dampness under new floor.
#1
05-27-14, 07:05 AM
dampness under new floor.
I am renovating my basement apartment in my rental.
In one bedroom I ripped out an entire floor that was built by the old owner because it was rotted and just dangerous. The entire floor was framed in 2x4s! it was also like 2' off the ground and supported on whatever random blocks and rocks he had.
Anyway I though the rot was due to insects (def), age, a pre existing heat line blowout which was repaired and broken main drain I had to repair and just the fact he built it out of scrap wood.
I take everything to the extreme though and when rebuilding I rebuilt the floor out of all pressure treated wood and galvanized exterior joint hangers.
I actually lowered the floor a foot and some change as well to give a room that was once maybe 6' high a ceiling of almost 8'. Before the main drain was repaired (by me) from the blowout there was a house trap. The house trap had a vent after it of course but it was completely broken off.
When I removed the house trap and made it a straight run I actually turned the old vent into a fresh air intake/outake just to keep circulation under the floor. It worked very well. I guess to well.
While the floor was ripped up I monitored everything for water leakage in the foundation. There was nothing. But of course right after I put the ply down (also PT wood) we got hit with obscene rains. I have an access panel in the floor to still get to the main repair and a clean out I installed for emergencies and when I looked under there it was REALLY damp. There was no standing water but man was it damp.
I put vapor barriers on the walls to keep the sheetrock from rotting. the old sheetrock was crumbling which I thought was from dampness of the brick behind it. In a small spot where the plastic actually was still long on the floor it was even damp under there. Could have just been the crazy humidity though as well.
Anyway does anybody think this will be somethign I will need to worry about or is it just the fact that there was so much rain and humidity there was no avoiding this?
There is no free standing water and I cant see a place where water is getting in so it perplexes me.
When I lowered the floor I had to remove my fresh air vent but now Im wondering If I should dig out and up from inside under the new floor and install some new vents?
Im mainly worried if a tenant goes in there of mold and mildew. Secondly Im worried even the galv hangers and PT wood wont be able to withstand this moisture.
I am going to have someone come check and repairs the gutters just in case that is the problem and on that side of the house I plan on building a long awning over the walkway (for a different thing completely) so Im hoping that will keep some of the rain away that MIGHT be leaking under there but really Im at a loss.
I usually place a vapor barrier under any floor I put together but for reasons of the main drain underneath this on I didnt since an area woudl have to be open and I didnt want water sitting on top of plastic.
Thanks
In one bedroom I ripped out an entire floor that was built by the old owner because it was rotted and just dangerous. The entire floor was framed in 2x4s! it was also like 2' off the ground and supported on whatever random blocks and rocks he had.
Anyway I though the rot was due to insects (def), age, a pre existing heat line blowout which was repaired and broken main drain I had to repair and just the fact he built it out of scrap wood.
I take everything to the extreme though and when rebuilding I rebuilt the floor out of all pressure treated wood and galvanized exterior joint hangers.
I actually lowered the floor a foot and some change as well to give a room that was once maybe 6' high a ceiling of almost 8'. Before the main drain was repaired (by me) from the blowout there was a house trap. The house trap had a vent after it of course but it was completely broken off.
When I removed the house trap and made it a straight run I actually turned the old vent into a fresh air intake/outake just to keep circulation under the floor. It worked very well. I guess to well.
While the floor was ripped up I monitored everything for water leakage in the foundation. There was nothing. But of course right after I put the ply down (also PT wood) we got hit with obscene rains. I have an access panel in the floor to still get to the main repair and a clean out I installed for emergencies and when I looked under there it was REALLY damp. There was no standing water but man was it damp.
I put vapor barriers on the walls to keep the sheetrock from rotting. the old sheetrock was crumbling which I thought was from dampness of the brick behind it. In a small spot where the plastic actually was still long on the floor it was even damp under there. Could have just been the crazy humidity though as well.
Anyway does anybody think this will be somethign I will need to worry about or is it just the fact that there was so much rain and humidity there was no avoiding this?
There is no free standing water and I cant see a place where water is getting in so it perplexes me.
When I lowered the floor I had to remove my fresh air vent but now Im wondering If I should dig out and up from inside under the new floor and install some new vents?
Im mainly worried if a tenant goes in there of mold and mildew. Secondly Im worried even the galv hangers and PT wood wont be able to withstand this moisture.
I am going to have someone come check and repairs the gutters just in case that is the problem and on that side of the house I plan on building a long awning over the walkway (for a different thing completely) so Im hoping that will keep some of the rain away that MIGHT be leaking under there but really Im at a loss.
I usually place a vapor barrier under any floor I put together but for reasons of the main drain underneath this on I didnt since an area woudl have to be open and I didnt want water sitting on top of plastic.
Thanks
#2
05-27-14, 04:19 PM
Two thoughts: #1 You have to find the entry point of the moisture. It can't be ignored.
#2 It not a always a good idea to change the original design. The vents were there for a reason.
#2 It not a always a good idea to change the original design. The vents were there for a reason.
#4
05-28-14, 05:21 AM
yes it is dirt floor.
Pulpo, the vent was not a floor vent at all it was the drain vent for the old house trap. The house trap was removed since it collapsed. I actually turned it into a floor vent.
Like I said anywhere there is dirt floor I usually do vapor barrier and gravel but that was not an option here since there is also an access panel for a cleanout and the main PVC to clay connection.
I may have to dig and place another vent there. But also the foundation is old brick that is kind of meh. Problem is its all paved around the area.
On that side of the house there was a TON of leaves piled up I just removed last night. I think it may have also been obstructing the clear flow of rain water away from the house.
This weekend I am going to (if its dry) take some crete repair caulk and fill in the crack on that side.
Still I think my safest option is going to be another home made floor vent. I wanted to put vapor barrier under the carpet in that room but at teh moment Im afraid it will jsut trap unwanted moisture under there rotting the floor.
Luckily I still have time before Im at that point and can figure it out. I may dig around the foundation in the small portion of dirt areas and put some membrane against the brick. I have to membrane my house anyway so I should have enough left over.
Pulpo, the vent was not a floor vent at all it was the drain vent for the old house trap. The house trap was removed since it collapsed. I actually turned it into a floor vent.
Like I said anywhere there is dirt floor I usually do vapor barrier and gravel but that was not an option here since there is also an access panel for a cleanout and the main PVC to clay connection.
I may have to dig and place another vent there. But also the foundation is old brick that is kind of meh. Problem is its all paved around the area.
On that side of the house there was a TON of leaves piled up I just removed last night. I think it may have also been obstructing the clear flow of rain water away from the house.
This weekend I am going to (if its dry) take some crete repair caulk and fill in the crack on that side.
Still I think my safest option is going to be another home made floor vent. I wanted to put vapor barrier under the carpet in that room but at teh moment Im afraid it will jsut trap unwanted moisture under there rotting the floor.
Luckily I still have time before Im at that point and can figure it out. I may dig around the foundation in the small portion of dirt areas and put some membrane against the brick. I have to membrane my house anyway so I should have enough left over.
#5
05-28-14, 07:06 AM
Here are a couple of related articles. Basically, if you have a dirt floor it is a major source of moisture. These articles and others they link to will also discuss venting.
Crawl Spaces | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Building an Unvented Crawl Space | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Bud
Crawl Spaces | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Building an Unvented Crawl Space | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Bud
#6
05-28-14, 08:29 AM
thanks Bud
just read those, and then a few articles online. It seems for my personal situation a vent might be needed. Funny because before my main drain repairs there was no vent so who KNOWS what went on under there.
I know the old rug (pre me) had a built in rubber vapor barrier, so Im sure moisture was an issue with the old owner.
I think for me its best to put in a vent, be sure the sidewalk is clear of debre that might stop the flow of water, be sure its all sealed and possible waterproof the area thats still dirt.
Like I said it was a few weeks the floor was actually out and I def watched like a hawk for moisture anywhere and there was NONE at all. I even dug into the soil just to make sure there was no dampness further down.
I guess putting in the floor sealed it up just enough to trap it in wet conditions like recently. I like the idea one article stated where you put 2 vents in across from each other but that is impossible in my situation. I had a 3" pvc home made vent prior and it seemed to work well.
I have no pipes except the drain under the floor so Im not worried about freezing and I can always cap the vent in the winter to be safe since the ground will be frozen.
just read those, and then a few articles online. It seems for my personal situation a vent might be needed. Funny because before my main drain repairs there was no vent so who KNOWS what went on under there.
I know the old rug (pre me) had a built in rubber vapor barrier, so Im sure moisture was an issue with the old owner.
I think for me its best to put in a vent, be sure the sidewalk is clear of debre that might stop the flow of water, be sure its all sealed and possible waterproof the area thats still dirt.
Like I said it was a few weeks the floor was actually out and I def watched like a hawk for moisture anywhere and there was NONE at all. I even dug into the soil just to make sure there was no dampness further down.
I guess putting in the floor sealed it up just enough to trap it in wet conditions like recently. I like the idea one article stated where you put 2 vents in across from each other but that is impossible in my situation. I had a 3" pvc home made vent prior and it seemed to work well.
I have no pipes except the drain under the floor so Im not worried about freezing and I can always cap the vent in the winter to be safe since the ground will be frozen.
