With Therma-Comfort, Installing Vapor Barrier is a Quick and Easy One-Step Process

Installing vapor barrier is important for complete and thorough home insulation. On this site we talk about home insulation in every room and area, and commercial building insulation. We've talked about different insulation material types, where to install them, and how to install them. We've talked about the value of a high quality radiant barrier and the benefits of insulation for the earth and for your wallet. But none of these elements would be complete without good vapor barrier insulation to eliminate moisture and condensation.

Properly installing vapor barrier in addition with your typical home insulation is a must for two big reasons:

1. Wet insulation doesn't work well. Some insulations such as fiberglass absorb moisture which lower the R-value or thermal resistance. The soft, wooly texture of fiberglass and rock wool insulation soak up water vapor like a sponge and trap it inside the batting. During the summer months when you want cool air in and hot air out, the moistened fiberglass acts as a heat conductor re-emiting the heat back into your home. It completely defeats the purpose of home insulation.

2. When moist air comes in contact with a cold surface, some moisture leaves the air and this condensation seeps into the insulation and walls of your home, making it susceptible to mold, fungus, mildew, or rust. These growths will not only decrease the life of your insulation, but will also decrease the life of your house or building.

Above and under your house have the greatest need for vapor barrier insulation. The proper installation of attic and basement vapor barriers are essential to optimal home insulation. But the fact is, you want vapor barrier insulation anywhere you will to stop water vapor leakage. Installing crawlspace vapor barrier, concrete vapor barrier, and even wine cellar vapor barrier plays a key role in maximizing the efficiency of your insulation.

In the winter all walls are cold which makes them a prime target for condensation and water vapor seepage. To avoid these vapor problems make sure your roof is in good condition, caulk and seal around your windows and doors, ensure for proper ventilation throughout your home, clean and replace your gutters, but most important, install a high quality vapor barrier insulation along with your existing insulation.

Many insulations offer a vapor retardant. But these still allow a small percentage of vapor leakage. A commonly used vapor retarder is polyethylene sheeting. It is a plastic vapor barrier that comes in clear or black and comes in rolls about 100 feet long. It is available in different thickness from 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters to 6 millimeters. Though it is common, it has its limitations. It is made from low density polyethylene resins and sometimes filters are added, but pinholes can exist allowing the transmission of water vapor. Also, this material can degrade and break down over time.

We would like to recommend Therma-Comfort reflective insulation to fulfill all your radiant barrier and vapor barrier needs as an alternative to less efficient vapor retarders. Where vapor retarders slow down the transmission of moisture, Therma-Comfort permits absolutely no water seepage with 0.000 water vapor permeance.

Where installing a typical vapor barrier or retarder requires multiple steps with cutting, taping, and then placing the insulation on top, installing vapor barrier is made easy with Therma-Comfort. It's a one step process along with the radiant barrier. Therma-Comfort is lightweight, easy to handle, and clean. Installing vapor barrier should not be difficult, it should be something you don't even think about. Once installed, Therma-Comfort provides such a peaceful, comfortable atmosphere that you don't realize how much work the Therma-Comfort is doing to reflect radiant heat and eliminate water vapor.

For more information on Therma-Comfort and installing vapor barrier in general, please contact us at (951) 675-1207. We have worked hard to design and create Therma-Comfort, one of the most efficient and effective vapor barriers on the market. We stand behind our research and products. We realize that the issue of home insulation is important especially in these days when utility and energy bills are eating up our ever precious incomes. Please call us with any questions or concerns about residential, industrial, or agricultural insulation. We are more than happy to share our knowledge and expertise with you.