Moisture barrier question

[MopardudeWI]

My pole barn was built with a insulation wrap added before they put the metal on. See attached photos. How should I go about dealing with this when I stud this out and add more insulation? I am assuming this wrap acts as a moisture barrier, I really don't know for sure its plastic backed insulation. I am in SE WI and here the moisture barrier is supposed to be on the inside. What is my best course of action? Do just add my batts and not put a barrier on the inside? From what i understand adding a second is not good. My uncle thought I should just slash the plastic with a knife before I add more insulation but I am skeptical if that would actually do anything.

 

[850xpeps]

If it’s a vapour barrier then 1/3
Insulation can be on the inside of it. That’s our code up north.

I can’t answer weather it’s vapour or moisture. I would assume vapour.

 

[MopardudeWI]

Googling what the difference between a vapor and moisture barrier was, I came across something called an air barrier. Its its described as impermeable to air flow and continuous over the entire building, which describes this wrap on my building pretty much. There is a fiberglass center layer to mine. Otherwise the info I am finding says a vapor and moisture barriers are the same thing.

 

[GRivera]

Tracking - mine was also built with bubble wrap between the metal roof and trusses. The thing is I didn't pay for it - they just did it. I have yet to install insulation and wondered the same thing.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Why "more" insulation?

When you say you're going to "stud it out"- are you standing up a framed wall in front of the existing? Or, adding to the existing? If you feel that you need more insulation due to the weak R-value of the existing I would consider standing up a framed wall with foam board toward the existing wall. You'll have some air gap so it shouldn't effect the existing blanket insulation.

If you're planning on adding studs to the existing wall- add foam board to the interior side. This will still maintain an air gap for the blanket insulation, yet you're still adding additional R-value. You can apply drywall/plywood/etc. over the foam board.

Suffice it to say- cutting the covering on the blanket insulation is not recommended.

 

[850xpeps]

Why "more" insulation?

When you say you're going to "stud it out"- are you standing up a framed wall in front of the existing? Or, adding to the existing? If you feel that you need more insulation due to the weak R-value of the existing I would consider standing up a framed wall with foam board toward the existing wall. You'll have some air gap so it shouldn't effect the existing blanket insulation.

If you're planning on adding studs to the existing wall- add foam board to the interior side. This will still maintain an air gap for the blanket insulation, yet you're still adding additional R-value. You can apply drywall/plywood/etc. over the foam board.

Suffice it to say- cutting the covering on the blanket insulation is not recommended.

You don’t want to add another vapour barrier inside the existing if that’s what the insulation is backed with. That’s what needs to be figured out.

If it’s a vapour barrier then you can stud and install batt insulation up to 1/3 of the r value of what’s outside the vapour barrier. Wouldn’t be any benefit paying the price for foam board. If it’s not a vapour barrier and can breath then I would install r20 batting and then vapour barrier on inside of the frame walls and then sheet.