Hello,
I've searched some old threads regarding laundry rooms and moisture barriers and concrete floors, but I think I need to ask my question to get clarity.
I have gutted my old laundry room, which was built with vinyl flooring on chipboard on floor joists above the cast foundation (slab on grade). I will install new floor joists, new chipboard, and then level it to lay tiles.
I have read that it's not common to moisture-proof directly against the concrete foundation if, for example, building bathrooms in the basement. But if, like me, you're building with a "gap" against the concrete foundation, should you have a moisture barrier on the floor in a laundry room? Wouldn't that trap ground moisture in that space? Because it wouldn't be directly ventilated in any way (other than naturally through cracks to adjacent rooms, for example).
I've searched some old threads regarding laundry rooms and moisture barriers and concrete floors, but I think I need to ask my question to get clarity.
I have gutted my old laundry room, which was built with vinyl flooring on chipboard on floor joists above the cast foundation (slab on grade). I will install new floor joists, new chipboard, and then level it to lay tiles.
I have read that it's not common to moisture-proof directly against the concrete foundation if, for example, building bathrooms in the basement. But if, like me, you're building with a "gap" against the concrete foundation, should you have a moisture barrier on the floor in a laundry room? Wouldn't that trap ground moisture in that space? Because it wouldn't be directly ventilated in any way (other than naturally through cracks to adjacent rooms, for example).
Yes, that's correct, the only exception in BKR is in basements that are poorly drained. You will probably have to fix the ventilation in the adjacent room as you mentioned. There should be a moisture barrier at least 50mm up on the wall in the laundry room.
Why should you frame with wood if you have a slab underneath??
Add some insulation and pour a screed instead, much better and less sensitive to moisture.
Add some insulation and pour a screed instead, much better and less sensitive to moisture.
Sometimes it's hard to think outside the box.
Of course, I’m going to pour a new floor! Styrofoam with PEX for underfloor heating and then concrete and a bit of filler on top. Or? Should there be some kind of air gap or something like that?
Of course, I’m going to pour a new floor! Styrofoam with PEX for underfloor heating and then concrete and a bit of filler on top. Or? Should there be some kind of air gap or something like that?
Well, without an air gap is probably best of all. How much distance do you have?
Here's what it looks like:
The floor joists are 70mm and there is 2-3 sometimes 4cm of space down to the concrete. The concrete is quite uneven. There are about 25 up to the level for the finished floor on the joists. So in total, it is about 11-12cm to fill up. I assume you lay as much styrofoam as you can?
The reason I'm talking about air gaps and so on (note that I don't have much knowledge at all in concrete slabs and houses are quite new to me) is because there's a bit of radon in the house. This floor that I've just broken up is not radon-remediated in any way. The large living room and dining room (which are connected) have the chipboards sealed against the walls, and in the floor, there are 50mm pipes connected to an exhaust fan.
The floor joists are 70mm and there is 2-3 sometimes 4cm of space down to the concrete. The concrete is quite uneven. There are about 25 up to the level for the finished floor on the joists. So in total, it is about 11-12cm to fill up. I assume you lay as much styrofoam as you can?
The reason I'm talking about air gaps and so on (note that I don't have much knowledge at all in concrete slabs and houses are quite new to me) is because there's a bit of radon in the house. This floor that I've just broken up is not radon-remediated in any way. The large living room and dining room (which are connected) have the chipboards sealed against the walls, and in the floor, there are 50mm pipes connected to an exhaust fan.