I have postwar construction house here in the Tulsa area with a crawl space underneath (about 12†between the ground [dirt] and the joist); there is no insulation. I’ve removed the linoleum flooring; the skin was rotted so it has been removed also.
I’m now down to the sub floor, which is 1×8â€plank butted together at a 45º angle across the joist.
It’s uneven so my next step is to level it with furring strips then put down a ¾â€ T&G plywood skin; this is probably going to be topped with cement backer board and then tiled.
My question is do I need a vapor barrier and if so where? And what kind?
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Thanks
Shawn
Replies
Bump!
Hey pop,
I dont think you would want a vapor barrier on your floor. If there is moisture you woul want that to travel upwards up and out the house, if you put a vapor barrier down then that wouldd keep the moistur in the crawl space. That might start a whole new host of problems for you.
As for your floor, how uneven is it? If its just a couple high spots maybre you could hit them with a belt sander instead of firring up the whole floor. That just seems like too much unneeded work to me. Maybe im wrong but i would just glue the T&G tight onto the 1x8 and nail it down with 2 3/8" ring shank.
Hope ive helped.
Matt
There was one on the flooring I took up...so that's why I'm asking.
No, it's not just uneven, it slopes...noticably!
Thanks for the reply
If it "slopes" then it might be a structural issue.
Does it sag in the middle, if so maybe the joists are too small. Thats what im dealing with on my house right now, built in 1905, 7 3/4" joists spanning 16 ft., have a 1 1/2" sag. Tore my 1x flooring off and im doubling up the joists with 2x10.
If it really sags maybe your foundation has issues.
Just some questions.
Matt
I have considered that. This is an end unit of a 4 unit condominium (from what I understand they were originally constructed as apartments for returning GI's and their families). I bought this as-is, so the only required inspection was for termites; this inspector said he thought everything looked sound.
While I haven't crawled under to see for myself what kind of condition it's in I wonder because the 'sinking' apears to run perpendicular to the joist.
I had to replace the flooring under the water heater I replaced and it was only unlevel by less than 1/4".
Sorry for the long span between replies; this is the only free time I have lately.
Thanks again for the input.
Shawn