Brick veneer without sheathing

[ADCS]

Hey guys

I am in process of removing insulation that was poorly installed from the previous home owner in my attached garage. The three walls which are not shared walls are brick on the exterior. After removing the insulation between the studs I see that there is no sheathing between the studs and brick, there is only asphalt/tar paper. The home is 13 years old and there have been no water leaks or at least no evidence of leaks.

Is this common for garage construction?
Can I lay insulation batts directly against the tar paper without sheathing?
Would it be better to put Styrofoam down first?
I think spray foam would be the best in this case but it is likely not in my budget. Garage is 16x20'



Thanks. Adam

 

[bobemmerich]

That is weird. I wouldn't put insulation directly to the paper, brick does get wet, so the insulation would probably soak it up. I'd use some form of a barrier between the brick and insulation.
Have you consulted your local building/permits office?

 

[kd3pc]

fairly common for old school builders doing a garage/unheated space. the tar/asphalt paper is attached to the studs, the brick veneer is an inch or so from that giving it breathing room. the tar paper is your vapor barrier.

In the past you just put unfaced fiberglass batts up and then your walls. Others will post what is more "normal" nowadays

 

[kbs2244]

Almost right.
The tar paper is a MOISTURE barrier.
Not vapor.
It is there to keep the liquid water that will seep through the bricks from getting into the studs.
If you insulate and heat you will want to put up a poly VAPOR barrier on the warm side of the insulation. (The kraft paper isn't good enough by itself.)
The idea is to keep any vapor from getting into the wall and condensing as it moves toward the cold.

And yes, it was somewhat common when buildiing an unheated building.
The sheathing is there to prevent the wall from "racking" out of square.
In your case it looks like they were depending on the iron to take that load.

 

[holdover]

many builders put plywood at the corners to add strength or diagonal boards, then black board to act as barrier, never saw just tar paper around here

 

[ADCS]

Thanks for the replies.

So doing this won't lead to any issues?
Brick --> 1" air gap --> tar paper --> insulation --> vapor barrier --> drywall

Any recommendations on insulation types that may be properly suited for this type of install?

Thanks

 

[kbs2244]

You have it down.
Have fun.

 

[8man]

Faced or unfaced fiberglass either will work. The faced may be easier to work with than the unfaced, but the unfaced may be cheaper and since you are going with a vapor barrier you don't need the facing on the fiberglass insulation.