Basement Flooring Options

Steveo · 10-03-2008, 04:23 PM

Look into Prego type of laminate. It's "floating" with vapor barrier. Had it in my basement, held up real well.

newbie · 10-04-2008, 09:15 AM

We used Pergo flooring on our basement floor and really like it. The only thing to watch out for, is you need to ensure that floor is nice and level otherwise you get soft spots. Good luck

Drummer Girl · 10-04-2008, 09:51 AM

Trafficmaster puts out resilient flooring called Allure. This can be put right over concrete, even if the concrete has slight imperfections. It is a "floating" floor and is totally waterproof, both from the top (life vests, wet towels etc.) and from any existing moisture issues of the average basement. Even w/ the moisture barrier, laminate flooring (Dupont,Pergo), and water (life vests/wet towels) do not mix. They are not recommended for kitchen/bath unless the user is extremely vigilant about the moisture issue. They will soak up sitting water. Allure adheres to itself, and is easy to put down. You cut it w/ a utility knife using a metal straight edge as your guide. I have seen it, learned a lot about it and highly recommend it. It comes in many wood tones and several tile pattens. The plank size is about the same as laminate, yet thinner, yet thicker and more resilient than vinyl flooring. Easily maintained. I know that Home Depot carries it. Google it.

Audiofn · 10-06-2008, 08:48 PM

Go to Home Depot and buy the underlayment squares. They have egg crate like plastic on one side with partical board on the other. They work FANTASTIC in situations that are "slightly" damp. We use them all the time.

Jon

Drummer Girl · 10-06-2008, 09:40 PM

The squares are called Dricore. Google it, there is a wealth of information. Usually it is used if the moisture is on the floor already, not from above-wet bathing suits, towels, life jackets etc. Dricore is a sub-floor w/ a moisture barrier so that you can put down many floor types on top of it and not have to worry about the moisture damaging your carpet, wood etc. The surface is treated w/ a moisture resistant sealer, I am not sure that it would stand up to the prolonged moisture from the stuff you say hits the floor.

parrothead · 10-07-2008, 04:34 PM

A friend used a flooring made by ICOR that works well for their basement. It is a laminate flooring that is impervious to moisture. It floats on a moisture barrier and is made of a plastic composite. Looks like PERGO type laminate flooring. The flooring goes down in "boards" like any other floating floor. The difference is that each seam is sealed with a bonding agent. When it has hardened it makes a waterproof seal. The under layment gives the floor a little bounce which better on the legs when walking on cement. He and I installed the floor in a 25 by 25 rec. room in a couple of days. Was really easy to install and all you need for tools is a chop saw to cut the boards.

arthurc · 10-07-2008, 08:30 PM

We used Dricore and then carpeted over it. Its stood up well for 4 years. We also used the laminate in the laundry room and the spare room. That also has stood uo well.

HUH · 10-17-2008, 09:27 AM

We run a dehumidifier in the basement/lower level. Moisture in the air is bad for alot of things. Mold etc.

10-04-2008, 09:15 AM	#2
newbie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Just North of Boston Posts: 111 Thanks: 61 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Laminate Flooring We used Pergo flooring on our basement floor and really like it. The only thing to watch out for, is you need to ensure that floor is nice and level otherwise you get soft spots. Good luck

10-07-2008, 04:34 PM	#6
parrothead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Icor A friend used a flooring made by ICOR that works well for their basement. It is a laminate flooring that is impervious to moisture. It floats on a moisture barrier and is made of a plastic composite. Looks like PERGO type laminate flooring. The flooring goes down in "boards" like any other floating floor. The difference is that each seam is sealed with a bonding agent. When it has hardened it makes a waterproof seal. The under layment gives the floor a little bounce which better on the legs when walking on cement. He and I installed the floor in a 25 by 25 rec. room in a couple of days. Was really easy to install and all you need for tools is a chop saw to cut the boards. __________________ If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane

10-07-2008, 08:30 PM	#7
arthurc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 82 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Basement Flooring Options We used Dricore and then carpeted over it. Its stood up well for 4 years. We also used the laminate in the laundry room and the spare room. That also has stood uo well.

10-17-2008, 09:27 AM	#8
HUH Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 230 Thanks: 21 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	Dehumidifier We run a dehumidifier in the basement/lower level. Moisture in the air is bad for alot of things. Mold etc.

10-03-2008, 04:23 PM	#1
Steveo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 525 Thanks: 47 Thanked 123 Times in 63 Posts	Look into Prego type of laminate. It's "floating" with vapor barrier. Had it in my basement, held up real well.

10-04-2008, 09:51 AM	#3
Drummer Girl Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 26 Thanks: 77 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts	Trafficmaster puts out resilient flooring called Allure. This can be put right over concrete, even if the concrete has slight imperfections. It is a "floating" floor and is totally waterproof, both from the top (life vests, wet towels etc.) and from any existing moisture issues of the average basement. Even w/ the moisture barrier, laminate flooring (Dupont,Pergo), and water (life vests/wet towels) do not mix. They are not recommended for kitchen/bath unless the user is extremely vigilant about the moisture issue. They will soak up sitting water. Allure adheres to itself, and is easy to put down. You cut it w/ a utility knife using a metal straight edge as your guide. I have seen it, learned a lot about it and highly recommend it. It comes in many wood tones and several tile pattens. The plank size is about the same as laminate, yet thinner, yet thicker and more resilient than vinyl flooring. Easily maintained. I know that Home Depot carries it. Google it.

10-06-2008, 08:48 PM	#4
Audiofn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bedford, MA/Naples, ME Posts: 162 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Go to Home Depot and buy the underlayment squares. They have egg crate like plastic on one side with partical board on the other. They work FANTASTIC in situations that are "slightly" damp. We use them all the time. Jon

10-06-2008, 09:40 PM	#5
Drummer Girl Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 26 Thanks: 77 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts	The squares are called Dricore. Google it, there is a wealth of information. Usually it is used if the moisture is on the floor already, not from above-wet bathing suits, towels, life jackets etc. Dricore is a sub-floor w/ a moisture barrier so that you can put down many floor types on top of it and not have to worry about the moisture damaging your carpet, wood etc. The surface is treated w/ a moisture resistant sealer, I am not sure that it would stand up to the prolonged moisture from the stuff you say hits the floor.