Foil-backed drywall (bathrooms, kitchens, mold, insulation)

[CA central coast]

I'm considering using it as opposed to standard and visquene as a vapor barrier. Any opinions? I'm furring out from block.

[BobKovacs]

The climate in California doesn't dictate a vapor barrier (visquene or otherwise) on the interior of the wall- you're likely to trap moisture on the back side of the drywall and end up with serious mold issues.

[CA central coast]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

The climate in California doesn't dictate a vapor barrier (visquene or otherwise) on the interior of the wall- you're likely to trap moisture on the back side of the drywall and end up with serious mold issues.

I don't have a vapor barrier on the outside. There's nothing to stop it. I'd have to run dehumdifiers if I don't do something.

[texdav]

If your in a dry climate it would be nice to have a mositure barrier on the outside but not detrimental really. In cold climates where you have most of the year with heated interior and cold exterior you have the most problem and need a moisture barrier under the dry wall. In humid warm climates you need just a mositure barrier under the outside sheathing. Once it gets hot the mositure there is sucked up pretty quickly. Site like Owens-Corning has alot of info on insulation and mositure barriers.Bathrooms'kitchens and laundry roofs are good places for the new water proof sheet rock and of course good ventilation.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by CA central coast

I don't have a vapor barrier on the outside. There's nothing to stop it. I'd have to run dehumdifiers if I don't do something.

Lacking one on the outside still doesn't make putting one on the inside a good idea- you'll "fix" one problem while creating another that could be much worse.