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Vapor barrier needed?

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rsa

Well-known member
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Mar 3, 2011
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300
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Between Raleigh and Fayetteville, NC, USA
Sounds like you won't be having or don't have a ceiling?

You are going to run the baffles continuously from soffit vent to ridge vent, right?

There are better, stiffer choices for baffles, including site built. See this article, page 72. In fact, you might be intereste in reading it all. It's short and interesting. Another short, interesting read/listen is also by Dr. Lstiburek.

It doesn't sound like you're going to get very much insulation up there.

As far as your original question, read Understanding Vapor Barriers, by the good Doctor and Vapor Retarders and Vapor Barriers by greenbuildingadvisor.com.
 
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Stepper

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Mar 12, 2012
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Michigan, N of AA
Correct. No ceiling; I want to keep an "open" feel to the inside. My desire is to place insulation to the underside of the roof, after installing an air channel.
I wasn't sure if I'd need a vapor barrier in the mix or if the craft facing was enough. Thanks for the links. I'll take a look.
 

rsa

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
300
Location
Between Raleigh and Fayetteville, NC, USA
Correct. No ceiling; I want to keep an "open" feel to the inside. My desire is to place insulation to the underside of the roof, after installing an air channel.
I wasn't sure if I'd need a vapor barrier in the mix or if the craft facing was enough. Thanks for the links. I'll take a look.
Short answer, the kraft facing meets code for the required vapor retarder. From the Understanding Vapor Barriers link,
Zone 5 requires a Class III (or lower) vapor retarder on the interior surface of insulation in ventilated insulated roof or attic assemblies.
 

James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
Have you considered using spray foam insulation instead of rolled fiberglass insulation? I believe you would find the spray foam insulation to have a greater R-value and you would not need a vapor barrier. I realize it would cost more to go with the spray foam insulation, but I think if you were to spend some extra dollars now you would be better off in the long run.
 

JCByrd24

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Jul 21, 2005
Messages
493
Location
Bath, ME
I also agree that you need a different strategy. The problem with fiberglass batts is that they let air through them easily. If you do not use something to air seal the building/framing bays, the batts cannot do their job, as the air will just move through them and you will loose your heated air right to the outside. The vent baffles on back will do little to help.

If you are diligent about not puncturing the kraft face and then tape the seems that would go a long way. Instead of foam baffles though, I'd build them yourself out of 1.5" polyisocyanurate rigid foam and seal those very well to each rafter and at the ends, as if it were the only insulation you were using. Then put your fiberglass in whatever room is left. This way each bay is sealed all around and air cannot move through the glass.

If you do some research the building science community has figured out that air leakage costs a lot more in lost heat than less than adequate r-value in a tight house. Air leakage is also what makes the advertised R-value of fiberglass batts very optimistic compared to actual results, whereas foams and dense packed cellulose get much closer.

With regard do your initial question, the kraft paper will be a fine vapor retarder if not full of holes. The building science as come a long way on interior vapor barriers as well, and something like interior plastic sheeting is only recommended in high interior humidity situations (inside pool) or very very cold climates.
 
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