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Do You Need to Put a Moisture Barrier on a Concrete Floor?

Moisture control is an essential part of maintaining a healthy, clean and well-kept home. When moisture gets into unwanted areas, it can cause unsightly stains, molds -- some of which could be toxic -- and extensive and costly structural damage to your home. Among the most effective ways of avoiding these problems is taking preventative steps that keep moisture confined and away from parts of your home where it could cause damage. Concrete floors, for example, can be spared the ill effects of excessive moisture by a moisture barrier designed to arrest moisture before it reaches the concrete.

  1. Moisture and Concrete Floors

    • Indoor moisture can make its way to concrete floors in any number of ways, including condensation, moisture migration through the slab from wet soil under the slab, broken or leaking pipes buried below or in the concrete, surface water from leaks or flooding collecting on the concrete. Avoidance of problems associated with moisture on concrete begins with repairing all visible leaks as soon as they are observed. Complete control, however, often involves additional steps.

    Moisture Barriers

    • One such step is to use a moisture barrier. Typically, a material that water is unable to penetrate such as polythene film, polyethylene-coated craft paper and glass-reinforced waterproof paper that is extrusion coated on both sides with polyethylene is placed over the rock and gravel layer before pouring concrete. Simple polythene film is the least expensive of these materials and is easy to install but is also easier to accidentally penetrate during installation than the other, stronger materials.

    Necessity

    • The question of whether you need to install a moisture barrier on concrete floors is a subjective one. The problems associated with condensation and excess moisture on concrete can lead to other, more serious problems (foul odors, damage to carpets, molds and mildews and the like), so any homeowner concerned about avoiding these problems should implement something to help prevent unwanted moisture from making its way to the concrete floor. There are many other moisture control methods that can be used in conjunction with or in lieu of a moisture barrier, so installing a moisture barrier should also depend on whether it is the most cost efficient option for your home.

    Other Moisture Control Methods

    • Other moisture control methods that can greatly reduce the likelihood of problems associated with moisture on concrete include sloping soil away from the home, installing rain gutters, using control joints, isolation joints and construction joints filled with caulk, using a high-quality concrete for the floor (an insulated concrete if one is available), installing and maintaining proper insulation in the home and repairing leaks anytime and anywhere that you notice them. These measures, particularly when combined with using a moisture barrier, can all help avert the problems of moisture and condensation on concrete.

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General Home Safety
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  2. Do You Need a Moisture Barrier When Building a Shower Enclosure?
  3. Do You Need a Vapor Barrier in an Attic?
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  5. What Kind of Concrete Do You Need for Stained Concrete Flooring?
  6. The Best Concrete or Gravel to Put on a Crawl Space Floor
  7. If I Seal My Concrete Floor, Do I Need a Vapor Barrier?
  8. If I Seal My Garage Floor, Do I Need a Vapor Barrier?
  9. What Do You Put on a Concrete Floor to Prevent Dust?
  10. Do You Need Joints in a Floating Concrete Porch?
  11. Do You Need a Concrete Floor for a Sauna?
  12. Do You Need to Prepare a Concrete Floor Shower for Tile?

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