Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 22Apr 23, 2010 11:06 pm Lex Hi Bbb How is the house oriented? Are the worst parts on south side? What's the soil type? Any paths around the perimeter of the house? Any shade trees throwing constant shadow on the house and spreading roots? Any waters running close by? What city are you in? How is the general climate and humidity in your local area? I think that lots of these external factors are in the game, not to mention a proper house inspection for leaks etc (have you done a pre-purchase one?). BTW, are you getting solid raw slim timber or floating engineered? The worst section in kitchen faces east, but there is a 3 meter wide covered patio with slab there (patio slab is lower than weepholes). Maybe a kitchen leak... The chipboard base section for the kitchen cabinets had obviously been affected by water, and had swollen in some points/had high tide type marks in others. Would rising damp affect chipboard so badly, or would it indicate a leak? On the bedroom side, it faces north, is somewhat shaded sometimes, and yes it has a drainage problem when it rains - will sort that out. Should point out that not putting timber on that side in bedrooms, just carpet. This is in Brisbane, nothing special about the general climate. There is a slight slope from north to south and east to west on the block. Yes did a prepurchase inspection, didn't pick this up as its all hidden under the original vinyl&carpet, except for part of garage (north side again) where the inspector did point it out. There's nothing on external bricks to show a problem. Getting solid 14mm spotted gum on 15mm ply. Thanks.. Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 23Apr 24, 2010 12:01 am Here are some photos. Note there will not be timber going in the bedroom photo, and I know there is a drainage issue in that area. But the kitchen one doesn't make sense... Some in the lounge - on west wall which has a 2 meter wide covered patio with slab outside, below weepholes. White next to skirting is paint, its the further in stuff that is powdery. : Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This is the worst bit in the kitchen. The white stuff at the bottom of the screen is just rubbish from pulling kitchen out, its not effluorescence : Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This one is the bedroom, east wall. There is a slope towards the house on this bit, and I figure I need to fix the drainage here. Its carpet going in the bedroom though, not timber flooring. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 24Apr 24, 2010 12:09 am Uhmmm ... hard to say, even with pics. I was inclined to think that the kitchen issue is the result of some leak rather than rising damp - before I saw pics. Now I can't really see what is it - looks normal!! But not an expert at all) I suppose you are not uncovering water pipes (by removing parts of plaster)? Maybe it would be a good opportunity for some 'exploratory surgery'? If you don't do it now, you might be just hiding the problem again. Plus, now that things are somewhat exposed, can you get some kind of expert to have a look? I guess a local building inspector might be good - someone on Forum might be able to recommend one in BRI. Did you buy the timber locally? I find it hard to find 14mm 'slimwood' in Syd. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 25Apr 24, 2010 12:24 am The floor is with Queensland Timber Flooring, they seem really good. They get their timber supplies from 2 independent sawmills, not sure which ones though so can't give you a name. Maybe you could ask them? Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 26Apr 24, 2010 8:05 am Thx, bbb. Just reading on concrete efflorescence ... there's more to it than meets the eye! Firstly, is this a primary or a secondary one? If it's the secondary one, there might be more to come and I suspect (from a very, very quick read) that this one is not good news - maybe would need to look at also sealing the slab edges, or some other additional measure. Actually, how high is the soil externally around the house (eg. does it reach the first row of bricks, or is it covering it somewhat)? You said there is efflorescence even on the west wall which has a 2m long undercover concreted area, but I assume that the wall in that room is longer than 2m and that the whole wall (ie. the slab) has efflorescence. If that is correct, maybe this was just the primary efflorescence and it shouldn't create any further problems ... BTW, how were you thinking of implementing the drainage? How should it be done? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 27Apr 24, 2010 8:08 pm mickve Had a major leak on a job not long ago when we ripped up the floor the water was sitting on top of the plastic except where we pin down battens or ply there are holes in plastic so it went through there. I cant say i agree with plastic but if we dont do it and there is a problem its the first thing the manufacturer will blaim so dont try and understand it just do it. Thanks mickve but I guess what I am concerned about is "Wouldn't it cause moisture to be trapped in the slab if I had polyethylene under and above the slab?" i.e. If you have plastic under & above the slab, can this cause the slab to weaken structurally as moisture is trapped in the slab? Cheers Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 28Apr 24, 2010 8:15 pm I have the same dilemma with a related issue - to seal the edges of the slab or not ?!?! Would it help and how? Would it prevent any currently trapped moisture to evaporate and subsequently create more problems like reo corrosion?? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 29Apr 26, 2010 6:34 pm Bbb Bedroom east wall, looks like external water leak. Rusty S/E nails and pins, and floor water marks, but looks old damage to me. Is the slopping ground above the slab level? Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 30Apr 26, 2010 9:22 pm How can you tell it is old damage? No the ground level outside was 1 brick below the weep holes (there are 2 lines of brick below the weepholes in total). When there is heavy rain I suspect there is a minor flood in that spot each time with runoff from a few houses next door and part of my yard that has nowhere to go, and there is a downpipe there which has a big hole in it (therefore useless). I'm hoping that fixing the downpipe, and changing the slope of the land to direct water away from the house will stop any further damp. I had a dig around the outside wall and the soil was almost saturated for the above reasons. There's no sign of damp on the walls or skirting boards, and the 15 year old carpet I pulled up there isn't mouldy or rotten, so fingers crossed! Does that sound about right? Re: Timber Floor on Concrete - Do I need a Vapour Barrier? 32Jun 04, 2010 3:34 pm Where can i purchase Selleys VBS Vapour Barrier ....have tried Mitre 10 and Bunnings with no luck! ..Anywhere in the Sydney /Blue Mountains area sell this product ??? I’m not a structural engineer but I’m free. you still need an engineer for the plans. I only have part of your plans, but you seem to have a 850mm drop from the side… 3 10289 Hi, I had a barrier reef pool installed less that 2 years ago and the gel coat is already fading. The colour is electric grey shimmer which isn’t available… 0 4139 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair Hi, I have an old fence/barrier made of treated pine logs bolted to plates and these are bolted to very large metal posts/girders. The plates and bolts are rusted through… 0 17030 |