Moisture Barrier For Exterior Concrete Walls

Finished basements often receive a vapor barrier layer between the concrete and the floor treatment to prevent damage from heavy rains or other moisture seepage.

Moisture barrier for exterior concrete walls.

But the odds are it will be a constant flux of condense and reabsorption back into the. Well as the joint between the foundation and the exterior of the wall assembly. Or similar moisture and air barrier on top of. Or some how or another insulate the exterior of slab that is exposed to the crawlspace to keep that moisture from wanting to stick to the cool wall of slab.

In exterior walls that are below grade like basement walls. A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed. Below grade walls and floor slabs transmit ground moisture through concrete walls or slabs. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets.

After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one. A concrete vapor barrier is any material that prevents moisture from entering a concrete slab. Very hot and humid climates may benefit from an exterior vapor barrier that keeps outside humidity from penetrating into walls. Also be sure to use treated lumber for the bottom plate on the wall framing.

In designing exterior wall systems moisture infiltration is controlled following two basic design concepts or strategies. The standard installation of a plastic vapor barrier is between the studs and the drywall but there are some exceptions to this. Before framing the walls of your basement install a moisture barrier to prevent water and moisture from entering the wall cavity. Either design strategy can be applied to load bearing or non load bearing walls.

Here are three different types explained. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. This barrier is meant to keep moisture from getting to the insulation in the walls and ceilings and it is required by building codes when insulating most houses. Moisture barrier between the sole plate the concrete slab.

The other option is to set the 2 4 wall framing in 4 from the masonry or concrete basement walls and use just the vapor barrier on the insulation facing toward the living space. Vapor barriers are applied to the interior walls in climates which are predominantly cold while they are best applied to exterior wells in predominantly hot climates. Not every wall does.