Concrete Slab Vapor Barrier Installation

The sand should be compacted before concrete is placed.

Concrete slab vapor barrier installation.

Minimize water vapor moving through a slab by choosing the right vapor barrier and installing it properlyby bill palmer concrete network columnist. Because extruded polystyrene insulating board will absorb little moisture the vapor barrier can be placed above or below the slab insulation. The american concrete institute s guide for concrete floor and slab construction recommends that the thickness of the vapor retarder be at least 10 mils. One of the reasons those old basement floors were like that was because they had no vapor barrier beneath them leaving an easy path for water vapor from the soil to migrate into the slab assuring that the.

Unroll 1st piece of vapor barrier along one edge of floor. Additionally installation of a vapor barrier may help to contribute to leed. A pro s guide for below slab vapor barrier installation by dan marks 01 14 19 this helpful guide to under slab vapor barrier installation will consider the most common slab designs their terminating edges and how to seal at to the perimeter of your foundation in accordance with your designer s specifications and astm e1643. If ground conditions require their use a 3 inch 75 millimeter layer of sand over the vapor barrier and under the concrete has been shown to reduce these problems.

If the subbase is sharp angular gravel a thin layer of sand can be placed on top of the gravel subbase next to the vapor barrier. A concrete vapor barrier is any material that prevents moisture from entering a concrete slab. Given the many applications a vapor barrier is one of the most critical building components used to prevent indoor air quality issues and minimize moisture related concrete slab and flooring system failures. Wrap vapor barrier up edge of wall 3 4 inches and tape to wall.

Vapor barriers are used because while fresh concrete is poured wet it s not supposed to stay that way. Using a utility knife cut the length long enough to wrap edges up the wall 3 4 inches. The last thing you want your customers to envision when thinking of a concrete floor is a damp cold basement slab. For a vapor barrier below a concrete floor slab most choose 6 to 10 mil polyethylene.

Updated july 10 2020. See below for more discussion on this. May be higher check job. Tips for concrete floor vapor barrier installation.