One of the reasons those old basement floors were like that was because they had no vapor barrier beneath them leaving an easy path for water vapor from the soil to migrate into the slab assuring that the cold clammy damp feeling never went away.
Vapor barrier for concrete slab floor.
It helps reduce mold and condensation in buildings.
Here are some of the company s and their products.
Puncture studies of 6 8 10 and 20 mil vapor retarder materials have shown that 10 mils is the minimum thickness that should be considered and thicker material may be necessary over.
The use of underslab vapor barriers is the best method and most economical solution for controlling water vapor migration through concrete slabs.
The american concrete institute s guide for concrete floor and slab construction recommends that the thickness of the vapor retarder be at least 10 mils.
A vapor barrier should be used for all concrete floors and slabs that are going to receive an impermeable floor finish like epoxy laminate linoleum and wood or if the concrete floor will be used for any purpose where the passage of water vapor through the floor may create problems.
There is always water underneath the ground while it might not be near the surface it is there.
Uncontrolled water vapor through concrete slabs has cost building owners designers and contractors billions of dollars.
To take it one step further astm e 1745 class a vapor barriers products with less than 0 01 perms are the best approach to protecting your concrete slab and components moisture sensitive floor and iaq from moisture sources below.
Vapor and gas barriers.
2 4 how to install vapor barrier on concrete floor under laminate flooring why and how is there moisture in concrete slabs.
The last thing you want your customers to envision when thinking of a concrete floor is a damp cold basement slab.