insulating floor over unfinished basement (vapor barrier?)

16 years ago

Not sure if this should be in the floor forum or an Insulation forum but here goes anyway. I have a tile floor in the kitchen over an unfinished section of basement. The basement drops to 55 degrees in the winter obviously making my kitchen tile floor cold. I have very easy access to put some R13 fiberglass up into the joists below the kitchen footprint. My question is about CONDENSATION. I'd rather have the paper side facing the basement (which is a bitter nice to look at than fiberglass). With the 55 degrees basement and 70 degree kitchen floor do i have to worry about condensation being created at all? i'm over-worrying about that right?

Paper side of insulation should usually be on the warm side, if i push it up into the joists i'm having the paper on the cold side. I don't want to be creating a moisture issue by doing this. but its only a 15 degree differnce at most.. does moisture form at 15 degree difference?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

jerry_t
16 years ago
The kraft paper needs to up tight against the subfloor... no air gaps there. Instead of stapling you can use the wire insulation holders that snap in between the joist.

You can get condensation.
budman328
Original Author
16 years ago
okay so i understand i have to get it up in there tight, but are you saying i definitely need to have the paper side touching the floor (touching the warm side) so from the basement i'd be looking at the fiberglass and not the paper?
Related Professionals
Chesapeake Flooring Contractors · Conyers Flooring Contractors · Danbury Flooring Contractors · Old Bridge Flooring Contractors · Oxford Flooring Contractors · Summerville Flooring Contractors · Winchester Flooring Contractors · Augusta General Contractors · Converse General Contractors · Davidson General Contractors · East Riverdale General Contractors · Forest Grove General Contractors · Marinette General Contractors · Rancho Cordova General Contractors · Springfield General Contractors
ci_lantro
16 years ago
Save a few $$ and buy unfaced insulation & use the wire clips to hold it up or nail some furring strips perpendicular to the joists.
jerry_t
16 years ago
If you buy faced insulation the kraft backing should go firmly against the conditioned side. On the other hand you could use the unfaced type there like the previous poster said. Either way you will still see the insulation from below.

If you don't do this it may, or may not, come back to bite you one day.