Does concrete floor need to breathe?

There is no need for concrete to breath from the point of view of the strength of the material. There will be moisture retained from the original mix and it is possible some are confused about the chemistry of concrete and think it needs to dry, but the truth is the complete opposite of that.

Can you leave concrete floors bare?

Without protection, concrete is susceptible to extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, impacts, tyre traffic, de-icing salts and liquid. In an industrial area this could mean that the floor quickly becomes chipped, contaminated, cracked and unclean. If nothing else, bare concrete isn't the best look.

Can moisture rise through a concrete floor?

Damp from the ground can make its way into your concrete floor. Due to concrete's porous nature, it can then travel through it, causing issues in the flooring above. Changes in the surrounding environment can have a major impact on moisture levels within the concrete slab.

Does foundation need to breathe?

Foundation walls like concrete are porous. This means they can take in 10-15 gallons of water vapor a day. The main difference is that back in the '60s, homes were so drafty that moisture did not have long to stay and cause damage. It literally would dry up simply because of all the ventilation in the home.

Are concrete floors good in a house?

It's durable, stain-proof, waterproof, and chic, giving your room a sleek contemporary look. Concrete withstands wear, and it's resistant to fire, stains, water, bacteria and odors. It won't scratch, it's easy to clean, and the design is customizable.

“Houses need to BREATHE!” - Shut your filthy mouth

How often do you have to seal concrete floors?

Sealing your concrete isn't really a labor-intensive, nor costly, job. By sealing your concrete every 2-5 years, as recommended by experts, you should keep your floor in good shape, preventing cracks, pitting, and additional damage.

How long do concrete floors last?

A properly installed, sealed and maintained polished concrete floor can be expected to last a hundred years or more in even the harshest commercial environments. Its life-span will also far surpass that of other floor coverings, such as carpeting, vinyl tile and wood laminates.

What happens when a house is too airtight?

If you air seal too much, bring in mechanical ventilation to the home. This will give you adequate amounts of airflow and filter pollutants in the home.” One of the biggest dangers of a home sealed too tightly is trapped carbon monoxide.

Do concrete walls need insulation?

The concrete acts as a sort of bridge for your heat to get outside. We eliminate the bridge and keep heat in by adding insulation. In order to regulate the temperature of a living space, concrete needs to be insulated.

Is a vapor barrier necessary in basement?

You might need a vapor barrier if you're trying to turn a wet basement into a dry, comfortable living space. Of course, as we mentioned above, a vapor barrier in a basement is just one part of a basement waterproofing system.

How do I keep moisture out of my concrete floor?

Does sealing concrete stop moisture?

Basements and garages - the typical rooms with concrete floors - also suffer from poor air circulation, giving the moisture nowhere to go once it seeps through the floor. Sealing the concrete can help eliminate the dampness on your floor.

Should concrete floors be sealed?

Sealed Floors are Durable

Increase the durability of your floors by having them properly sealed. A sealed concrete floor will be protected from the elements, preventing cracking, scaling, and other common concrete problems. Sealing your concrete floors prevents damage – no matter how regularly your floors are used.

Can you leave concrete unfinished?

When you leave your concrete warehouse floors unsealed, the concrete will produce flecks of concrete dust that can coat machinery, create a dirty work environment, wreck havoc on manufacturing, and even cause health issues. It's simply unavoidable and a very real issue unless you seal the floors.

How do you make a concrete floor livable?

Are concrete floors unhealthy?

According to experts, concrete floor systems can cause everything from bunions and ingrown toenails to shin splints, lumbar strain, and achilles tendonitis. It can also lead to lower back pain, stress fractures, knee pain, and worsening of arthritis symptoms.

What should I put between drywall and concrete?

The solution is covering concrete with a vapor barrier, which acts like a resistant cell membrane instead. With a shield in place, the drywall is safe. Typically, a stud wall is then installed against the concrete, but furring strips are quick, easy and take up less space.

How do you insulate concrete?

Depending on whether the concrete block walls will be covered or if the top of the wall is exposed can really change the way they are insulated. The option for insulating concrete block walls includes spray foam insulation, injection foam insulation, polystyrene beads, foam boards, and loose-fill masonry insulation.

Does concrete absorb heat?

Concrete can be used to absorb heat to keep the interior of a building cool throughout the day, but overnight natural ventilation can be used to cool the concrete down and warm the room space.

How do you ventilate an airtight house?

Supply Ventilation: Supply ventilation systems use a fan to pressurize your home, forcing outside air into the building and stale air to leak out through holes in the building envelope (bathroom fans, kitchens fans, etc.)

How do you know if your house is air tight?

Energy Bills – Air leakage is between 30-70% of the cost of heating and cooling your home. Tighter homes have far lower energy bills.

How do you know if you have poor ventilation?

You might notice that your nose runs more often or that you get stopped up overnight. Itchy, watery eyes; sore throats; and skin rashes can all result from inadequate fresh air. These symptoms can have other causes, of course, which is why we recommend a professional inspection.

Why do some houses have concrete floors?

These days most homes are designed with concrete floors because damp proofing technology allows us to create a dry floor without an air gap. There are still be many suspended floors out there however, because retrofitting them is prohibitively expensive and often impractical.

Do all concrete floors crack?

When you see a crack in your concrete slab or wall, your first assumption is typically that something has been done wrong–but that's not always the case. Actually, concrete cracks are very common, some are even inevitable. We explain 6 of the most common types of concrete cracks below.

Do indoor concrete floors crack?

Concrete floors can be susceptible to settling and cracking over time, and this is a more frequent problem when an existing structural slab has adapted to a finished residential flooring surface—such as when a basement or loft condo has been converted to living space.