Construction Techniques That Lessen Radon Risks

Most educated homeowners know all about radon and the very real threat that it presents every year to thousands of people each year right in their homes. It’s important to remember that although radon is colorless and odorless, there are construction techniques that offer the family starting a new home, a high level of protection from this silent killer. These are the techniques suggested by the environmental protection agency and they even suggest that the suggestions are easy to upgrade on, in order to increase the level of radon protection.

The agency stresses that it is much more cost-effective to build a home with radon protection than it is to install a radon reducing system in an existing home. This is one of the features that is actually cost effective for the builder to offer as well. It’s generally much more expansive to suit the home up with a radon reducing system after it’s built. Some of these building companies actually use the fact that some of the features used to reduce radon can actually increase the home’s energy efficiency.

It’s important to note that radon reducing technologies are often consistent with these cost saving technologies. When implementing these features the Model Energy Code is often used as well and that accounts for the energy savings. Some of these basic techniques understandably start at the foundation of the home itself since that is generally the front line of defense in the fight against radon. And to that end, one of the first things that you can do is implement a layer that will protect you under the slab flooring in the basement. This will allow the gas in the soil to move more freely under the home and it’s easy to see why this is a feature that’s better implemented while the place is under construction.

On top of this layer, there is a plastic sheeting that the experts recommend next. This is often placed on top of the gas permeable layer and under the slab at the same time to prevent any of the gases like radon from entering the home. Where the home has a crawlspace, this type of covering is placed over the floor there to prevent gas contamination.

There is at least one front in the battle against radon where it doesn’t matter much whether you’re living in a home that has already been built or are just starting to build and that’s when it comes to sealing up the basement floor. Openings in any concrete foundation floor should be sealed with a caulk or other adhesive to prevent gases from permeating the space.