Upgrade dirt floor of basement to concrete

Originally Posted By: Marcel te Bokkel
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In looking at a 1850’s home with a part dirt floor basement, is it enough to have a vapour barrier below 4 inches of concrete? Any other considerations?


Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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1- Consider the issue of underfloor granular fill, perimeter drainage and basement drainage system.


2- Consider the fact there may or may not be adequate footings.


3. Consider the fact that doing nothing means higher moisture without the installation of a continuous vapour barrier covering.


4. Consider the soil the structure is sitting upon.


5. Are there variations in heights between other basement or crawlspace levels? This may have an impact on your construction procedure.


Regards, Claude


--
Ontario Home Inspections Inc.

Originally Posted By: mcyr
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Hi Marcel;


Back in the 1850's era, it was common to have earth floors as part of the basement area to keep garden goods and vegetable during the Winter.

The moisture immigrating from the dirt kept the vegetable fresh.

To modernize and pour a concrete floor, within, would require a few questions answered.

One would be, what condition is the foundation after all these years?

Any water intrusion from any of the perimeter?

Is the exposed dirt damp, wet, dry, moist, or just cool like I would suspect from a basement that old?

If none of the above is obvious, I would expect, that a regular 6 mil. poly would be adequate.

If that foundation is still intact and most probably built with granite tops and stone or rock base and been there that long, chances are it will not go anywhere wether it has a footing or not. The tapered walls back then were more adequate that the modern 8" concrete walls of today that are usually backfill within 5 days or so and wonder why they crack.

Marcel.


Originally Posted By: Marcel te Bokkel
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Many thanks for the information, it has been very helpful.

Marcel