Taking a poll about crawl space vapor barriers

[HawkinsHollow]

I am digging the footers for my addition today. After I get done digging them and regrading I would like to put plastic and gravel down as a vapor barrier.

My question is:
Plastic and then 57s gravel over it?
or
Gravel then plastic over it?

What says ye?

 

[Roadworthy]

I say gravel is a bad idea. It will be really ugly to crawl on later and it will cut the plastic to shreds when you do crawl on it. Sand is probably a far better choice. On the plastic will help hold it from shifting when you crawl on it and you won't notice the layer of dust that will settle over time.

 

[duffer]

If you use gravel, use Pee gravel (size of BB's) instead of 57. Also be sure to use a very heavy plastic.
I did gravel, then plastic on top.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

We used pea gravel, nice smooth edges, then the vapor barrier over top. I've never seen gravel on top of the vapor barrier.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Well $h!t!!! I have 10 tons of 57s in my back yard. Guess I gotta roll with it. No turning back now.

I have shifted gears a little bit and have decided to only do crawl space area where the plumbers will need to access under the bathroom. Probably ordered too much gravel, I guess I will bring it to my property and use it on the road. It needs it anyways.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Well $h!t!!! I have 10 tons of 57s in my back yard. Guess I gotta roll with it. No turning back now.

I have shifted gears a little bit and have decided to only do crawl space area where the plumbers will need to access under the bathroom. Probably ordered too much gravel, I guess I will bring it to my property and use it on the road. It needs it anyways.

You can never have too many 57s!

 

[HawkinsHollow]

You can never have too many 57s!

True dat!! But now I gotta move half of them out of my back yard. Luckily I have my buddies dump truck for the weekend.

 

[dstig1]

Plastic on top and yeah sand would be better. You want to be able to see the plastic to repair any tears that may come up. There are some very heavy plastics for this application. I'm thinking like 10 mil or greater.

 

[4570Man]

I usually put sand in crawspaces. Gravel isn’t fun to crawl on.

 

[workinonit]

Whoa! Gravel? Having been an HVAC contractor I would have walked the second I saw that. I ain't crawling on gravel. I put sand under my house and totally encapsulated the entire crawl space and have a de-humidifier under there. Keeps the humidity at 60% year round.