Underlayment On Concrete Floor In Basement

Keeping your floor warm from cold concrete.

Underlayment on concrete floor in basement.

Moisture is a major concern when installing flooring especially in areas like bathrooms and basements which are prone to dampness. All wood and concrete subfloors must be flat within 1 8 over a 6 foot span or 3 16 over a 10 foot span. Basement underlayment installation instructions. If a floor plank and underlayment or adhesive will not fit under the door casing cut the casing with a backsaw about 1 16 inch above the level of the new flooring.

Many basement flooring materials like paint epoxy tile and rubber flooring for example can go down directly over the basement s original poured concrete floor as long as the concrete is in good condition. Wood panels such as plywood or oriented strand board are common subfloor choices. Concrete or tile over concrete are acceptable floors for uninhabited basements. Concrete subfloor isn t usually warm and can make your feet nice and cold.

Frothed foam padding is a good choice to use on concrete floors because it responds well in heavy traffic areas. Be sure the subfloor surface is clean and dry if required level the floor with self leveling concrete compound or pre mixed floor patch fill in cracks larger than 1 6. That way you have the extra layer of protection and don t have to worry about potential leaks. 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.

Frothed foam is densely packed and will adhere well to the concrete and the carpet backing. The dmx 1 step air gap underlayment provides a 100 percent waterproof floor underlayment that will give you peace of mind and plenty of cushion underfoot. This can be a plus for carpeting a family room or recreation room that has a concrete subfloor. Foam underlayment has r value of 0 2 0 35.

But this direct installation will result in a floor that s cold underfoot. To install any kind of floor covering engineered wood laminate carpeting basement subflooring is required. If a floor plank and underlayment or adhesive will not fit under the door remove the door and trim it with a circular saw about 1 8 inch above the level of the new flooring.