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What parts of the USA use Crawl Space Vapor Barriers?

Posted by The Plastic Sheeting Gurus! on Fri, May 05, 2023 @ 09:11

Why Use a Vapor Barrier?

It is important to reduce water vapor from entering a building because excessive moisture can lead to a range of problems such as mold growth, decay of building materials, and reduced indoor air quality. When warm, moist air enters a cooler building envelope, such as walls, floors, and roofs, it can condense and accumulate, leading to these issues.

A vapor retarder, also known as a vapor barrier, is a material that is designed to reduce the amount of water vapor that can enter a building envelope. It is typically installed on the warm side of the building insulation, which is the side facing the interior of the building. The vapor retarder works by reducing the rate of moisture diffusion through the building envelope, thereby minimizing the amount of moisture that can enter the building.

A vapor retarder can help to maintain a more stable indoor environment by reducing the risk of condensation, mold growth, and other moisture-related problems. It can also help to improve the energy efficiency of a building by reducing the amount of heat lost due to moisture migration.

What parts of the USA rely on vapor retarders?

  1. Coastal regions: Areas along the east and west coasts, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and California.

  2. Southern states: States in the southern region, such as Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Texas.

  3. Midwest: States in the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, where there is a significant amount of moisture in the air.

  4. Pacific Northwest: States such as Oregon and Washington, where there is high rainfall and humidity.

Crawl space vapor barriers are typically installed in homes with a crawl space foundation to help prevent moisture from entering the home and causing problems such as mold, mildew, and wood rot. They are typically installed over the soil in the crawl space to create a barrier between the ground and the home, helping to prevent moisture from seeping through the foundation and into the home.

Visit the Crawl Space Vapor retarder page here.

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Tags: crawl space vapor barrier

Crawl Space Vapor Barriers to Protect Your Health and Your Home

Posted by Andrew Cooper on Mon, Mar 10, 2014 @ 04:58

Crawl space vapor barriers that look like a roll of regular old plastic sheeting aren’t something that people don’t generally discuss at backyard barbecues! For most home owners, the thought of buying plastic sheeting only comes to mind when they about ready to start that long awaited home improvement project and they want to protect their floors, furniture, counter tops and other valuable things around the house.  One thing that never really comes to mind is buying plastic  sheeting also called, crawl space vapor barriers, to protect the most important thing in their home; their health.

True or False:  The Surgeon General has warned that smoking is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.   (False- radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today).

Every day tiny radioactive radon gas molecules migrate through many homes across the county. Depending on what part of the country you live in really makes a difference.  Unfortunately we can’t smell, taste or know that those stealth radon gas molecules can be causing long term health problems for us.  Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas that naturally occurs from uranium deposits decomposing in the ground.  The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/2005/01/sg01132005.html  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s Office have estimated that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon.


True or false:  An elementary school student that spends 8 hours per day and 180 days per year in a classroom with 4 pCi/l of radon will receive nearly 10 times as much radiation as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission allows at the edge of a nuclear power plant.                         (true)

Most U.S. EPA lifetime safety standards for carcinogens are established based on a 1 in 100,000 risk of death.

True or False:  Most scientists agree that the risk of death for radon at 4 pCi/l is approximately 1 in 100.

(True)

So what can you do to protect your home from Radon gas? First of all you should test your home to see if you have high levels of radon.  The US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and National Safety Council recommend testing your home for radon because testing is the only way to know your home's radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. It typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface.

Is there a crawl space vapor barrier that can combat deadly radon?

For many years homeowners and contractors alike have chosen to just use 6 mil plastic from the local hardware store with a radon mitigation system that blows the gas away from the home to lower radon levels.  However, what most people don’t know is that is not all crawl space vapor barriers  are equal and that the plastic sheeting liner they bought from the their local hardware store or that the contractor is not meant to block out any type of gases.  Over time the radon gas that is not being vented out will slowly build back up in your home.

Ask to see data sheet on the plastic.

Look for Radon Diffusion Coefficient test data on the data sheet. (If this is not listed then the product has not been tested to block out radon)

Also stand firm.  Don’t let anyone talk to you into something you know isn’t right.  Remember it does not matter how much experience a company says they have with mitigating Radon. You must insist on seeing the data sheet. When it comes to your health you must use the crawl space vapor barrier that is proven to block those hazardous gases.

Click for pricing/ info Search for Greenhouse Plastic, tapes, fire retardant films, plastic sheeting Home page www.globalplasticsheeting.com plastic sheeting, tapes, strapping fire retardant films greenhouse plastic Plastic Sheeting Thickness chart. How thick is best for you?

Tags: Radon Vapor Barrier, crawl space vapor barrier

Crawl Space Vapor Barriers- how do you pick one?

Posted by Nana Hinsley on Tue, Jul 09, 2013 @ 02:56

Crawl space vapor barriers also referred to as vapor retarders or more accurately-vapor diffusion retarders come with different characteristics to suit the application they are protecting.  There are a few fundamental questions that need to be answered so the most appropriate vapor barrier can be selected for the job.

Crawl space vapor barrier

One of the most important questions that arise is whether the home is in an area that has radon or methane gas coming up through the ground. This is critical because radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. This means your lung tissue can be damaged leading to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Knowing if you have radon gas in your home will help you decide on buying a crawl space vapor barrier that block deadly radon gas. 

The next consideration is the surface to which you are laying the crawlspace vapor barrier (vapor diffusion retarder) upon.  It is rocky with sharp rocks, then you need a liner that won't puncture when it comes in contact with the soil. Thicker material will give the crawl space vapor barrier more strength to hold up to that type of surface.

How will you be using the space where you place the vapor diffusion retarder? If it is a crawlspace that is used for storage- or where people will be walking, then again you will want an 18 mil liner that has some brawn.

Click for pricing/ info Search for Greenhouse Plastic, tapes, fire retardant films, plastic sheeting Home page www.globalplasticsheeting.com plastic sheeting, tapes, strapping fire retardant films greenhouse plastic Plastic Sheeting Thickness chart. How thick is best for you?

Tags: crawl space vapor barrier, vapor diffusion retarders