If flooding in your basement is a concern vinyl is the material.
Plywood flooring in basement.
Almost any kind of flooring is okay to install in a below grade basement.
Always install basement carpet on top of a vapor impervious subfloor this will raise the temperature of the floor in winter make your carpet more pleasant to walk on and most importantly prevent humid air from cozying up to the concrete and triggering mold growth.
When it comes to choosing basement flooring there s good news.
When it comes to the basement subfloor you have a variety of options to choose from.
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Moisture and height enemies of basement subfloors.
Manufactured in planks with interlocking edges basement suitable engineered wood flooring comes with a durable factory applied finish.
It can literally be exposed to wet conditions for days and obtain absolutely no damage.
However because wood is a naturally porous substance that will absorb moisture when used as a basement subfloor these materials are often installed on mini joists known as sleepers which allow it to sit above a concrete pad.
Exceptions are solid hardwood flooring and laminate flooring made.
A typical wood framed residential flooring system is more complicated than you think.
The subfloor consists of sheet materials that are nailed or screwed to the joists to.
Vinyl flooring is made to be waterproof not just water resistant.
This makes it a great choice for areas where there might be a tendency for dampness to form like in basements.
This is a fancy durable moisture proof and informal floor that makes good sense for basements especially.
Dricore subfloor panels promote good indoor air quality by allowing air to circulate which in turn reduces the potential for mold and mildew.
Wood panels such as plywood or oriented strand board are common subfloor choices.
We will also review other flooring options as well such as osb subfloor and tongue and groove subfloor for your basement.
In addition to the visible surface flooring material the carpet tile or hardwood there is usually an underlayment and beneath that is a subfloor that serves as the foundation and structural reinforcement for the floor.
Even if you do not expect catastrophic events such as flooring moisture can and probably will invade your basement since basements are nothing more than holes in the ground lined with concrete and moisture is pervasive in the ground water vapor will gradually work its way upward through concrete basement flooring and will condense.
Most properly installed types of flooring can stand up to damp conditions and high humidity.
In this article we will review the benefits of dricore subfloor versus plywood subfloor.