Ground Moisture Barrier Benefits: Protect Your Home and Health

Benefits of Using a Ground Vapour Barrier / Moisture Barrier 

Ground vapour barriers, more correctly known as a ground moisture barrier, play a key role in your homes defence against damp cold and cold. This is especially true in New Zealand where our weather means conditions are often damp, causing serious dampness issues with houses.

These barriers serve as a protective layer between the ground and the structure. In this brief article we’ll go over key vapour barrier benefits, how they improve indoor air quality, reduce cold and damp issues and keep your home healthy longer.

What is a Moisture Barrier 

Moisture barriers and vapour barriers are often confused with each other. The key difference is: A vapour barrier stops water vapour (a gas!) from moving through the structure. A moisture barrier stops water as a liquid from moving through it.

For this topic we are talking about ground moisture barriers under house, sheets stopping bulk water from being present under your home. These do however also help reduce the amount of water vapour in your home, so the names can be confusing. 

Moisture barriers are often made from polythene as a large and durable ground sheet under house. This polythene ground sheet is then installed under the house and area piles on the ground. It is stapled to the ground with ground staples and secured with durable waterproof tape at the seams, with an overlap of no less than a few hundred millimetres (often times more).

Key Functions of Ground Moisture Barriers

1. Prevent Damp and Mold: This polythene sheet prevents water from seeping through the ground and staying damp in the enclosed crawl space. A wet crawl space is problematic as it can damaged insulation, timber and allow old to grow freely in the humid environment. This old and damp doesn’t stay isolated either! Very quickly it will spread into the floor timber and into the wall cavities and throughout the house if not addressed.

1. Foundation Protection: Moisture will weaken your foundation overtime. This damage is often very costly to repair. With excessive moisture, the house piles shift or sink which can compromise the entire building. Drainage and proper retaining around the building are key to preventing this damage as well.

1. Indoor Air Quality: Up to 60% of air in your home comes from your crawl space! So take a look under there and ask yourself if you’re happy breathing in that air all day. Air quality is as important as food and water quality, so its important your homes air quality is optimal!

Let explore these points in depth.

Benefits of using Ground Moisture Barriers

Dampness Prevention 

Moisture and vapour barriers work by controlling the movement of water and preventing damp in your home. To prevent damp in your home helps stop musty odours, and could be the solution to damp smells in your home. It also prevents mould growth by eliminating the moist humid environment where those mould spores thrive. 

Works with Underfloor Insulation 

Moisture barriers work hand in hand with underfloor insulation to prevent it from becoming compromised by damp. Reducing damp helps the insulation work at its optimal condition. This synergy of underfloor insulation and a moisture barrier creates and healthy crawl space.

Cost Effective Moisture Control Solution 

Investing in a moisture barrier is not very expensive, from as little as a few dollars per m2 installed. The cost savings on repairs, constant mould remediation, dehumidifiers and more quickly off set the initial cost of installing a moisture barrier. The return on investment can be huge!

Improved Energy Efficiency 

Homes that are well insulated and have the right moisture and vapour barriers installed cost less to heat and cool. With a full home insulation, ventilation and moisture barrier system installed you can save yourself thousands!

Moisture Barrier Cost NZ

So how much can you expect to spend installing a retrofit moisture barrier? Between $5 to $10 per m2 on average, but this often depends on access and the amount of prep work needing to take place under the building first. Get in touch with our team for a free quote!

Conclusion 

In New Zealand especially, ground moisture barriers are a vital component in maintaining a healthy and durable home environment. By preventing moisture from entering the structure, these barriers protect the foundation, enhance indoor air quality, and improve energy efficiency.

Whether you're building a new home or looking to improve an existing one, consider the benefits of a ground moisture barrier as part of your moisture control solutions. With proper installation and maintenance, a vapour barrier can provide peace of mind and contribute to a comfortable, healthy living space for years to come.