Should Bathroom Walls Be Insulated

The insulation behind the tub or shower should be equivalent to the insulation in the rest of the exterior walls and should be covered with an air barrier of cement backer board rigid foam insulation or non paper faced drywall that is sealed at the edges and seams to provide a continuous air seal.

Should bathroom walls be insulated.

Bathroom projects need special consideration because of the humidity and moisture that bathrooms generate. In the best case scenario you can insulate the wall behind the shower during initial construction at the same time you insulate the rest of the exterior walls. Sound dampening insulating interior walls. Insulating interior bathroom walls.

Mold will feast off of any kind of paper if it gets wet and stays wet. Plastic sheeting is used because of its low level of water permeability. The best time to insulate all walls is during new construction but it s possible to add insulation to existing walls without tearing off the drywall. Properly insulated bathroom reduces energy consumption and saves money.

It s usually a thin layer of plastic that sits between the drywall and the studs. There must a vapor retarder of some sort where walls are insulated in bathroom installations. But i do somewhat agree that kraft faced insulation is not a good insulation for around showers and the like. By insulating these walls the owners had eliminated enough radiant heat that they d inadvertently reduced room temperatures below the dew point.

It s also a relatively easy option for diyers. To accomplish this you have to insulate interior walls and hot water pipes to minimize heat loss. There was a dehumidifier in the space that fell woefully short of handling the huge level of humidity. Every gap and compressed batt leaves a path for heat or cold to escape.

Install vapor barriers after the bathroom s plumbing electrical and insulation are complete. Because fiberglass tends to be more porous moist air is likelier to flow through it. Place the insulation slabs or batts inside the wall cavity between the studs. It s easy to insulate your walls with fiberglass insulation at least when they re open but the job still requires attention to detail to get the maximum benefit.

When moisture becomes trapped in walls mold and mildew can grow damaging your home and presenting a potential health danger. During this phase the stud spaces. Another path is foam pipe insulation which will keep pipes warmer during cold months. What needs to be insulated.