Why does nobody talk about putting carpet on concrete in basements without a vapor barrier?

I was laying carpet in a basement in Pittsburgh last month and noticed the padding felt damp when I pulled it out of the roll. My old timer partner walked over and said "you're gonna have mold in six months" and pointed out the concrete slab had no vapor barrier underneath. I had been skipping that step for years thinking it was just extra cost and nobody ever complained. Has anyone else had a job come back with moisture damage from skipping the barrier?

2 comments

2 Comments

robinmason2d ago

“six months” - guess I’ll be seeing my own work again soon.

webb.stella2d ago

Robin, that's exactly the kind of sinking feeling I get when I scroll through my own feed from last year. Did you actually make something that got big, or is it more like you shared a hot take that somehow keeps getting recycled? I'm curious if you're talking about a post that went viral or just something that feels weird to see resurface.