Can I install laminate flooring on concrete basement?
Preparation: You should only install laminate on a concrete basement subfloor which was poured 60 days or more prior to the work. Newer concrete will still be losing moisture that can affect your flooring installation.
Do I need subfloors in my basement?
Subfloors are not always necessary. They only come into play when you want to expand downward and make your basement a warm, livable space. Concrete or tile-over-concrete are acceptable floors for uninhabited basements. To install any kind of floor covering—engineered wood, laminate, carpeting—basement subflooring is required.
Can you put laminate flooring on a subfloor?
Always clean and dry your subfloor before beginning any type of laminate flooring installation. Is it the right material? Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding. Wood and concrete are the idea subfloors.
Is your basement too moist for laminate flooring?
If it has, your basement may be too moist for a laminate flooring installation. More advanced moisture tests use chemicals to detect the presence of liquids. Others require you to chisel a hole into the concrete and use an electric meter to take a reading.
Do I need underlayment for laminate flooring in basement?
Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must. Since laminate is a floating floor, it must be evenly distributed across your subfloor. Underlayment is what allows the floor to float, gives it stability, support, noise reduction, and supports the locking systems in between planks to assure the sturdiest flooring project.
What do you put under laminate flooring in a basement?
How to Install Basement Laminate FlooringStart by sealing the surface of the concrete with a chemical sealing agent that will create one more barrier between the base of the laminate, and any groundwater that may seep up over time.Then, lay a 6-mil plastic moisture barrier underlayment to further protect the material.More items...
Can you put laminate on concrete in basement?
Laminate flooring can be installed over concrete, wood or carpet subfloor or other surfaces. Installation of good quality underlayment is highly recommended. Installing underlayment is easy but it has to be done precise to avoid any tears.
Is basement subfloor necessary?
Subfloors are not always necessary but they are beneficial wherever they can be installed. They only come into play when you want to expand downward and make your basement a warm, livable space. If you don't plan to use the space, there is no need for a subfloor or floor covering.
What is best for basement flooring over concrete?
In some instances, we recommend underlayment for vinyl flooring on concrete. Not only will your floors be smoother and more even, but they'll also have better insulation, sound absorption, and cushioning. Sometimes, LVT is manufactured with built-in underlayment, and some is designed to be installed without any.
What happens if you don't put underlayment under laminate flooring?
Without underlayment to add a layer between these damp subfloors and the surface flooring, your laminate can quickly become wet, warped, and mildewy, harming its overall integrity. Moisture over time can also break down floor adhesive which causes the floor to start warping.
What is better for basement vinyl or laminate?
When Is Vinyl the Better Choice? Vinyl makes up in durability for what it lacks in authentic appearance. Because of its superior moisture resistance, vinyl plank flooring can be installed where laminates can't, including basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms and mudrooms.
What flooring is best for basements?
The best type of flooring for basements is vinyl. Vinyl flooring can come in the form of vinyl plank and vinyl tile, giving it the ability to look nearly identical to hardwood and stone products with the added benefit of being waterproof. Vinyl flooring is made of PVC making it durable and waterproof.
Do you need vapor barrier under laminate?
It is rolled out between the actual laminate flooring planks and the subfloor. Very often, particularly in a below-grade installation on a concrete basement floor, a vapor barrier is recommended in addition to the underlayment. That vapor barrier would go between the subfloor and the underlayment.
How do you lay laminate flooring in an unfinished basement?
1:048:58How to Install Laminate Floor in a Basement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo help tap the board's into place. And you're also going to need a jigsaw or a sonicrafter or multiMoreTo help tap the board's into place. And you're also going to need a jigsaw or a sonicrafter or multi-tool something that you can use to cut it the baseboard around pulls other objects in the basement.
What do I put under my basement floor?
Wood panels, such as plywood or oriented strand board, are common subfloor choices. 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.
Are subfloors necessary?
While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you'll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: Dampness control. Install a vapor barrier of plastic sheeting before laying the subfloor.
What is the best underlayment for laminate flooring on concrete?
With a concrete subfloor, you will need an underlayment that acts as a vapor barrier in order to prevent moisture from penetrating through to your laminate installation. The normal choice is a thin foam pad material made of polyethylene or polypropylene, which rolls out in sheets.
Do you need vapor barrier under laminate?
It is rolled out between the actual laminate flooring planks and the subfloor. Very often, particularly in a below-grade installation on a concrete basement floor, a vapor barrier is recommended in addition to the underlayment. That vapor barrier would go between the subfloor and the underlayment.
Do you need a vapor barrier for basement floor?
For a dry, mold-free finished basement floor, always install a vapor barrier before laying a wood subfloor or carpet pad. See what goes into waterproofing a basement, too. Any kind of persistent moisture will allow mold to get a foothold and soon ruin carpet or wood flooring.
How do I prepare a concrete floor for laminate?
3:055:27How To Prep A Concrete Subfloor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCheck the moisture of both floors. And when you're installing a floating floor you must use a vaporMoreCheck the moisture of both floors. And when you're installing a floating floor you must use a vapor barrier. Your concrete subfloor will also have to be sound enough to support the floor.
Why do you need a level subfloor?
If you install a ceramic tile floor, a level subfloor is essential to prevent tile cracking. Another function of subflooring is to protect your surface floor against moisture damage and mold in a damp environment. Electrical wiring and plumbing pipes may be run through the subfloor.
What is subflooring?
A subfloor is a structure attached to your floor joists which provides support for your finish (surface) flooring. Used alone, most finish flooring materials are not strong enough for the dead weight of furniture, cabinetry, appliances, and other household objects plus the live weight of people and pets. Your subfloor also provides stability and ...
How far apart should subfloor be?
When joists are spaced 16-19.2 inches apart, subfloor should be ¾” for both materials. With joist spacing of over 19.2, thickness of plywood should be 7/8” and of OSB, 1”. Always read through the subflooring manufacturer’s instructions prior to installation. Your finish flooring is only as good as your subfloor.
How long does it take for subflooring to acclimate to your home?
As with many finish flooring materials, your subfloor may need 24 hours or more to acclimate to your home. The thickness of subflooring depends on the spacing of your joists.
What is the best subflooring material?
Plywood is the material most commonly used for subflooring. Manufactured from thin sheets of wood glued together with the grain of each layer perpendicular to the previous one, plywood provides a strong support, a smooth surface, and a reasonable cost. Oriented strand board (OSB) is another popular subfloor material.
How do I keep subfloors from getting damp?
Dampness control. Install a vapor barrier of plastic sheeting before laying the subfloor. If necessary, place sleepers (mini-joists) to raise the subfloor above a very damp concrete slab. Waterproof sealer will also help keep out moisture.
Can you patch a subfloor?
Your finish flooring is only as good as your subfloor. Ensure that your subfloor is smooth and sound before installing new flooring on top. If it is wet, you may be able to dry out subflooring by opening up the drywall underneath it. However, patching is your best option for a severely damaged subfloor.
What are the problems with laminate floors?
This slab is surrounded by earth that contains various amounts of water depending on rainfall and humidity. In older buildings, there usually is no vapor barrier between ...
Why is my basement so humid?
Basement humidity: Basements are often very humid areas. Surrounded by moist earth, basements are often cooler than the rest of the house, and this allows ambient moisture in the air to condense. When it rains, the saturated soil around the basement can cause a basement to feel particularly muggy. This humid air can then seep through cracks and seams, causing the laminate flooring material to warp or rot.
Why does my basement floor rot?
When it rains, the saturated soil around the basement can cause a basement to feel particularly muggy. This humid air can then seep through cracks and seams, causing the laminate flooring material to warp or rot. Below-grade flooding concerns: Basements can be susceptible to flooding for several reasons.
How to test for moisture in concrete?
Plastic sheet test: This is a fairly simple test to check for moisture in the concrete slab. Cut plastic garbage bags into squares, and then tape them to the floor in various places around the basement. Then leave them for three days. At the end of that time, lift the squares to see if moisture has accumulated on the bottom of the plastic. If it has, your basement may be too moist for a laminate flooring installation.
Is laminate flooring recommended for basements?
Traditionally, laminates have not been recommended for below-grade basement installations due to issues with rising groundwater and flooding.
Is laminate good for basements?
You can ensure that a particular laminate is good for basement use by carefully reading the stipulations in the material warranty.
Is laminate water resistant?
There are new laminate materials that are manufactured to be resistant to water. In a basement environment, the best choice is going to be a laminate that is built with a solid plastic core.
Why Do You Need a Subfloor for Your Basement?
Floor joists are found over the basement to provide weight-bearing support for the flooring. So, since there aren’t any floor joints in the basement, why would you still need a subfloor?
Is a Subfloor Necessary?
Some people may assume that the subfloor is redundant since you already have the finished floor. However, your finished flooring isn’t designed to attach to the floor joists. Thus, finished flooring alone wouldn’t be strong enough to hold the weight of the furniture and the people walking on it.
What is a high performance subfloor?
They are specifically designed to be moisture resistant and have a moisture-proof resin injected into them .
Why is a basement important?
But your basement also needs care and attention if it is to last a long time. A basement is an important structural element in a lot of homes, and it’s also a part of the house that is exposed to a lot of different forces such as moisture, temperature changes, and shifting ground.
Can plywood subfloor be used for hardwood?
Plywood subfloor is installed using the tongue and groove method, and this makes it the perfect base for almost any flooring material. A plywood subfloor can support hardwood, bamboo, and laminate alike. For more flexible flooring materials such as laminate or carpeting, half-inch plywood subfloors should do just fine, but you’ll want something thicker for nail-down hardwood or floor tiles.
Do you need plywood under a subfloor?
You might also have to add a plywood underlayment (under the subfloor) to further increase your subfloor’s strength. Products such as DRIcore Subfloor are OSB sandwiched with a moisture barrier and offer a shortcut so you don’t have to go through the trouble of adding an underlayment yourself.
Can you use plywood as a subfloor in a basement?
When it comes to basement subfloors this is the most common option. It was the only option available to most homeowners until the 1980s, so it’s no surprise that it can be found in most basements today. Plywood has some simple yet huge benefits that make it an excellent choice as a subfloor. Because it is made with sheets of wood that have been glued and pressed together, it’s quite dense and solid.
Is concrete good for a basement?
Believe it or not, a concrete basement subfloor can also be effective at solving your basement moisture woes. Once it’s dry, a concrete subfloor does a good job at absorbing moisture and can be a solid, durable, and dependable subfloor for years to come. It works especially well if you’re planning to add tile or natural stone flooring to your basement. Concrete subfloors are especially good for hotter parts of the country since the cold subfloor will help keep things nice and cool.
Can OSB be used as a subfloor?
OSB is installed the same way as a plywood basement subfloor using glue or nails to secure the subfloor to your basement’s floor joists, so installation is a cinch. However, OSB usually needs some extra layering to add stability to the subfloor. This limits the options you have for flooring that can go over your subfloor. Ideally, you want to use bamboo or some other wood flooring material since this will strengthen the basement floor’s structure.
Why Do You Need A Basement Subfloor?
Basement subflooring has a more significant job to do than the subflooring used on any other level of your home. A basement subfloor has to perform all the usual functions of a subfloor along with several more.
Basement Subfloor Explained
A basement subfloor is essentially a layer built below the floor covering. A basement subfloor is used whether the floor covering is carpeting, laminated wood, or any other type of floor finish. The basement subfloor is placed on the bottom floor layer, primarily made of concrete.
Roles Of The Basement Subfloor
Subfloor installed above grade has less required of it than a basement subfloor. Firstly, a basement subfloor must provide a level surface for installing a finished floor. A level surface is important whether you’re installing carpeting or ceramic tiles. When it comes to ceramic tiles, the level subfloor surface will ensure that tiles do not crack.
Two-By-Fours & Plywood Subfloor
This type of subfloor, as the name suggests, consists of two by four sleepers installed underneath a plywood surface. This subfloor type is a great low-cost option; however, it is relatively high when compared to other types of subfloor systems. This is due to the size of the structural timber that is used.
Floating Plywood Subfloor
A floating plywood subfloor is by far the cheapest option for a basement subfloor. This subfloor type consists of a simple plastic sheet barrier between the concrete floor and the plywood above it. This makes for an exceptionally thin subfloor that performs its function relatively well while remaining low in price.
Rigid Foam Insulated Subfloor
A rigid foam insulated subfloor is a great option because it creates a proper thermal break between the concrete and the flooring above. In order to install a rigid foam insulated subfloor, rigid foam insulation is placed on the concrete basement floor.
Specially Designed Pre-manufactured Subfloor Systems
There are several manufacturers who produce subfloor systems that remove much of the work associated with installing an ordinary subfloor.
What is basement subfloor?
A basement subfloor is a layer that is built below the floor covering (carpeting, laminate, etc.) and above the bottom-most floor, usually concrete. Subfloors are not always necessary but they are beneficial wherever they can be installed. They only come into play when you want to expand downward ...
What kind of flooring is required for a subfloor?
But to install any kind of floor covering—engineered wood, laminate, carpeting—basement subflooring is highly required.
How does a basement subfloor affect the ceiling?
So, the basement subfloor and the basement ceiling relate to each other. Raising the subfloor has the effect of lowering the ceiling. Even an inch or two in elevation for your subfloor will make a noticeable difference.
What is the least expensive subfloor?
Floating Plywood Subfloor. As the least-expensive subflooring option, floating plywood's only barrier between the concrete and the plywood is plastic sheeting. The advantage of this type of basement subfloor is that it is thin and easy to install. Finish flooring. Plywood.
How high should a basement ceiling be?
Height of Basement Ceiling. An unusually high basement subfloor in the range of 8 to 10 inches would allow your basement to stay dry above most moisture that comes its way. But this is not practical. Basement ceilings tend to be low.
Does subflooring need to be level?
Not only should subflooring provide a flat, level surface for the finish flooring, but it must also keep moisture in check and insert a thermal break to control temperates in the basement. If the basement does happen to flood, the subfloor should be able to dry out easily and quickly.
Is rigid foam good for basement subfloor?
Rigid foam is an excellent basement subfloor option because it provides a thermal break between concrete and flooring.
What is the underside of a basement floor?
The underside of a basement subfloor tile, showing the raised ribs that provide an air space between the tile and the concrete floor. Subfloor tiles started to become popular in the late 1990s and they make it much easier to create moisture-resistant, comfortable finished floors in basements.
What is the best insulation for a basement?
Rigid sheets of extruded polystyrene foam make great basement insulation. Put the foam on the floor, then fasten a plywood subfloor on top with screws driven down into the concrete.
What is OSB subfloor tile?
Currently, OSB-type subfloor tiles come in two versions. The kind with the raised plastic layer is the most common, but there’s also a version with extruded polystyrene foam instead of the plastic.
Is subflooring wood free?
A less common version of basement subflooring is entirely wood-free, and the idea makes good sense. Instead of a raised plastic layer underneath OSB, the raised part of the profile and the body of the subfloor tiles are both made of the same synthetic material.
Is a basement a hole in the ground?
After all, basements are essentially just fancy holes in the ground. Basement floors are always at risk for liquid water leaks as well as condensation of airborne water vapour and water vapour coming through the walls and floor. And as I’ve explained before, liquid water and water vapour are two different things with different dynamics.
Can you put a subfloor in a basement?
Subfloors are also about comfort. A basement that makes your feet cold all winter isn’t a good thing. And while it’s entirely possible to install a warm, comfortable finished basement floor that doesn’t encourage mold growth, you need to get intentional about making it happen. The challenges are greater than with above-ground floors because of that old moisture danger again. After all, basements are essentially just fancy holes in the ground.
Can you put carpet under concrete?
In the interests of making basement floors warmer and more comfortable under foot, it’s not unusual to install carpet and underlay directly on concrete without the use of a subfloor. This seems like a good idea, except for the hidden danger of condensation within the carpet itself.
What Is A Subfloor?
- You can often find sheeting—typically plywood—under your finished flooring. This is the subfloor. You can think of the subfloor as the foundation for your floor. It is attached to the floor joists, providing support for your finished flooring. Sometimes, there will be another layer between the subfloor and the finished flooring. This middle layer is the underlayment, which is often used for …
Is A Subfloor Necessary?
- Some people may assume that the subfloor is redundant since you already have the finished floor. However, your finished flooring isn’t designed to attach to the floor joists. Thus, finished flooring alone wouldn’t be strong enough to hold the weight of the furniture and the people walking on it. This is where the subfloor comes in. The subfloor is attached to the joists and provides a strong …
Why Do You Need A Subfloor For Your Basement?
- Floor joists are found over the basement to provide weight-bearing support for the flooring. So, since there aren’t any floor joints in the basement, why would you still need a subfloor? While subfloors mainly support finished flooring by attaching to the floor joists, they can serve another purpose in the basement. Basement floors can get pretty cold, so people often make the mistak…
Final Thoughts
- Subfloors are more important than you think, even in basements. For floors built above an open area, the subfloor acts as a foundation for the finished flooring by attaching to the floor joists. But even with the absence of floor joists in the basement, subfloors still serve a significant purpose. They can provide warmth to the basement floor and p...