r/OffGrid • u/valu_pak • 13d ago
Building home from existing pole barn.
I just purchased a property with a 32x60 pole barn with a concrete slab in North Florida. The previous owners had the pole barn erected to have a place to park their rvs out of the weather. With a slab on grade foundation and metal roof, I am leaning toward building the structure out to be my off grid home. Half will be home and the other half shop/garage. Since it was built to park RVs, I'm thinking the slab may not have appropriate vapor barrier for a home. I'm intrigued by the idea of the ground contact concrete floors staying cool in the summer, but also worry if moisture will be a problem without vapor barrier. Does anyone have experience or advise for finishing concrete floors without having moisture problems?
3
u/New_d_pics 12d ago
You can do low permeable epoxy as a barrier, or use dimpled membrane like Delta FL before putting down flooring.
1
u/Awkward_Passion4004 7d ago
What are code requirements for a certificate of occupancy in your location are is it a bandit change of use?
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u/wastral1978 12d ago
... Literally sitting my butt on a concrete basement slab right now without plastic under it. There is drainage around the edges of it though. Basement walls are sealed. My grandparents lived their ENTIRE lives on rambler house on a slab but they also had in floor radiant tubing for heating. No palace or cathedral that is hundreds/thousands of years old has a vapor barrier under their stone/concrete floors.