My house was built in 1943, The walls of my house are 6″ cinder block with a brick veneer. The inside of the blocks where painted with what looks like a black tar based coating to act as a waterproof coating so the moisture from the bricks would not come inside. The original walls had no insulation in them just 1×4 furring strips and drywall. I want to insulate the walls some of which will remain 1×4 furring and others that will be 2x4s built away from the block. I don’t want to create a problem with moisture in the walls and wonder how they should be insulated and what kind of vapor barrier?
Thanks Tom C.
Replies
The complex answer to your question depends on where your house is, due to local weather (hot, dry summers? hot, humid summers? mild summers? cold, dry winters? cold, wet winters? mild winters?) and your HVAC practices (air condition in the summer? heat in the winter? radiant heat? forced air? etc.)
Nonetheless, adding effective insulation will be difficult in the areas that don't provide some reasonable cavity (the 1x4 space isn't going to be able to provide much.)
Nonetheless, adding effective insulation will be difficult in the areas that don't provide some reasonable cavity
Yeah, this is going to be a bit like an above-ground basement wall. No water moving thorugh backfill; but no backfill to add R value, either.
The 'black tar-like substance' makes me a bit suspicious that the block wall was having problems with moisture coming through the brick veneer (which could be another can of worms).
Makes a simple answer hard to give.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
A spray on urethene foam will act as moisture stop, vapor barrier, and insulation all in one for your house.
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