ASK A BUILDER
By CCHRC Staff
The “Ask a Builder” series is dedicated to answering some of the many questions Fairbanks residents have about building, energy and the many other parts of home life.
Q: I am building a house using post and pad construction. Since it will be off the ground, do I need a plastic vapor barrier under the floor?
Post and pad foundations are a common sight in Fairbanks as they represent one of the least expensive approaches to building on unstable soil — of which we have no shortage.
Usually the floor is raised several feet off of the ground and air flows freely underneath.
It is standard practice in cold climate construction to install a vapor retarder on the “warm side” (indoors) of the exterior walls and ceilings. This is done to keep the water vapor generated in the living spaces during the cold seasons from entering the insulated cavities, where it can condense and lead to mold and rot.
Polyethylene plastic sheeting in a “6 mil” thickness is typically used for this purpose, and is mandated by local building codes.
With post and pad construction, it may seem logical to also install plastic sheeting over the tops of the floor joists, before laying down the subfloor sheathing. In some cases however, it can do more harm than good.
If any rainwater leaks through the joints in the subfloor before the roof is on, it will be stopped by the plastic, and the floor may not be able to dry quickly enough to avoid mold and decay. The same risks hold true if liquids are spilled on the floor once the house is finished, or if a major plumbing leak occurs.
The plastic also prevents the use of subfloor adhesive between the joists and sheathing, which is designed to prevent squeaks in the floor.
Modern subfloors are usually sheathed with industrystandard 3/ 4 inch tongue and groove exteriorrated plywood or oriented strand board (OSB).
With post and pad construction, the subfloor sheathings are in an area that is comparatively less at risk for water vapor issues.
This is due in part because warm indoor air leaves at the top and is replaced by outside air drawn in at the bottom, so water vapor moves upwards — away from the floor.
In addition, the combination of thickness and types of glues used in 3/ 4inch plywood and OSB subfloor sheathings means they are less likely to absorb any moisture that might be forced into the house.
To minimize air leakage through the floor, the unsupported seams can be caulked with an adhesive sealant such as a silicone that is rated to have a good bond strength with wood.
The decision of whether to use or omit a plastic vapor retarder in floors using post and pad construction ultimately rests with the engineer or the local code official who may have reasons specific to the project or building site.
Alaska HomeWise articles promote home awareness for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). If you have a question, email us at akhomewise@cchrc.org.You can also call the CCHRC at (907) 457-3454.