Bedroom wall puzzler

[Kodi Crescent]

I have another thread about my goof cutting an electric line outside the box.  This is from the same bedroom.

So I'm cutting back some drywall so that I can add some sound insulation to the walls.  As I'm cutting the drywall back, I come across this part that's a real puzzler to me.  Insulation and vapor barrier on this interior wall.  About 4 or 5 feet in from an exterior wall.  Aside from that, there are some odd "guards" behind the vapor barrier, but I'm not sure what they are guarding.  I have a guess as to what they should have been guarding, but wanted to run this by others who are more knowledgeable about what they are doing.

In the pics notice the red bowl.  The metal guard is behind the sheeting in line with this.  Any ideas why this is here?  Any ideas on why the wall is insulated with a vapor barrier at this point?  Note the unguarded AC line.  I've already shot a hole in this line while working on a lower floor...hopefully I'll be wiser this time.

I've attached pics.

On another note, are there any wall length guards I can put up to prevent me from hitting the AC line when it comes time to hang shelves or crown molding in the future?

(I apologize for the image not rotating correctly.)

Oh, and on another highly appetizing note...It seems I've found the cockroach super highway of my home.  (Those dark areas mid wall are collections of "frass".)  Lucky me. (The bowl is a cockroach trap).  Does anyone know of any long term poison I can stick in that area before I close the wall up that will keep them at bay, hopefully for good?

 

[dltflt]

I have insulation on my interior walls also. I thought is was a bit strange. I don't have a vapor barrier which seems very odd.

 

[peter halle]

What is on the backside of that wall.

Insulation was used quite a bit for soundproofing between bathrooms and utility rooms and other rooms.

Maybe so?

Peter

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I started to write a reply, and then I decided to go outside and check the plane of the back of my house before I finished it.

Oops!  This particular bedroom is bumped out when compared to my master bedroom (the other side of the wall).  So this portion of the wall is an exterior wall.  One of the mysteries solved. (They should have bumped my MBR out, too   )

About that AC line...Is there anything I can add to that portion of the wall to protect it against future nailing or drilling?

 

[tjbnwi]

Find a local steel supply house, one that seals beams for houses. Have them sheer a piece of 16 gauge aluminum 3.5" wide by 8 feet tall. Notch the top and bottom plate to let in the guard.

Tom

 

[leakyroof]

Find a local steel supply house, one that seals beams for houses. Have them sheer a piece of 16 gauge aluminum 3.5" wide by 8 feet tall. Notch the top and bottom plate to let in the guard.

Tom

  I was going to suggest 14ga galvinized sheet metal stock.  It's hard to pop through than aluminum, although, heavier to hang by yourself on that wall with a piece that large..... [scratch chin]

 

[tjbnwi]

The Simpsom nail protection plates are 16 ga. Steel or aluminum should work, fasten top and bottom only so it deflects.

Tom

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I'm working on finding some from a fabricator.  Really pisses me off that the builder mounted this where they did, with the edge flush against the drywall.  There's no room to add more pipe insulation to it, so it becomes a cockroach drinking fountain.

I suppose its possible to fur that portion of the wall out to prevent that, but that makes a small room a bit smaller.  :-\