barrier ought to be mounted on the building's exterior rather than inside the insulation. It is recommended to do so in order to prevent the moisture found outside from entering the interiors of the building, which are typically less humid and cooler, and causing structural damage.
