Basement Dirt Floor Vapor Barrier

If coupled with a waterproofing system moisture and water can be expelled from the crawl space before it can cause problems.

Basement dirt floor vapor barrier. When we insulate the walls of the crawl space we lay down plastic over the dirt. It seems to me that this would only trap moisture. For a dry mold free finished basement floor always install a vapor barrier before laying a wood subfloor or. No need to bother with large fold out low quality off spec construction grade films which can be bothersome and hard to use before the floor is installed.

Lay the sheets in rows across the dirt floor. A vapor barrier slows or prevents the evaporation of ground moisture into the crawl space air. I knew the barrier wouldn t be air tight that wasn t the plan. Use option a to keep your floor dry if you have damp floors in your basement.

Our moistureblock is a 6 mil polyethylene film vapor barrier that is used during the installation process with floating laminate luxury vinyl planks and engineered wood floors. To keep your basement floor from being invaded by insects and moisture a vapor barrier must be installed. They are usually made from foil or plastic sheeting that is resistant to the diffusion of moisture through walls and floor structures thus they will not compromise the foundation of your home or create more humidity on your the floor. Step 1 install vapor barrier.

Retrofoam of michigan has been insulating crawl spaces with foam insulation for more than 15 years. No more rot rust mold odors insects or other moisture related problems. I think my plan was to get as much standing water out of the basement so i could lay the plastic vapor barrier. Your crawl space is a dark dank space that can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew if the proper steps aren t taken.

Option b is sufficient if your floor is generally dry except for small amounts of moisture evaporating through the slab. We ll still install a drain and sump pump along the perimeter. One of those steps is a crawl space vapor barrier especially if you have a dirt floor. Cover the dirt floor with a layer of 10 mil plastic sheeting to serve as a vapor barrier which will keep moisture from seeping through the dirt and onto your wood floor.

Installing a vapor barrier over a dirt floor basement is an instant way to block moisture and insects from entering the basement space. Waterproofing a basement with dirt walls and floors is very similar without the jackhammering. All i wanted to do was to cover as much dirt as i could until i m ready to do a more thorough job. I have an 1857 home with a stone foundation and a dirt floor in the basement.

During the pre sale home inspection the inspector told me i ought to invest in some plastic sheeting or tarps and lay them over the dirt floor and also the stone walls of the basement to help keep moisture at bay. A vapor barrier will help keep the levels of moisture down in the basement which can either compromise the home s foundation or increase the humidity level in the basement.