I don't know if you misunderstood either, but a plastic sheet against the inside of a concrete wall is the least correct way to keep moisture from leaking into a basement through a block or concrete wall. The purpose of a vapour barrier is to stop water vapours from entering the wall and condensing there. Warm air entering the basement will carry moisture in it. When warm aior hits cooler surfaces, it condenses.
Since the underground concrete is cool, moisture will condense on it. So, as demonstrated in Lsiturbrek's site, Building Science, the key is to always place the VB on the warm moist side of the wall, which in most cases as in this one, is the interior side of the studs. When faced with an ambivalent situation, where moisture can enter the wall cavity from either side, it must be allowed a way to escape again over time. In this case, if water is also leaking in through the wall, it must not be trapped in the wall cavity , but be allowed to osmose and evaporate. Plastic will prevent that.
Excellence is its own reward!
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