Rich writes from Independence, Ohio: "I am in the process of finishing my basement into a recreation room. A few yrs. ago I used Dry-lok (2 coats) on the walls of the basement and I recently studded the walls and had all the electrical done, After much research on insulating and vapor barriers I am still very confused on this issue. My decision was to put up Owens-Corning R-13 3-1/2 " fiberglass insulation with the Kraft vapor barrier, I have the Kraft paper toward the inside of the room, it's going up great, can you reassure me that I'm putting up the insulation in the correct way? I live near Cleveland where the winters get very cold."

Answer: You are installing the insulation in the correct way. In your part of the country the Kraft paper will go toward the warm-air-in-winter side.

You are also using the correct vapor retarder. Kraft paper is the recommendation over poly in a basement application.