Should Bathroom Walls Be Insulated

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.

Should bathroom walls be insulated.

Insulating interior bathroom walls. Measure and cut the fiberglass batt for an exact fit. Insulating a bathroom proper insulation will help keep your bathrooms a comfortable temperature year round. Another path is foam pipe insulation which will keep pipes warmer during cold months.

What needs to be insulated. Properly insulated bathroom reduces energy consumption and saves money. 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. 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.

To accomplish this you have to insulate interior walls and hot water pipes to minimize heat loss. When moisture becomes trapped in walls mold and mildew can grow damaging your home and presenting a potential health danger. There must a vapor retarder of some sort where walls are insulated in bathroom installations. 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.

Because fiberglass tends to be more porous moist air is likelier to flow through it. There was a dehumidifier in the space that fell woefully short of handling the huge level of humidity. But i do somewhat agree that kraft faced insulation is not a good insulation for around showers and the like. 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. Bathroom projects need special consideration because of the humidity and moisture that bathrooms generate. Place the insulation slabs or batts inside the wall cavity between the studs. Mold will feast off of any kind of paper if it gets wet and stays wet.

It s usually a thin layer of plastic that sits between the drywall and the studs. Sprayed insulation such as cellulose or foam are usually smarter choices than fiberglass for your bathroom. Sound dampening insulating interior walls. During this phase the stud spaces.