ᐅ Monolithic concrete with floor insulation?

Created on: 23 Oct 2015 19:01
K
Kaffeebart-1
K
Kaffeebart-1
23 Oct 2015 19:01
Hello

We plan to build with a general contractor and are now finalizing the construction contract.
The basement is designed with concrete walls and floor. The basement is uninsulated – appropriate insulation is planned between the basement and the ground floor.
There are two rooms in the basement intended for use as hobby rooms later on. From the start, we will have these rooms constructed with a 10cm (4 inches) offset so that we can add insulation to the floor and walls ourselves later.

According to the construction description, the basement floor is entirely made of monolithic concrete. I was advised that the step of smoothing the monolithic concrete might not be necessary if insulation will be added on top anyway. However, our architect says that not grinding the floor isn’t ideal for the vapor barrier. What are your thoughts on this?

The floor insulation buildup I have found so far includes: vapor barrier (foil at least 1.2mm thick), insulation, screed (a carpet will be installed later).
Is there a simpler method that is still sufficiently safe in terms of preventing mold?

How should I install the wall insulation (preferably as simply as possible) – I haven’t found any clear guidelines on this so far.
M
Mattia-1
19 Nov 2015 14:21
We installed this monolithic concrete in an underground garage some years ago. It was applied and smoothed in a single step. That was it, and the floor remains like that. It is relatively durable.
M
Marcel-1
11 Dec 2015 12:36
Hi Kaffeebart,

The insulation you describe is fine. I wouldn’t simplify it any further. The membrane is adequate, and mold only forms when there is moisture present. You need to make sure to eliminate that risk.

Best regards
K
Kaffeebart-1
13 Dec 2015 20:40
Hello Marcel,
thank you for your post.
I somehow have some concerns about the vapor retarder – no idea why... but apparently, there are quite a few things to consider to make sure it is installed correctly.
So the question was whether there is an easier option that provides equally good protection.
For walls, for example, calcium silicate boards could be used – but unfortunately, they tend to be much more expensive.
R
Ricardo-1
20 Dec 2015 12:27
That’s correct, and these boards are really expensive. You don’t need to be cautious about the vapor barrier. Just install it as recommended. Then nothing can go wrong.
H
herrmann-1
25 Jan 2016 08:46
Nothing went wrong, I can’t really say that. We also made mistakes with the insulation. The basement is always damp and the screed was probably not dry yet. I am currently working on identifying the problem.