DEAR TIM: The crawl space under my 1910 home is just exposed dirt and leftover building materials. I need to add a vapor barrier and wonder about the best one. The foundation consists of granite slabs ...

Improper use of vapor barriers is one of the leading causes of moisture-related issues in buildings today. Vapor barriers, or vapor retarders, are designed to prevent wall assemblies from getting wet.

The National Wood Flooring Association recently invited me to attend its annual educational meeting in Charlotte, N.C. My topic was how to apply wood flooring over radiant floors without creating a ...

The concrete slab can be thought of as the wearing cap for the building pad and base course. A well compacted and smooth subgrade is critical to a successful slab. Slab formwork, jointing details, ...

The placement of a water vapor retarder directly below concrete floor slabs on the ground has become common practice for buildings where floor coverings or coatings are to be installed. Such use has ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Homeowners often ask if a vapor barrier is necessary for optimizing attic insulation and protecting their homes from ...

When building a house, two main types of foundations are used: slab-on-grade or below-grade foundations with a basement slab. Climate, including high water tables, frost lines, harsh winters, and ...