Homeowners often ask if a vapor barrier is necessary for optimizing attic insulation and protecting their homes from moisture-related damage. The answer, however, isn’t one-size-fits-all. Factors like ...

Years ago, when few homes had insulation in their outside walls, no one worried about vapor barriers–there was no need for them. But now homes are better insulated, making it necessary to install a ...

DEAR TIM: The crawl space under my 1910 home is just exposed dirt and leftover building materials. I need to add a vapor barrier and wonder about the best one. The foundation consists of granite slabs ...

Q–Relatives of mine bought a house that is about 30 years old. Upon checking the insulation in the attic crawl space, they found some loose pour- type insulation between the floor joists and an ...

Improper use of vapor barriers is one of the leading causes of moisture-related issues in buildings today. Vapor barriers, or vapor retarders, are designed to prevent wall assemblies from getting wet.

Imagine a cold, wet, windy day. You can take an umbrella to protect you from the water alone, but that won’t deal with the cold (temperature) or the wind (air convection). You can add in a light ...

Many homes and additions are built over a crawl space to save time and money. Unlike traditional basements, crawl spaces are often only a few feet tall, built above grade, and many are unfinished with ...

Air barriers have been used in many different ways throughout the years, and they’re becoming particularly relevant as energy code requirements evolve. But many questions have surrounded the use of ...

The National Wood Flooring Association recently invited me to attend its annual educational meeting in Charlotte, N.C. My topic was how to apply wood flooring over radiant floors without creating a ...

Q: I’m planning to build a climate-controlled wine cellar in my home. What do I need to tell my contractor so they can properly prepare the space? A: In the past 50 years, wine cellars have commonly ...

Question: The crawl space under my 1910 home is just exposed dirt and leftover building materials. I need to add a vapor barrier and wonder about the best one. The foundation consists of granite slabs ...