I have condensation on my basement floor and I am planning on finishing the basement. I would like to stop the moisture problem prior to finishing. What is the best way to fix this problem.
The basement has 9 foot ceilings and the house was built this year in Kansas City.
Replies
Is this condensation or moisture from the concrete? Or you see this now or only during the summer?
Tape down a 2ft sq piece of plastic and leave it for 24 hrs. Then look and which if there is mositure on the outside of the plastic (condensatition) or under it (moisture in/through the concrete).
How old is it? New house take upto a year to dry out for the moisture in the concret and lumber.
This occurs now, if I lift a box that was directly on the concrete floor there is condensation.
Cory,
Can you let us know anything about the underslab construction?
It is normal for new concrete to outgas moisture for up to two years. You can speed this process with warmth and ventilation.
Right now I suspect that what you are experiencing is normal, but some more info re the construction practices in your home would help.
SamT
if the rest of the floor is dry and there is moisture under the box, it is NOT condensation. Condensation would be appearing all over the floor.
You have moisture in the concrete from one of maybe three sources and it is evaporating where the concete is exposed to air, but not where it is covered. This is a problem you need to solve BEFORE you cover it with anything.
Unless you like mold.
Odds are good that it is from moisture in the concrete that is still curing out, but it could also be subsurface water problems keeping the concrete wet and wicking up through it.
Do you have any way of knowing if a moisture barrier was laid in under the crete before it was poured, and what sort of perimeter drainage syastem you have, and what the ground water level is in your immediate vicinity?
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It may not be condensation. Water may be soaking upwards through the floor. Concrete is like a big sponge. What sort of finish floor are you hoping for?
eventually it will be carpet but with the nine foot ceilings there is room to place boards on the floor first
"eventually it will be carpet but with the nine foot ceilings there is room to place boards on the floor first"
If there is no bulk water, I would suggest placing Tu-Tuf under the built-up floor to stop moisture migration. If there is bulk water (ground surge or from walls), you would also need a drainage scheme.