Sofia Martinez
Concrete is a porous material that is prone to decay and cracking if not properly protected. To prevent this, it is recommended to install a vapour barrier underneath the concrete slab to protect it from moisture damage. This is especially important for indoor slabs, as water vapours can move up from the soil and cause problems for the concrete and the materials above it, such as flooring and wall structures. Vapour barriers can also protect against environmental damage caused by pests and extreme temperatures. The type of vapour barrier used will depend on the project, with thicker plastic polyethylene sheeting recommended for Class 1 buildings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Protects concrete from water loss, damage, and environmental factors |
| Importance | Prevents water loss during curing, essential for strong concrete, protects from damage, and meets ASTM compliance standards |
| Installation | Placed under concrete slabs, with seams overlapped and sealed, and edges sealed to the concrete |
| Materials | Plastic, polyethylene, Dura Skrim® Reinforced Plastic Sheeting, Pro Crawl Barrier |
| Thickness | 10-15mm, 6-mil (IRC), 10-mil (ACI), 0.2mm (Class 1 buildings) |
| Permeability | 0.1 Perms IMP or less, 0.06 Perms IMP or lower (vapor retarder), 0.059 Perms IMP, 0.03 Perms IMP (residential), 0.00 Perms IMP (true vapor barrier) |
| Benefits | Prevents cracking, decay, mold, mildew, curling, deformation, discoloration, and radon gas danger |
| Protection | Flooring, subfloor, main floor, foundation, adhesive, insulation, HVAC system |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic under concrete prevents water loss
Concrete is a porous material that is prone to decay and cracking if not properly protected. A concrete foundation without an underslab vapour barrier is susceptible to damage from water vapour, which can penetrate the concrete subfloor and damage the main floor of buildings. This can cause deterioration of flooring adhesive, mould, mildew, and bacteria growth.
To prevent this, a vapour barrier must be installed underneath the concrete slab. Vapour barriers are impermeable layers that prevent water vapour from entering and damaging the concrete. They also protect against environmental damage caused by moisture, pests, and extreme temperatures. ASTM compliance standards require vapour barrier plastic underneath concrete slabs to protect the building and the people inside.
Vapour barriers are typically made of polyethylene plastic sheeting, with a recommended thickness of 10 to 15 millimetres. This thickness is durable, almost impermeable to water, and less likely to be damaged over time. When installing a vapour barrier, it is important to follow ASTM E1643 guidelines, including overlapping seams by six inches and sealing them properly.
By installing a vapour barrier, you can prevent water loss in the concrete and protect your investment. The small cost of a vapour barrier is negligible compared to the potential damage and repairs that can result from water vapour intrusion.
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Plastic prevents concrete cracking
Concrete is a porous material that can be affected by rainwater and environmental damage caused by moisture, pests, and extreme temperatures. Plastic is often used as a vapour barrier under concrete slabs to prevent this damage.
Plastic under concrete can also prevent cracking. Cracking in concrete slabs is primarily caused by premature water loss. Concrete is mostly water, and this water is necessary for curing. Without water, the concrete does not set correctly. Plastic helps to prevent water loss by restricting evaporation. It is a cheap and easy way to ensure a nice, strong pour.
Plastic shrinkage cracking occurs when the rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of bleeding. This creates tensile stress in the surface layers because they are restrained by the non-shrinking inner concrete. Since concrete has a low tensile strength in its plastic state, cracking can easily occur. Covering the surface of the concrete as early as possible with plastic and protecting it from drying winds can prevent this type of cracking.
Plastic under concrete can also help to prevent plastic shrinkage cracking by preventing water loss from the concrete slab. This type of cracking can occur when the concrete is deficient in moisture content while setting or after it is set. When concrete is setting, this is called plastic shrinkage, and when it occurs after the concrete is set, it is called drying shrinkage.
In conclusion, plastic under concrete can help to prevent cracking by acting as a vapour barrier and preventing water loss. This helps to ensure that the concrete sets correctly and does not crack due to tensile stress or water loss.
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Plastic prevents concrete decay
Concrete is a porous material, and as such, it is prone to decay and cracking if rainwater permeates the surface. This is especially true if the concrete is exposed to the outdoors. To prevent this, a vapor barrier must be installed underneath the concrete.
Vapor barriers, also known as plastic barriers, are layers of plastic that prevent or slow the entry of moisture vapor into the concrete. They are essential to protect foundations from environmental damage caused by moisture, pests, and extreme temperatures. By adding a protective layer underneath the concrete foundation before it is poured, vapor barriers can prevent water vapor from penetrating through the concrete subfloor and damaging the main floor of buildings. This, in turn, prevents common adverse effects such as the deterioration of flooring adhesive, bumps, ridges, or bubbles under flooring, color changes due to fading, mold, mildew, and bacteria growth.
The use of plastic as a vapor barrier is a cheap and effective way to prevent concrete decay. Plastic is lightweight, versatile, and readily accessible, making it a popular choice for vapor barriers. It is also a sustainable option, as using recycled plastic in concrete can help reduce the carbon footprint of the cement industry.
To ensure the effectiveness of a vapor barrier, it is important to choose the right material and follow installation guidelines. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recommends using at least 10-mil polyethylene or thicker for vapor retarders under concrete. The barrier material must also be impermeable, with a permeance of 0.1 Perms IMP or less to be considered effective.
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Plastic acts as a vapour barrier
Concrete is a porous material, and water vapour can easily permeate it. This can cause damage to the concrete slab and the building on top of it. Plastic acts as a vapour barrier, preventing moisture from the soil from entering the concrete slab and causing damage. It also reduces the amount of water that wet concrete absorbs from the ground when it is first poured, resulting in a stronger bond.
Vapour barriers are essential in protecting the expensive floor covering in your building. Water-based adhesives used to secure floor coverings are highly susceptible to degradation in the presence of liquid water and the alkaline salts it pulls into solution from the concrete slab. Water vapour can also lead to deformation and discolouration of the floor covering material, leading to costly repairs or even replacement.
A high-performance vapour barrier also helps prevent long-term curling. While a vapour barrier might not allow a newly placed slab to dry evenly, as it does from the top, this disproportionate drying may lead to minor, short-term curling in the slab's early life, which will often subside as moisture gradients in the slab subside over time. However, the more serious issue of long-term curling over the lifetime of the concrete foundation can be prevented with a high-performance vapour barrier.
The use of plastic as a vapour barrier also protects the building's foundation from environmental damage caused by moisture, pests, and extreme temperatures. It can also double as added insulation, protecting buildings against excess cold and heat. This can lead to lower energy costs and help prevent the growth of mould and mildew.
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Plastic protects against radon gas
Concrete is porous and prone to decay and cracking if it loses water while setting. A plastic underslab vapour barrier can help prevent this by stopping water vapour from penetrating through the concrete subfloor and damaging the main floor.
Plastic vapour barriers also protect against radon gas, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is a natural gas created by decomposing uranium underground, and it enters homes through the lowest point. It is odourless, invisible, and the highest levels are found during the winter when doors and windows are closed, creating a lack of airflow. The EPA recommends testing homes for radon and correcting the problem if results are 4pCi/L or higher.
To protect against radon, a heavy-duty plastic sheeting or vapour retarder can be placed over the gravel to inhibit radon and other soil gases from entering the home. Ordinary 6-mil polyethylene will stop radon as long as it has no holes or rips. The thicker the polyethylene, the less likely it will get punctured during installation. The Sentinel XS Radon Vapour Barrier is another option that blocks out radon and water vapour even during extreme seasonal temperature changes.
In summary, plastic vapour barriers are important not only to protect concrete from moisture damage but also to safeguard the health of those living or working in the building by preventing the entry of harmful radon gas.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you should put plastic under concrete to prevent moisture from the soil from moving up through the concrete and causing damage.
Putting plastic under concrete helps to prevent water vapour from moving up through the concrete and causing damage to the concrete slab and the building on top of it.
Without a vapour barrier, there will be damage to the flooring, poor climate control, and increased danger from radon gas.
Thicker plastic polyethylene sheeting between 10 and 15 millimetres should be used under concrete. This sheeting is more durable than most plastic sheeting and almost impermeable to water.
A vapour barrier under concrete should have a permeance of 0.1 Perms IMP or less for the best protection against moisture.
