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Q: I have an 1850 farmhouse in northern Vermont with a stone
foundation and a mud floor. I have put in a network of drainpipes, but
the basement stays wet and the humidity moves up into the house, causing
mildew and other headaches. Have you ever heard of putting down a
one-inch layer of lime on a wet mud floor before putting down a vapor
seal membrane? I am worried that, after I lay down the membrane, the
water will eventually get stinky and the scent will permeate the house.
To avert this, a friend suggested that I put down about an inch of
limestone first, then the membrane, then the pea stone. Is the smell
problem a real concern or not? If it is, and lime is not the way, how
would you care for it?
— Andrew, Vermont
Lay plywood so that its long dimension (the strongest) is perpendicular to joists, rafters, or studs. Stagger the joints, since overall strength suffers when four corners meet.
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