Attach Mudsill To Foundation What Sealer/bond?

Team Scream

Just wondering what most of you guys use to weather seal/bond a mudsill to the foundation stem wall?
This is a standard framing for new construction question in that I will be placing my mudsill on concrete stem walls in some locations and CMU block in other locations and I need to know what goo is most commonly used for this interface.
In other words between the pressure treated lumber and the concrete, what should I use to seal/bond the wood to the concrete in addition to the standard anchor bolts @ 48" on center which are called out?
Thanks!

LNG24

You use Sill Seal

http://www.dow.com/styrofoam/lowes/p...s/sillseal.htm

Team Scream

Thank you so much for that LNG24, I really appreciate it!

FramingFanatic

Also depends on whether or not the foundation is really level, if its off more than half an inch in places that foam sill seal will be useless when you level your plates. In which case i would fill under the plates with grout.

A.W.Davis

Here in Cali we just anchor the p.t. to the foundation with the foundation anchor bolts.

It seems to me that poly foam would be ineffective and unecessary. Why would you want to weather seal the pt to the foundation anyways? You have vent screens located around the perimeter of the exterior of the house that allows cold/heat to enter under the house.....unless its a concrete slab.



Edit....however we are required to use a foam sealant in between the sheetrock and the mudsill or bottom plate of a new structure.

__________________
A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

DrewD

Sill Seal fill the small gaps between the P.T. mudsill and concrete helping to keep insects/animals from entering the structure also from moisture and water from coming in. If the conrete is not level you can double or triple up the sill seal to fill the gaps. Or tell you concrete guy to come back and fix it. Sill should be used on step downs in walk out basements between framing and foundation. You would be surprised how many builder only put sill seal on horizontal sections of the foundations.

__________________

"Listen, you're my family and I love you but you're all terrible at what you do here and I feel like I should tell you, I'd fire all of you if I could."

Tsar

Keeping in mind not every jurisdiction requires your mudsill to be pressure treated. Our sill gasket is used to create a barrier between concrete and wood to keep that wood from drastic moisture and temperature changes.

Team Scream

Thanks guys,
The building will be on a slab and includes a CMU block segment 4-1/2 feet high which is a retaining wall as well as a structural part of the building at the rear it also has a 6 foot return. (imagine a 15 foot long rear (block) wall with a 6 foot return).
The return is 2 blocks shorter than the rear portion of the wall so there is a 16" step down there.
We will be framing on top of the concrete stem walls at the front of the building as well as on top of the block wall at the rear of the building including the 16" step up on one side.
I want to seal everything up nice and I know I could probably get away with just placing the PT on top of the block/concrete but this is my place and I want to go the extra mile and make it weather and bug proof as much as possible.

I am sure that that foam stuff would do the trick but there are quite a few anchor bolts and PHD hold down's called out so the question then becomes is it better to use some form of caulk like sealant or just use that foam Sil Seal that LNG24 mentioned and just make a hole in it everywhere an anchor/hold down bolt sticks up?

The exterior will be finished with stucco everywhere including the block wall portions, and finished floor is 6" above finish grade.

Pavola

Just press the sill sealer down until the bolts break through. Brush off the block and remove any mortar buildup around the bolts before installing the sealer.

DrewD

If you tighten down the anchor bolts enought it seals around the foam fine. If your really worried use the mortar.

__________________

"Listen, you're my family and I love you but you're all terrible at what you do here and I feel like I should tell you, I'd fire all of you if I could."

NorthstarNC

No barrier here in North Carolina either, just PT to foundation.

BCULP2

Thats what we use here.

concretemasonry

The sealer is intended to minimize infiltration and fill the gaps created by irregulatities in the foundation. If you have a crawl space with loose vents, it will make little difference.

Depending on the type, it could prevent the problems between the wood and concrete.

__________________
Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

Team Scream

Thanks Dick,
No crawl space here, 6-1/2" slab which will be finished floor with a fancy concrete stain finish.

concretemasonry

Team -

You should use a seal or other similar material to limit air infiltration since it is easy and the cost is minimal.

__________________
Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

John Bissell

We always use sill seal with concrete slabs.

LNG24

Around here, we wither have Full Basements that are eventually finished off or Slabs. In either case you want them air tight. Sill Seal Achieves this. As others mentioned, It also stops Bugs and Rodents from entering. However, if you Sill is not level and has many gaps, you got a bad pour and your mason should fix it. FYI I have NEVER had this problem. to my masons!

I did have a modular home delivered and we had some major problems with the floor being off level. The Modular Company quickly said it was the masons fault and the foundation was not level. Threw a laser on it and my masons foundation was DEAD LEVEL. However, the Modular, well that was off 5/8' over 14' and 1/2 over 40' Seems that they must have had a piece of 5/8 ply get under part of the floor when framing. Had to shim up the entire house to match it. What a nightmare.

ryanh

older thread, but has anyone used polyseal? i found it while searching google

LNG24

maybe a link to what you are referring to would help. I checked three sites and they were not for the construction industry.

Never mind; I foind it here http://www.buildwithplymouth.com/products/polyseal.html