Polyethylene Film

FREE MOVEMENT DANCE · FLOOR PROTECTION

Your Concrete Floor May Look Dry - But Moisture Can Still Rise Below

Concrete is porous. Even when it appears completely dry, moisture vapor moves upward through the slab - and in Singapore's climate, that happens in virtually every building.

Moisture rising beneath finished flooring — why a moisture barrier matters

What Happens Without Protection

If moisture vapor reaches the flooring system above the concrete, it can contribute to a range of problems - often developing slowly and invisibly long before they become visible.

Warping or cupping of wood and plywood panels
Lifting or separation of the Marley surface at seams
Adhesive bond failure beneath glued flooring
Mold and mildew formation under the floor system
Reduced floor lifespan and early deterioration
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This is especially common in older shophouses, HDB ground floors, and commercial units where building waterproofing has aged - but it can occur in any building type. You often won't see it coming until the damage is already done.

The Solution

A Moisture Barrier Goes Between Your Concrete and Your Floor

A 6-mil polyethylene film creates a continuous moisture-resistant layer between the concrete subfloor and the flooring system installed above it. Think of it as a protective membrane that the rest of your floor sits on top of.

Floor layer diagram showing moisture barrier position — finished floor, moisture barrier, concrete subfloor

Where It Sits in the Floor System

Every layer in the floor has a specific job. The moisture barrier sits directly on the concrete - before anything structural is built above it.

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Dance Surface Marley vinyl, SPC, or engineered wood - the surface dancers train on
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Structural Plywood Panels Stable base layer; distributes weight evenly across the system
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Dual-Density Shock Pads Absorbs impact; protects joints (sprung floor systems)
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6-Mil PE Moisture Barrier ← This layer Continuous polyethylene film - seams overlapped and sealed; stops moisture vapor before it reaches anything above
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Concrete Subfloor Porous; moisture vapor passes through it daily - the barrier sits right on top
Why It Matters for Your Studio

Why Moisture Protection Matters for Your Dance Floor

Four reasons the barrier makes a meaningful difference to the long-term performance and lifespan of your studio floor.

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Protect the Flooring

Helps reduce the flooring system's exposure to moisture vapor rising from the concrete subfloor - before it can cause damage.

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Protect the Floor Structure

Adds a protective layer beneath the structural elements - keeping plywood panels, adhesives, and substructure dry.

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Support Long-Term Performance

Helps protect the investment you have made in your studio floor - reducing the likelihood of premature deterioration.

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Peace of Mind

Moisture protection is addressed before the finished floor goes in - not after a problem has already developed beneath it.

Installation Process

How Moisture Protection Is Installed

Four steps from bare concrete to a fully protected subfloor - before the finished dance surface is installed above it.

1

Prepare the Concrete Subfloor

The concrete surface is cleaned and inspected. Any significant bumps, dips, or debris are addressed before the film is laid - an uneven subfloor affects both the barrier and every layer above it.

2

Lay the Polyethylene Film

The 6-mil polyethylene film is unrolled and positioned across the full floor area - wall to wall, with no gaps. The Class 1 vapor barrier film is rated for above, on, and below grade concrete.

3

Overlap and Seal the Seams

Every seam where two sheets meet is overlapped by at least 8 inches and sealed - so moisture cannot find a path through the joints between sheets.

4

Build the Floor System Above

With the barrier in place, the structural layers - shock pads, plywood, and dance surface - are installed on top. The flooring system now sits on a protected base from day one.

Protection Built In — Not Bolted On

We Don't Offer It as an Optional Extra - We Just Include It

Every floor we lay over concrete includes moisture barrier protection as part of the standard floor system - because it would be wrong to build a floor without it.

What's Included in Every Concrete Floor Installation

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Full-area coverage

Cut to cover your full studio footprint - wall to wall, no gaps

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Seams overlapped and sealed

Every joint overlapped by at least 8 inches - moisture cannot pass through the joins

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Works under all our floor systems

Sprung floors, Marley mats, vinyl, SPC, and engineered wood

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Suitable for all building types

HDB, shophouse, commercial, condo, and landed - any concrete subfloor

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Class 1 vapor barrier film

Rated for above, on, and below grade concrete installations

Free Movement dance floor installation including moisture barrier over concrete subfloor
Common Questions

Questions About Moisture Barrier Film

Answers to the questions studio owners and home dancers ask most often before their floor installation.

QWhat is polyethylene moisture barrier film?
A polyethylene moisture barrier is a thick plastic sheet - in our case, 6-mil polyethylene - laid across the full concrete subfloor before any structural flooring layers are installed above it. It acts as a physical barrier that resists moisture vapor passing upward through the concrete slab.
QWhy is a moisture barrier needed over concrete?
Concrete is porous - moisture vapor moves through it constantly, even when the surface appears completely dry. In Singapore's climate, this happens in virtually every building. Without a barrier, that moisture can reach the flooring layers above and cause warping, adhesive failure, mold growth, and early deterioration of the floor system.
QWhere does the moisture barrier go in the floor?
It sits directly on top of the concrete subfloor - underneath everything else. The structural layers (shock pads, plywood panels) and the dance surface are all built on top of it. It is the first thing laid before construction begins.
QCan it be used under Marley flooring?
Yes. We include the moisture barrier beneath every Marley dance mat and sprung floor we install over concrete - it is a standard part of our floor system, not an optional extra.
QCan it be used under SPC, WPC, or engineered wood flooring?
Yes - the barrier is suitable for use beneath SPC, WPC, and engineered wood flooring systems installed over concrete. Always check the specific flooring manufacturer's installation requirements, as some products include their own integrated moisture layer.
QIs moisture protection included in my floor installation?
Yes. Every floor we install over concrete includes the polyethylene moisture barrier as standard - there is no additional charge and no separate conversation needed. It is simply part of how we build every floor over a concrete subfloor.
QDoes every concrete floor need moisture protection?
In Singapore's climate, we recommend it for every concrete subfloor installation. The level of moisture movement varies between buildings and locations - older buildings, ground-floor units, and spaces with aged waterproofing are particularly susceptible - but even newer buildings benefit from having protection in place before the floor is built.
Get Started

Protect Your Floor From the Ground Up

Planning a new studio floor or upgrading an existing space? Talk to Free Movement about the right floor system for your project - moisture protection included as standard.

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