Had the same thing happen when I opened up a wall in my ’87 split-level. Inspector swore it was older, mostly because of the weird mix of knob-and-tube remnants and some really uneven framing. Guess the builder just used whatever was cheapest or on hand. I get what you mean about poly sheeting, though—
I’ve found that to be true in a lot of spots.Poly sheeting might not win any beauty contests, but it’s reliable—sometimes simple is just the right call, especially with unpredictable framing.
In my basement, the vapor barrier is just plain poly stapled up, no fancy tapes or gaskets. It’s held up fine for decades. I did have to patch a few spots where mice chewed through, but that’s more on the critters than the material. Sometimes I think inspectors expect every house from the 80s to look like a textbook example, but reality is always messier. If it works and keeps moisture out, I’m not too fussed about how it looks behind drywall.
That’s pretty much been my experience too. I pulled down some drywall in my place (built in ’89, or so the paperwork says) and found a Frankenstein mix of old-school wiring, random insulation, and what looked like leftover lumber from three different decades. Inspector tried to tell me the house was “at least 60s vintage” just because of the knob-and-tube bits, but I know for a fact it was just whatever the builder could scrounge up cheap.
As for poly sheeting, I’m with you—doesn’t look fancy, but it does the job. I’ve seen some folks go all out with tapes and special barriers, but honestly, the plain stuff stapled up has kept my basement dry through some nasty spring thaws. Only real issue I’ve had was a squirrel that chewed a hole behind the washer... not exactly a construction flaw.
I get why inspectors want everything by the book, but houses from that era are always a bit of a patchwork. If it’s keeping the moisture out and nothing’s rotting, I’m not losing sleep over a few wrinkles or staples showing.
I hear you on the patchwork construction—my place is a similar story. The inspector flagged some old BX cable and assumed the whole house was early ’70s, but the city records clearly say ’85. Builders back then really just used whatever was handy or cheap. As for poly, I’ve tried both taped and untaped approaches. Honestly, unless you’ve got major water issues or super humid conditions, plain poly stapled up does fine. Squirrels, though... can’t say I’ve found a good “code-compliant” fix for them yet.
Had the same thing happen—inspector saw some knob-and-tube in my attic and pegged the place as 1960s, but it’s an ’88 build.
That’s the truth. Sometimes I wonder if they just grabbed whatever was left in the truck. As for poly, I’ve never bothered taping unless I’m dealing with a basement. Squirrels though... yeah, good luck. I’ve patched more soffit than I care to admit, and they still find a way in.“Builders back then really just used whatever was handy or cheap.”
That’s wild—seen it more than once where inspectors just assume based on one oddball thing they spot. I’ve had houses from the late 90s with random old-school wiring or plumbing, probably because someone had leftovers or got a deal on materials. It’s not always a sign the whole place is ancient, but try telling that to an inspector in a hurry.
On the poly, I’m with you—unless it’s a basement or somewhere that really needs it sealed up tight, I don’t bother taping every seam either. Never noticed much difference unless there’s serious moisture issues.
Squirrels are another story... I swear those little guys could chew through steel if they wanted in bad enough. I’ve patched soffits, fascia, even tried metal mesh, and they still find a way. At this point, I just keep a stash of patch material handy and hope for the best. Sometimes feels like you’re just slowing them down rather than keeping them out for good.
