What are good floor choices for basement?

[Mark42]

As part of the basement finishing project, I will be putting down some finished flooring over the concrete slab. I would like to do a combo of laminate flooring and very short pile carpet. Or sheet flooring (like kitchen) and carpet. House built in '92 with 'floating' slab floor. There are stress reliefs cut into the concrete that have cracks in them as well as some stray cracks. I plan to seal them with thinset morter or silicone caulk. There is a radon pump with pipes under the floor if that makes a difference. <br /><br />I have put vinyl tiles down with mastic and ceramic tile with thinset morter on basement floors before with no problems. But I have not done wood laminate or carpet. What should I look out for?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

Mark, your going to have to put down a moisure barrier. Carpet will mold below grade, and laminate will swell up and bubble the finish when installed below grade. There are systems that is available at your local Lowes/Home Depot.

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

Stay away from Lowes/Home Depot. They sell the cheaper line of products. For the same $$$, you can have the top of the line products delivered to your door.<br /><br />I put down about 1000 square feet of laminate. I got the commercial Pergo that has a lifetime warranty and has the upgraded core material CHEAPER than if I bought the contractor grade at Home Depot.<br /><br />www.floorshop.com<br /><br />This is the place I bought mine from and the customer service was excellent. I had an issue with 1 carton and they overnighted 2 more cartons to me just to make sure that I had enough.

 

[JB]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

Non-boating Tech topic.

 

[KRS]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

Like SS Mayfloat wrote, a moisture barrier and hopefully an insulating barrier (same stuff used under laminate flooring) is needed. Below grade water will seep in AND the temperature differences between the ground and the air will create condensation under carpet and (like SS wrote) it will mildew and rot.<br />.<br />I would seal all of the concrete/block with a permanent sealer first, floor and walls. This should prevent seepage. Then work on the insulation.<br />.<br />Also check www.laminate-wood-flooring.com<br />.<br />Good luck.

 

[gewf631]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

We put carpet in our basement, and the pad we purchased had a coating on one side (both for vapor barrier, and for stain barrier).<br /><br />The installer (local guy, contracted separately) said that this was the way to go. Will keep the moisture from coming-up, and will keep any spills from setting into the pad. We've got a wet bar, and the few spills have come right out.<br /><br />It's been 4-years (with 5 and 7 year old boys), and it still looks great.

 

[Mark42]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

I have been reading the install instructions from various manufacturers. They all indicate that a 2 mil plastic vapor barrier plus sound pad is all that is needed for below grade basement floors. <br /><br />I see that some are "click" together and others are "glue" together. One brand said to use glue on its click floor if it will get wet mopped for better water protection.<br /><br />Any comments on click vs glue joining? <br /><br />Do the veneer floors hold up better than the plastic photo finish floors?

 

[Barlow]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

where's f_nscreename when ya need 'em<br /><br />he's an installer so he should have the low-down and good advice .. not that I'm disregarding the above posts.. not at all. good stuff.<br /><br />Some installations can be situational ( according to variables) and one system could preform better given the situation..

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

don't put any type of wood or laminate flooring over concrete. The manufacturers say you can, but don't. <br /><br />If you choose to ignore that advice , DO NOT put plastic or any other vapour barrier under the wood. The moisture problems will be intensified by trapping it at floor level. If you get real lucky, your laminate floor will breathe the moisture out if it's a very dry environment. (e.g. wood stove going a lot) and it will survive....for a while...<br /><br />I remember watching this episode of Holmes:<br /> http://www.holmesonhomes.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=photoGallery.showGallery&galleryID=56

 

[Mark42]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

Oh yeah, I forgot about our resident expert installer! <br /><br />So F_nscreename, what is your take on laminate floors in basements? <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark42.

 

[KRS]

Re: What are good floor choices for basement?

Click together types will "float" as one piece over the floor when it moves and when the wood expands/contracts. The glue down type is stuck there, no room for movement or expansion.