we want to replace the carpeting in our sunken great room, which has a crawlspace under it. What can we do to keep the carpeting from getting musty? Can you put vapor barrier under the carpet? The floor in the great room is wood planks but is there a way to stop moisture from rising and making the carpet smelly? The room is heated but for some reason the carpet gets musty smelling over time.
Good morning, The other user gandrew is right about using a vapor barrier plastic sheeting underneath your floors in the crawlspace, but you can also go a step further and use a higher-quality carpet pad that has anti-microbial treatment in it alongside a vapor barrier. I work for The Home Depot and we, alongside other home centers, sell upgraded pads you can buy that have these features to ensure you won't have to run into the musty odor carpet problem ever again. Also, when you buy your carpet, be sure the material is of high quality and check for things such as moisture and stain warranties to make sure you are getting the best carpet for your great room. While there are other things to do, such as painting your wood floors and crawlspace walls with a moisture barrier material, it's much easier and works just as well to secure sheets of plastic underneath your floors (use .4 mil or thicker) and a high quality 6lb. or higher carpet pad. This one-two punch of a vapor barrier in the crawl space as well as a pad underfoot when you purchase your new carpet can and will ensure you will have a moisture/smell-free floor guaranteed! Hope this helps you out, aboveaveragejoe
Carpet Pad Moisture Barrier
The dirt surface in the crawl space needs to have a total covering of heavy plastic sheeting. Let it come up the sides a bit and secure with rocks or blocks. That will solve your moisture problem, unless the dryer vents into the crawl space, which is bad.
