Moisture Barrier On Concrete Floor

A concrete vapor barrier is simply a sheet of polyethylene plastic visqueen placed directly on top of the sub grade before the concrete floor or slab is poured to help keep moisture from the soil from passing up through the concrete.

Moisture barrier on concrete floor.

Vapor barriers are a way to keep moisture from getting into the concrete. Aci 302 2r 06 guide for concrete floors that receive moisture sensitive flooring materials states that a concrete slab on ground without a vapor retarder barrier directly beneath it may have a final relative humidity profile that does not benefit from any initial drying. A concrete floor seems like the perfect base for a vinyl floor installation. If your floor covering is bonded to concrete using adhesives with water latex and acrylic bases excess moisture will emulsify and weaken the adhesive formula causing.

A concrete floor with a too high moisture content can wreak havoc on a vinyl floor. Vapor barriers have been associated with certain concrete slab on grade problems including curling and cracking. Before rolling out the underlayment be sure to sweep vacuum and remove all debris on the substructure. Americover has a high performance 15 mil vapor barrier for installation under concrete floors and slabs that will retard moisture migration and radon from escaping through the surface of the concrete floor.

If your concrete floor is finished with vinyl paint wood vct or carpeting moisture and vapor mitigation is even more important. Here are some of the company s and their products. If you have a concrete floor that s in continuous contact with a source of moisture you re going to have problems. But they have also proven to be beneficial in reducing failures of moisture sensitive flooring materials adhesives and coatings caused by excessive emission of moisture vapor from concrete slabs.

Below grade walls and floor slabs transmit ground moisture through concrete walls or slabs. This is why a vapor barrier under concrete is essential. It helps reduce mold and condensation in buildings. A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed.

Concrete moisture damages floor coverings. A vapor barrier is not the same as an underlayment. Always read the flooring manufacturers recommendations and instructions before installing the underlayment. How to install vapor barrier on concrete floor under laminate flooring.