Moisture Barrier On Concrete Floor

A concrete floor seems like the perfect base for a vinyl floor installation.

Moisture barrier on concrete floor.

A concrete floor with a too high moisture content can wreak havoc on a vinyl floor. Before rolling out the underlayment be sure to sweep vacuum and remove all debris on the substructure. 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. 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.

This is why a vapor barrier under concrete is essential. A vapor barrier is not the same as an underlayment. Here are some of the company s and their products. 15 mil vapor barrier by americover.

Vapor barriers are a way to keep moisture from getting into the concrete. But they have also proven to be beneficial in reducing failures of moisture sensitive flooring materials adhesives and coatings caused by excessive emission of moisture vapor from concrete slabs. Vapor barriers have been associated with certain concrete slab on grade problems including curling and cracking. 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.

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 vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed. If you have a concrete floor that s in continuous contact with a source of moisture you re going to have problems. If your concrete floor is finished with vinyl paint wood vct or carpeting moisture and vapor mitigation is even more important.

Very hot and humid climates may benefit from an exterior vapor barrier that keeps outside humidity from penetrating into walls. Concrete moisture damages floor coverings. It helps reduce mold and condensation in buildings. Always read the flooring manufacturers recommendations and instructions before installing the underlayment.