Hi guys, I’m still working on my floor. It’s a small cottage with no foundation, just pier blocks. I’m going to put the vapour barrier down and started thinking about how to seal the weather out. I’ve got the sub floor out and I’m looking at dirt and rock. I’m thinking of tacking cement board from the bottom of the outside joist down to the vapour barrier and then sealing it with caulking/expanding foam. First, does this sound logical? If it does, then do I have to put a vapour barrier below my hardwood? Thanks for all your help.
Vern.
Edited 4/19/2008 11:41 pm ET by Vwright
Edited 4/20/2008 12:08 am ET by Vwright
Replies
What is your climate and how far from dirt to framing?
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I'm on the west coast of B.C. It's very mild, wet, winter rain comes in sideways. The ground underneath is conglomerate bedrock and loose rock. It varies from 1/4" to 2' away from the joists. I noticed when pulling up the sub floor that the rot and rusty nails seemed to get worse in the 18" closest to the wall.
Have you thought about spraying foam insulation up under the subfloor?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
There just isn't the room for spraying. I just spent a while chipping rock away where the joists were touching the bedrock so that I will have room to stretch the vapour barrier.
I was hoping to avoid the plastic on the ground but it seems there is no other way. There are many little posts/supports, lots of rock and some drain pipe. I'm also dealing with 680 square feet made up of four separate constructions. I'll have 3/4 of it done by next weekend. I'm going to lay as much plastic as I can manage/reach then join to it when I rip up the next piece of floor. I'm also looking at renting a jack hammer to break up some of the rock next to house to get better slope away from the house.