moisture barrier between block and sill plate

[kirk.g]

I am leveling the garage with concrete blocks. I know its not the best foundation but at this time and winter coming on, it will have to do.I am wondering if I should but something between the block and bottom of sill plate to stop moisture from comeing through the concrete block......thanks Kirk

 

[bczygan]

Sill Seal

.....and use a wolm. sill plate and you can even caulk.

 

[MoonRise]

Ummm, Kirk, just ask at your local building inspector office what is required/recommended.

Or go to a library or home-improvement store and look up a book or twelve on building a house/shed/garage.

(typically, closed-cell foam sill gasket, possible use of tar-paper under that, possible requirement for drip-edge/termite shield)

YMMV.

 

[kirk.g]

thanks Bczygan ,I will look for sill seal when I go out today.At the risk of sounding uninformed whats Wolm?....................also was wondering how your cleanup and organizing is going?......Kirk

 

[MoonRise]

thanks Bczygan ,I will look for sill seal when I go out today.At the risk of sounding uninformed whats Wolm?....................also was wondering how your cleanup and organizing is going?......Kirk

"wolm", short for "Wolmanized" which is a brand name for one manufacturer's pressure-treated lumber.

Sort of like asking for a Kleenex instead of a tissue, a Xerox instead of a photocopy, etc, etc, etc.

 

[kirk.g]

Thanks but Im thinking of going with non pt because I want to use steel brackets and wood screws to connect studs to plate.If sills are painted and well off ground I think it will be ok, also they are covered by siding.I dont want to raise garage high enough to nail or screw from bottom.I will probably sister up the bottom of some studs since there is a bit of dry rot at bottom......I would like to replace studs but all the siding would need to come off and the siding seems dry and brittle.Ive taken one stud out and I cracked some siding already.........also the top of studs are nailed in place through the header so I will probably grind them off...thanks for the knowledge..Kirk

 

[csp]

If the sills are painted all you'll do is promote rot. Water will make its way in and paint just makes it stay there longer.

 

[Will67]

WHITE CAP SILL PLATE SEALANT TAPE - WC5229 is designed to provide a complet weather barrier seal between treated wood and concrete substrates for residential and commercial construction. Can also be used in sheet metal assemblies, HVAC systems and window installations, etc. where a moldable gasket-like sealant is required. Features: Mold resistant, high performance butyl rubber compound. Exceeds ASTM and AAMA standards for solids, % elongation (200 degrees 10 minutes) uses resistance, migrations and temperature range. Uniform building code class 1. Meets UL-723 Flame Spread and smoke generation ratings (25/50). Adhesion to treated wood and concrete substrates. Application temperature ranges 0 degrees to 120 degrees F. Weatherability: excellent-no crack or chalking-QUV, 340A lamps for 1000 hours. 1/8" x 1/2" x 30' rolls.

 

[kirk.g]

Csp what about tong (sp?) and grove siding then? thanks Kirk

 

[csp]

The siding isn't the problem. Water will wick into the wood from contact with the concrete. It doesn't matter if you've painted it. Eventually it will find its way in and rot from the inside out. You need to use PT on the sill, period.

 

[bczygan]

A couple of things.
The newest type of treated lumber will not ruin steel plates or fasteners.
If you are just setting the block in place and not anchoring them to the foundation or bedding them in mortar, then the cheap sill seal is good enough.