Concrete Floor Vapor Barrier Thickness

A vapor barrier should be used for all concrete floors and slabs that are going to receive an impermeable floor finish like epoxy laminate linoleum and wood or if the concrete floor will be used for any purpose where the passage of water vapor through the floor may create problems.

Concrete floor vapor barrier thickness. It ll help keep out the moisture that s always going to be a problem if you have a crawl space with a dirt floor. Always read the flooring manufacturers recommendations and instructions before installing the underlayment. Moisture is your crawl space s ultimate enemy. Puncture studies of 6 8 10 and 20 mil vapor retarder materials have shown that 10 mils is the minimum thickness that should be considered and thicker material may be necessary over.

Very hot and humid climates may benefit from an exterior vapor barrier that keeps outside humidity from penetrating into walls. Placing concrete directly on a vapor barrier increases the amount of. A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed. Vapor barriers are a way to keep moisture from getting into the concrete.

A crawl space vapor barrier will show that plainly. Allows for a clean dry crawl space. This is why a vapor barrier under concrete is essential. The other characteristic of a good vapor barrier that makes it effective is resistance to punctures and tears.

Aci 302 1 guide for concrete floor and slab construction states that the minimum thickness of an effective vapor barrier is 10 mils. Vapor barriers satisfying the requirements of astm e 1745 09 typically have a thickness of 10 mils 0 010 inch or 15 mils 0 015 inch but can be thicker. A vapor barrier is not the same as an underlayment. How to install vapor barrier on concrete floor under laminate flooring.

Below grade walls and floor slabs transmit ground moisture through concrete walls or slabs. Which concrete vapor barrier thickness is best at blocking moisture vapor transmission from coming up through a concrete floor or slab. If you have a concrete floor that s in continuous contact with a source of moisture you re going to have problems. That s why you should invest in a crawl space vapor barrier.

The correct thickness of concrete vapor barriers being placed under concrete slabs and floors has been debated for many years. Generally as the thickness of a vapor barrier increases the strength and durability of the vapor barrier increases.