In the capillary break thread, Quantum summarized the discussion as "any fabric or plastic break between footing and wall is a bad idea."

What of rigid breaks such as copper sheet as a termite barrier?

Thanks for any comments you can make.

Larry

A termite barrier, when used, is usually installedsay an inch or inch and a half into the concrete; you do not penetrate the complete wall and creat a sliding capabilty where you don't want one. Another way is to remove a band of foam, install the shield, and either replace the foam or cover the void with siding.

Now, a termite barrier has to be above the grade so the critters don't get above it, unless they create their tunnels which tells you you have a problem!

So, I been trying to figure out, what exactly is the scientific reason "any fabric between footing and wall is a bad idea?" It seems everyone on this site is beating up on it, though building scientist have advocated this visquine under the wall cavity as a viable method for capillary break.

- because of a "sliding capability?"
I sincerely doubt it. How many retaining walls do you see blow out at the bottom? Nope. But old poured concrete silos spall from below grade upwards, largely due to moisture issues from the soil.
Pressure treated wood foundations sittting on a sill gasket/visquine to break the concrete to wood contact below grade are another example of accepted methodology.


Just throwing some things out there, I'm actually not a big proponent of visquine between footer and wall, but mainly due to practical/proficient build issues; the plastic tends to get in the way and blow around and defeats having a chalk line on the footings. We tend to spray the top of the footing with green concrete sealer instead.

Kevin

The footer and wall should be a solid unit if at all possible. We do monopours of the footer + the first couple of ICF courses.

Shear (sliding) of the wall and footer is discouraged by dowels, but moment of rotation is not, and we are in a seismically-active area. Any barrier between, including acrylic, makes a weak bond. I try to tell people this and they sometimes don't believe me so... whatever. They pay me to do what I'm told.

But instead, please use a ground barrier --under the footer-- to discourage wicking. We use the fast foot system with our monopour.