basement insullation - vapor barrier help

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by mcyr

How can thingas get to be so wrong?

Easy when the owner figures he is doing it right because he read it would save energy.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by belliott

This is from an inspection 2 days ago.
can anyone see what is wrong?
Attachment 43977

Missing weep holes!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Good morning Jeff, you are right, and with the amount of moisture they are trapping, they might need a sump pump added.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jjonas

Missing weep holes!

Actually this inspection did include missing weep holes though that is way off base from what we are discussing.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I think we have strayed away from the original posters question.
I apologize to the poster, but just wish he reads all the post anyways.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by belliott

Actually this inspection did include missing weep holes though that is way off base from what we are discussing.

Are you sure about that? Where did all that moisture come from? Hmmm? If you are missing weep holes, the moisture has to go somewhere. Just sayin'.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by mcyr

I think we have strayed away from the original posters question.
I apologize to the poster, but just wish he reads all the post anyways.

Agree, but in building science, it's (mostly) all related.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jjonas

Are you sure about that? Where did all that moisture come from? Hmmm? If you are missing weep holes, the moisture has to go somewhere. Just sayin'.

Brick veneer was in front but behind the wall with the moisture meter was vinyl siding and the foundation was exposed with acceptable lot grade or in this case concrete gangway.Brick only at front.
Never figured the cause.(yes that bothers me) Oh well.
Was a 2 flat with front basement walled off to the first floor.I was inspecting 2nd floor and basement utility area (rear basement)(condo) at 2nd floor).

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Sounds like a screwed up mess which will give that wall assembly some major problems down the road.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Sounds like a screwed up mess which will give that wall assembly some major problems down the road.

Yeah I told my client to rip out the plastic.Foundation was fine with above grade sill plate.

[James H. Bushart]

Just got this in my email this morning.

[agallatin]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Exactly Bob. That is what happens when moisture in a basement wall is trying to dry out to the interior of a conditioned space.
One layer of Vapor impermeable membrane 0.1 perm or less.
And one layer of Vapor simi-impermeable kraft faced paper at 1.0 perm or less and greater than 0.1 perm.
It is always a bad method to install a vapor barrier such as polyethylene vapor barriers, foil faced batt insulation and refective radiant barrier foil insulation on the interior of air conditioned assemblies and below grade conditioned spaces.
The constant temperatures of the ground of 58 degrees +/- combined with the room temperature of 68 degrees create a dew point behind the vapor barrier and cannot dry out.

Marcel this why you need to know you local jurisdiction . In our region it is regulation to have the vapor barrier on the inside of the stud wall . I'm not saying it's the right way , but the regulators do .

[Marcel R. Cyr]

As it is over here Allan. For exterior walls, yes, for basements where it can not dry to the outside, no.

Seen to many problems with basement moisture, and mold issues caused by a low permeance vapor barrier against the foundation walls.

[agallatin]

I have to agree with you on this Marcel . Some regulations just don't seem to make sense !

[Marcel R. Cyr]

An Article here that Roy posted on another thread that is realitive to the discussion.

RRRR-0309: Renovating Your Basement

Good Information explaining better what I was trying to convey earlier.