Vapor Barrier Concrete Block Wall

Attaching vapor barrier to a concrete wall can help to prevent the movement of moisture through the concrete and into the building.

Vapor barrier concrete block wall.

How to glue a vapor barrier to a cement block wall. Concrete block with interior frame wall cavity insulation and brick or stone veneer applicability limited to mixed humid hot humid mixed dry hot dry and marine regions should not be used in cold very cold and subarctic. Older houses that haven t had drain tiles installed are especially prone to seeping walls and floors in basements. Crawl spaces benefit from a polyethylene moisture barrier placed directly over the exposed earth.

This not only insulates the walls but also keeps rising dampness in the concrete from getting into the crawlspace. We used thermax brand available through lumberyards of polyethylene vapor barrier because it doesn t require an additional fire barrier. Below grade walls and floor slabs transmit ground moisture through concrete walls or slabs. Eliminating the movement of moisture into a building reduces the likelihood of mold and other problems caused by the buildup of water.

A vapor barrier against the concrete surface is generally recommended before wood framing or flooring materials are installed. This wall assembly will dry from the vapor barrier inwards and will dry from the vapor barrier outwards. Since warmer air has more moisture vapor will move to. By nature vapor travels from areas of higher concentrations to lower.

Cover exposed foundation walls with 1 1 2 in. Concrete and concrete block are common but porous foundation materials. Not to be confused with a vapor barrier which is placed on the warm side of the wall just in front of the insulation and behind the drywall a moisture barrier goes against the basement wall.