What Is Visqueen Used For

So often people inquire about, "Visqueen" vapor barrier. What they are really asking for is some sort of plastic sheeting to utilise equally a vapor bulwark/retarder.

Vapor barrier for concrete

Why are vapor barriers used under physical you ask...Moisture that is in the footing slowly rises to the surface. This is problematic if you are putting tile or carpeting on top of the physical in the way of floor. Vapor barriers AKA vapor retarders are a sheet of plastic that blocks the water from reaching the physical slab.

Tin whatsoever blazon of plastic work for this purpose...not exactly. You see while you may think a half-dozen-mil layer of Visqueen is sufficient, information technology only isn't. This liner is not water tight. Additionally, 6 mil plastic gets damaged during the placement of reinforcement and concrete which volition create holes that will allow the water correct upward.

Torn Vapor Barrier.jpg

Visqueen has become one of the generic names for plastic sheeting, just as Kleenex has become the generic proper name for tissue. When someone asks for Visqueen, they are referring to a lesser grade of plastic sheeting. The plastic sheeting known as Visqueen has get a generic name for Structure and Agricultural Course Polyethylene sheeting (C&A moving-picture show). C&A movie contains up to 25% post consumer recycled content, and is made from the to the lowest degree expensive resins bachelor at any given fourth dimension. While information technology is excellent for use in many projects, it is not ideal for any apply that requires sustained force such as a tarp or for use as a vapor/moisture barrier or retarder. People will often practice a search for "visqueen vapor retarder", or fire retardant visqueen" when they may be looking for an engineered plastic. An engineered plastic is one that is intentionally designed to meet certain measurable criteria to insure its suitability for the job information technology is intended for.

When looking for a vapor retarder/barrier, we recommend an engineered moving-picture show similar Raven Industries VaporBlock Plus for this purpose to block as much of the moisture, radon, methane and VOC'southward as possible. VaporBlock Plus engineered films are designed tolast forever buried in the soil, where C&A film often completely breaks down inside a couple of years. Have you lot ever dug up some one-time blackness plastic? Think how torn and crusty information technology was? It'due south of import that today's vapor/wet barriers or retarders should pass the ASTM Due east 96 Class A, B and C (standard for under-slab vapor retarders in contact with soil or granular fill). ASTM Eastward 96 measures in role the "permeance" or how much water can pass through the vapor barrier. You need a liner that is 0.3 perms or less. In terms of thickness, 10 mils and above volition offer much better protection and resistance to wet transmission. If you demand to over-lap the vapor retarder, half dozen inches at the seams, taped and sealed effectually cavalcade and the like.

The lesser line is doing your due diligence regarding vapor barriers and selecting 1 that is not a "visqueen vapor barrier" and go with liner that is engineered and tested to exercise the best chore for the application.

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