Installing Vapor Barrier In Basement Floor

With fiber insulation and a vapor barrier moisture can get trapped in the insulation leading to moldy insulation and decay in the wood framing.

Installing vapor barrier in basement floor. Also be sure to use treated lumber for the bottom plate on the wall framing. The inner surface in colder climates and the outer surface in hot humid climates. Any kind of persistent moisture will allow mold to get a foothold and soon ruin carpet or wood flooring. For a dry mold free finished basement floor always install a vapor barrier before laying a wood subfloor or carpet pad.

Record the wall measurements. The area on which you are installing the vapor barrier should be clean and dry. You can use caulk to fill in any gaps or cracks. For concrete basement floors that give off large amounts of moisture it might be worth considering installing a 6 mil vapor barrier with an underlayment that has an attached pad.

Add 2 inches to allow enough of the barrier to stop water from entering as it rolls towards the floor. Of foam against the wall this should not be a problem in your climate. 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. Polyurethane sheeting is a typical vapor barrier that contractors use to prevent moisture from penetrating the walls of a basement.

A basement vapor or moisture barrier is installed during the new construction of a home or the remodeling of a basement. Because excessive dampness in a crawlspace or basement can condense you can install a vapor barrier to protect floor framing from becoming damp and covered with fungus efflorescence and rot. Vapor barriers are usually best installed on the side of the wall that experiences the hotter temperature and moister conditions. In existing spaces oil based paints or vapor barrier latex paints offer an effective moisture barrier.

Cut any excess vapor barrier away and seal the slit with some tape. The water vapor can come through the concrete from the soil or from indoor air that comes in contact with the concrete. See what goes into waterproofing a basement too. Good luck with your project.

A vapor barrier consists of one or more layers of sheet plastic 6 mil visqueen on top of the soil in the crawlspace or basement. Cut a slit around pipes drains conduit rebar and other penetrations sticking up through the floor to install the initial layer of vapor barrier.