THSCC Forums

Along these lines, what have you guys used as the vapor barrier, and where did you get it? I'm assuming something significantly heavier than Home Depot plastic on a role....?

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

No problems with the stuff Lowe's sells. Lasted 12+ years until we sold the house. Never clogged. Buried about 12" to the bottom of the trench, depending on the pitch required. Couple of places in the yard, I had to go maybe 18" deep. I also connected 3 of my neighbor's gutter spouts which were spilling into my yard and actually contributing much of the surface water!

Another note: If you're gonna dig trenches in the yard: 1.) Get a TRENCHING SHOVEL. 2.) Have the "Call before you dig" guys come out and locate every electrical, gas, water, phone, cable line in the yard. They do it for free, and will save you lots of problems. 3.) Don't even consider "French Drains" or "Dry Wells" to accomodate the water. They're useless and a waste of time and money. 4.) Depending on where you live, it's probably not advisable to break through the street curbing to terminate your drainage. Cary frowns on that, and I suspect other cities won't allow it either.

Dustin: I used pretty heavy clear (opaque) polyethylene sheeting to line the crawlspace, but it came on a roll, as I recall, then it unfolded to about 12 feet wide. Depending on how often you'll be crawling around under the house fixin' stuff, anything fairly durable should be fine.

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Brad

I've bought 10 mil poly sheeting from either HD or Lowes (I shop both regularly so I can't keep separated where I bought what). Usually comes in a box, read the label for thickness. If you can't find it there, then pro building suppliers like Builders First should have it. There are special tapes and mastics for poly vapor barriers, don't use regular duct tape and caulk.

I agree with Donnie about the corregated drain pipe getting crushed, but IMHO (and my building inspector friend's) that's a problem not with the material, but with the installation. DON'T use corregated to cross a driveway or vehicle traffic path. Use schedule 40 solid PVC sewer pipe in these areas.
Don't install the drain leaders for any new construction until after it is completed to prevent crushing by construction equipment/deliveries.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

If you ABSOLUTELY have to have something better than what you can get at HD/Lowes, check these guys out

http://www.geo-synthetics.com/

They have a store in Raleigh the number is 800/662-7344

I "THINK" they sell to private individuals.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Brad - Adam L told me once that you should only use black poly and avoid the clear/translucent stuff. He says that the small amount of light that does come in through crawlspace ventilation can let stuff grow under the clear plastic, but not under the black... It's minor but I thought I'd mention it.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Our termite inspectors told us our warranty would be void with the black stuff, and requested that we change to the clear stuff. I haven't changed it yet....

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In need of car.

That's because they are lazy.

They would rather you have mold and fungus growing under your crawlspace than to have to move the plastic to look under it for termite evidence.

In this area of the country I would be far more worried about mold than termites. Especailly if your house is less than 15yrs old

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

Well our neighbors have termite damage and their house is only 11 years old. It does happen in this area.

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Keep rules to a minimum and enforce the ones you have.

Yes it does, I repaired several house with it. And most of the termite intrustions are related to high levels of moisture. Which gets back to the vapor barrier.

With current termite checmicals available, the chances on them gettting under the vapor barrier and then getting into the house to damage are next to nil.

I have seen far more houses in this area with mold and mildew issues than with termites. Which is why I made the commnets about the type and color of vapor barrier. It has to do with the more probable issue, which in this area is mold. That and termites can cost you money to fix damage. Mold can damage you, your children, and your pets.

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

i thought mold always grew better in dark (no light) areas.

Well, you and your building inspector friend just haven't run across crappy corrugated pipe. Believe me, I know better than to install it in a traffic area. We got a run from somewhere (and have no idea where at this point) that collapsed in several no traffic areas. Upon digging it up to see what was wrong, we compared it to some we had just bought and the walls were noticeably thinner. Hence the warning.


--Donnie