For crawl spaces, 6 mil thick vapor barriers are generally the minimum, but if the ground is rocky or it is being placed in a high traffic area, a thicker plastic sheeting may be necessary. If you are placing a vapor barrier under concreter floors or slabs then the minimum thickness generally is 10 mil.
20 mil string-reinforced vapor barriers are puncture resistant — perfect for encountering soil, large rocks, or broken concrete. Vapor barriers should be thicker than plastic sheeting typically used for other purposes because vapor barriers must be durable, puncture and tear resistant, and have low permeability.
A 6 mil thick poly is commonly used as a vapor barrier and offers short-term savings to the homeowner. However, those savings may likely be lost in the long run if someone walks or crawls on the poly, causing micro holes in the vapor barrier.
By sticking with a thicker mil plastic, you'll have a dryer crawl space and better air quality. We recommend using a vapor barrier of 16 mil or higher. This translates into a permeance rate of only . 0015 This is considered impermeable in American building codes.
Overview. Our 4-mil plastic sheeting is a multipurpose film perfect for a wide variety of construction or DIY projects. This medium-duty plastic sheeting is commonly used as a vapor barrier in between insulation and drywall, used as a drop cloth or a temporary cover for equipment and supplies.
Black barriers are more effective at stopping moisture evaporation, compared with the clear barrier. The black color hinders the growth of plant seeds that may reside beneath a home's crawlspace. Plants naturally send moisture into the air, creating more moisture.
The bigger the mil "usually" the stronger the plastic sheeting. There are exceptions to this. When you add string or scrim as it is called to the plastic a 6 mil string reinforced plastic sheeting film is stronger than a regular 6 mil plastic sheeting film.
6 mil plastic could survive the sun for up to 3 years. Fifty eight years later 6 mil poly is still used by the budget conscious grower. This film will get you by. The downside to 6 mil is bad weather (wind, snow load, hail), and strong sun.
A 15-mil barrier is slightly thicker and better than 6-mil, 10-mil and 12-mil vapor barrier liners. However, these types of barriers still do not compare to heavier vapor barrier options. More than half of the air that you breathe in your house comes from your crawl space.
Stego Wrap 15-Mil Vapor Barrier has an extremely low permeance rating, which helps mitigate the risk of water vapor accumulation and the transmission of various soil gases. This helps to maintain the integrity of the building envelope and promotes indoor air quality by avoiding serious moisture-related issues.
Materials such as rigid foam insulation, reinforced plastics, aluminum, and stainless steel are relatively resistant to water vapor diffusion.
Vapor barriers should be at least 6 mil in thickness to effectively cover the area and create a moisture barrier.
6 Mil Clear Plastic Sheeting – . 006 inches thick plastic sheeting engineered from low-density polyethylene. Our rolls of clear plastic sheeting are strong and durable – they will not tear or rip easily.
Permeability values of materials are irrelevant in air barrier systems. Although 6-mil polyethylene is an excellent vapor barrier it is often a very poor air barrier.
The bigger the number the thicker the plastic. Plastic sheeting comes in ranges from 1 mil to 100 mils! A "mil" A mil is a measurement that equals one-thousandth of an inch, or 0.001 inch. Most human hair is one-thousandth of inch, or 0.001 inch.
Super tough, fully waterproof 4 mil plastic sheeting is wrapped on a solid core. Size is 10' x 25' with a 4 mil thickness. 10' x 25' Plastic Sheeting has a 4 mil thickness.
Clear Poly Sheeting - Heavy Duty, 6 Mil Thick Plastic Tarp – Waterproof Vapor and Dust Protective Equipment Cover - Agricultural, Construction and Industrial Use (10' x 100')
Clear plastic sheeting primarily used as a barrier in the drywall trade. This 10 mil thick plastic sheeting can be used in multiple applications. It can be used to cover and protect surfaces when painting or curing concrete. As a vapor barrier in interior walls or in crawl spaces.
6 mil plastic sheeting is usually an excellent sheeting thickness for tasks such as covering items during a remodel, construction enclosures, remediation covers, and even greenhouse covers.
2 MIL - Protection for shipping and storage. 3 MIL - Additional protection for hardware, nuts, bolts and industrial parts. 4 MIL - Heavy duty protection when packaging nails, screws & heavy metal parts. 6 MIL - Extra heavy duty protection against punctures and tears on bulky items or items with sharp corners.
However, polypropylene is more resistant to chemicals and heat than polyethylene. That makes it a good choice for areas that may be exposed to harsh cleaners or high temperatures. Any thickness between 6 and 12 mils will work well for a polypropylene vapor barrier. But 8 to 10 mils is a perfect thickness to aim for.
Vapor Blockers
Vapor barriers—sheets of plastic or kraft paper—keep water vapor out of the wall cavity, so the insulation stays dry. Not every type of insulation needs a vapor barrier. But if it does, the barrier should face inside in northern, heating climates, and outside in humid southern climates.
Plastic Sheeting is a is a general-purpose plastic film for use in a variety of construction and DIY applications. This extra heavy-duty film can be used as a vapor barrier for concrete, under wood floors and even to cover crawl spaces. Commonly used between drywall and insulation.