New basement slab - vapour barrier between dirt and gravel?
I’m having an interior waterproofing and underpinning job done around the block foundation of my home.
The contractor is preparing for the new concrete floor to be poured and has put dimpled waterproofing membrane over the walls, down to and over the weeping tiles, and then over the dirt floor. The gravel will go over the membrane on the floor, and concrete over the gravel. The new sewage pipes perforate the membrane, disrupting any kind of seal in the membrane sheets.
Everything I’ve found online, and our architectural drawings, show gravel over the dirt and weeping tile, with vapour barrier overtop, and then concrete. My understanding is that the porous gravel allows for water to travel to the weeping tile around the inside perimeter of the basement.
I’m unhappy with this non-standard approach, but my contractor has always done it this way and has never seen an issue. It’s never been an issue with permits and sign-offs. My contractor will not warranty the standard approach if that’s what I ask him to do.
So how much does it matter? If it does matter, how can I support my argument?
The contractor is preparing for the new concrete floor to be poured and has put dimpled waterproofing membrane over the walls, down to and over the weeping tiles, and then over the dirt floor. The gravel will go over the membrane on the floor, and concrete over the gravel. The new sewage pipes perforate the membrane, disrupting any kind of seal in the membrane sheets.
Everything I’ve found online, and our architectural drawings, show gravel over the dirt and weeping tile, with vapour barrier overtop, and then concrete. My understanding is that the porous gravel allows for water to travel to the weeping tile around the inside perimeter of the basement.
I’m unhappy with this non-standard approach, but my contractor has always done it this way and has never seen an issue. It’s never been an issue with permits and sign-offs. My contractor will not warranty the standard approach if that’s what I ask him to do.
So how much does it matter? If it does matter, how can I support my argument?