I'm trying to finish a room in the basement. The plan was to frame some studs, hang drywall, the usual procedure when building a room. The thing is, it might be out of budget to buy everything I need for that while keeping everything moisture free. The studs, the insulation, the vappr barriers, flooring, etc.
My question is: could I not just drylok the cement walls and floor? Insulation and heat loss isnt really a big problem for me. I could just drylok the walls so it looks painted and put a rug down for a simple room right?
I should also add that there haven't been any moisture problems in the past. I just don't want to create any new mold problems.
Best Answer
I would not install any vapor barrier in a basement. If you do paint the walls make you use a paint that will allow moisture to transpire through the wall.
Mother Nature has an unlimited supply of moisture so there is no way you can prevent it from entering the basement. You just want to make sure it is allowed to dry to the inside. If you trap it with a barrier it will cause mold, mildew and eventually fail.
Read the articles on this site regarding vapor barriers. Especially in basements. Like this article from fine homebuilding reprinted here. The number one mistake is "One: Vapor barriers on basement insulation will rot your walls".
I would just paint the walls with a flat latex and stain the floor. Or you could stain both and let the walls breathe even more.
Edit from tahwos' comment below: Should probably add the benefit of properly graded exterior slope, back-fill that can drain adequately, and working gutters, to round out this answer. A correctly installed and maintained basement, is a dry basement.
Good luck!