Vapor Barrier Under Concrete Garage Floor

Many moisture problems associated with interior concrete floors and slabs on grade can be minimized or eliminated by installing a vapor barrier under the concrete.

Vapor barrier under concrete garage floor. Unfortunately contractors or owners often discover that no vapor barrier was used or that the vapor barrier has probably been torn or damaged possibly when the concrete was poured. Vapor barriers are a way to keep moisture from getting into the concrete. A vapor barrier is not the same as an underlayment. We find ourselves having to explain that the vapor retarder wasn t required or necessary for a concrete garage floor poured at or above grade.

Aci 302 2r 06 guide for concrete floors that receive moisture sensitive flooring materials estimates that concrete with a w c of 0 5 will dry to an mver of 3 pounds 1000 sq. 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 you have a concrete floor that s in continuous contact with a source of moisture you re going to have problems. The pre construction solution is to use a vapor barrier under the concrete.

Here are some of the company s and their products. There is little you can do to correct this problem other than removing the existing slab and pouring a new one with a vapor barrier under it or put a vapor barrier on top of the existing slab and. Concrete garage floors vapor transmission. 15 mil vapor barrier by americover.

It helps reduce mold and condensation in buildings. Overlap the seams about 6 to 8 inches and seal the seams with waterproof construction tape. 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. 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.

The 2012 international residential code states. This vapor barrier is nothing more than a heavy plastic sheet. 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. Insulating concrete garage floors begins with covering the entire floor with 6 mil polyethylene which will serve as a vapor barrier.

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. Do not apply a sealer or floor paint to a garage floor that doesn t have a vapor barrier since the finish will not adhere well to the surface. Lay vapor barrier. 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.