Moisture Barrier On Concrete Floor

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.

Moisture barrier on concrete floor.

A vapor barrier is not the same as an underlayment. A concrete floor seems like the perfect base for a vinyl floor installation. Vapor barriers are a way to keep moisture from getting into the concrete. Before rolling out the underlayment be sure to sweep vacuum and remove all debris on the substructure.

If your concrete floor is finished with vinyl paint wood vct or carpeting moisture and vapor mitigation is even more important. 15 mil vapor barrier by americover. It helps reduce mold and condensation in buildings. Concrete moisture damages floor coverings.

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. Below grade walls and floor slabs transmit ground moisture through concrete walls or slabs. This is why a vapor barrier under concrete is essential.

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. 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. Very hot and humid climates may benefit from an exterior vapor barrier that keeps outside humidity from penetrating into walls.

Always read the flooring manufacturers recommendations and instructions before installing the underlayment. 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 moisture barrier may or may not be needed to insure good adhesion of your vinyl floor so do your homework to avoid problems later on down the road. A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed.