I've got a moisture issue in the insulation on basement walls 3 year old home sub-basement. Previous owner/contractor insulated the basement walls this way concrete wall tar paper ( 24" strips overlapped 4" placed horizontally ) 2x4 stud framing, pink insulation, plastic clear vapour barrier. When I bought the house 2 years ago, the building inspector told us that the moisture/wet insulation was typically normal, no need for concern. I don't like the idea of water in the walls or the insulation being wet; doesn't sound healthy? Should I rip everything out, and just latex the concrete walls, or drywall over this wet insulation.
Answer:
I wouldn't do a whole lot with it but by the sound of it, the vapour barrier is less than 6mm poly. It could be as little as 2 mm and that means there could be tiny holes all over it. It also helps if the insulation stops about 8" off the floor because over the years I've found that to be one of the main causes of condensation under the VB which, by the way, should also stop about 8" off the floor).
