Blue closed cell carpet foam under slab?
fossil
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Hello,
I have several rolls of blue closed cell carpet underlayment foam 1/2” taking up space in my basement.
Could I use this under a cement slab being poured next week in a 105 year old house basement as sort of a vapor/insulating barrier?
Thanks for any thoughts and Happy New Year.
Replies
no
it will rot over night and hold water...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
This stuff doesn't look like it would absorb water, but I'll take your advice and not use it. Thanks
it will hold water...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
You can't tell if it will absorb water by looking at it. I have never heard of closed cell carpet pad. It would be too expensive I believe. Theyu do make flex pads that are closed cells for sleeping mats - ensolite - that are clossed cells but these are high priced. I doubt that what you have is closed.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
A friend of mine put ensolite carpet pad in his house. It is a very nice "feel". Plus it should not absorb much water (he carpeted the bathrooms - ugh but the ensolite should help). He claimed it was not too expensive but he can't find his source. Where do you find the closed cell or ensolite carpet pad? How much does it cost and how long is the lead time? I will be carpeting the cabin in a few weeks (hopefully) and would love to use this pad.
Fossil (or others) how much do you have and do you want to sell it? How expensive? The cabin is in lake Tahoe, CA.
Eric
Edited 12/26/2007 12:04 pm ET by eleeski
I have about 10 rolls 7' by 10'. Wife and I decided to purge basement right NOW! I'm taking it to the Restore in Bellingham Washington today 12/27/08.Their number is 3606475921 maybe they can ship to you.
Thanks for the info. Sorry it took so long to reply. I'm up at the cabin and still a long way from carpet. Just pulled the phone line as it started to snow but at least I now have dial up.
It's still a bit primitive but yesterday we got garage doors! And today we rigged up a hot water heater. Hopefully the temporary shower (kitchen faucet) will work OK. Plus we just set up a pup tent to spend our first night in the house. A huge blizzard is on the way so if I want to get any work done I need to be snowed in - not out!
I'm learning that a lazy electrician is really bad for the schedule (I'm doing the electric). When the snow is good - well I have to pay off that season pass...
Eric
I just cut off a chunk and ran water in the laundry sink, squeezed it and no water came out or penetrated it.It appears to have a fiberglass mesh on the underside. I was told it was high end carpet foam, pulled out from a commercial site.So I do imagine it is expensive. I'll try to post a photo tommorrow just for debate sake.
guess it will be done antways...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
post previous to yours makes it sound like they do make ensolite carpet pad and if it won't hold water like you say, you might have some.Now he is looking to buy some of that. If you guys live close to one another, you could sell him what you have and buy something that will not crush down under the weight of the crete for your self
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I think we're about 1400 miles apart, Don't know if shipping will defeat the purpose of just buying new.
Some open cell foam is not like a sponge.This is a different type of product, but expanded stryofoam, white beadboard, is open cell. But dunk it in water and it won't abosrb much.But weight it down in water for a long time and it will be soaked through and through..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Nope but appreciate your attempt at practical thrift and the intelligence to ask here for opinions.
6 mil plastic will take care of it well enough unless you're willing to spend bigger dollars on a spec designed barrier.
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
Rez,
With the 6 mil, how do you address the edges, where the footings are? Do you cut it flush or ride up above the pour and cut later or tuck under?
Thanks for the advice
yur choice...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Best but more involved is letting it ride up
and some guys caulk it to the concrete if you really want to do a rocket science of the project,
but just cutting flush will go a long way towards eliminating moisture.
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
Edited 12/25/2007 6:08 pm ET by rez
I can't see that it would hurt, even if it does rot. Don't know that it would help, however. The stuff will compress under the weight of the concrete, so it's relatively useless as insulation, and plain plastic is a more reliable vapor barrier.
I failed to consider compression. I have plenty of 6 mil laying around and even some 4mil white to brighten up the crawl space, with black 6 underneath.