Re: [A/S] Digest Number 936

[peter count <count@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Cork floor job.

Someone is confused!  A " vapor barrier"  in residential construction
typically is polyethylene sheeting applied on the warm side of the
insulation. Its purpose is to retard the flow of moisture laden air into
a wall cavity.  Very little if any moisture comes up through your
aluminum belly pan, and the same is true of moisture going down through
a 3/4" plywood sub floor, especially one covered with tile.

Is the cork floor you are looking at separate tiles or is it a "floating
floor?   There is a manufacturer that supplies cork which has been
laminated to a substrate it is then installed "floating".  Only the
tongue and groove edges are glued.  Its installed over a felt or thin
foam sheet.  Maybe they are calling the foam a vapor barrier?

Bottom line, you don't need a vapor barrier.

IF your floor  wasn't smooth, the addition of 1/4" underlayment would
fix that.

Good luck,

Peter Count
'73 International 31'