Greetings to all–
We are contemplating building a small vacation home. The site is sloped and will need a poured walkout basement. The area was at one time a loading site for ships carrying quarried granite, giving us an excellent supply of free stone. Here is my question:
We would like to face the walkout basement with stone. But of utmost importance is the idea of keeping the basement dry and mold free. Any ideas? Drainage is, of course, key. But I was wondering if it will be possible to somehow get a vapor/water barrier between the stone facing and the basement wall. Or should it go elsewhere? Also, how will insulation fit into the picture?
Any ideas would be truly appreciated.
Bob
Replies
pay atention to perimeter drains that lead to daylight so any water runs out and away rather thann go to all the trouble of trying to sneak into your home.
Pour the walls with ICFs and then face with the stone.
put Pex in the slab flloor to keep it warm and you eliminate the dew points for condensation.
but that will not eliminate mold. I t is every where. You will just provide a place that is inhospitable for its growth
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Also meant to ask what pex was and what kind of icf's you have had experience with and which might be more suitable for an owner-builder. Thanks again!
I'm over on Islesboro. I use ARXX blocks. They are available from EBS and some others. EBS does some eduicational days on it. Be sure to keep them covered to keep ice out of the honeycomb lock patern until you have it poured.PEX is cross linked polyethylene ( or some POLY o5r other) that is olmost impossible to hurt, for carrying hot water through the concrete to turn the slab into a radiant heaat surface and storage
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
BTW, I'm thinking - granite and shipping - coast of Maine?
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Good guess-- coast of Maine-- Sullivan, just north of BarHarbor. Thanks for the ideas on the basement. I appreciate the feedback as I am considering doing much of the work myself (I'm not a builder!).
If it were me, I would seriously consider using vapor-permeable materials for insulation/finishing of the foundation and basement. Moisture will always find a way in, but if you don't give it a way to get back out, then you're opening the door to problems.
Also, finishing the basement and routing your HVAC system down there will keep the area dry and conditioned. In lieu of that, a dehumidifier w/ or w/o a pump running water to daylight to keep things dry.
Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
For the part of the foundation that's below grade, there should be a moisture/vapor barrier on the outside (generally a coating of some sort, often covered with foam insulation to protect the coating and add insulating value).
For a wall that's substantially above grade, the vapor barrier is less critical, but if used, should be towards the inside.
It's not clear whether you want the stone on the inside or outside.