Basement subfloor?

My wife and I just closed on our first home. THe basement is a perfect 22 x 30 foot rectangle with a very nice concrete floor with some age to it so its been fully cured for quite some time. 2/3rds of the basement is below grade (no current moisture issues) and the room has 10 foot ceilings. Yes, I'm thinking mancave.

I've havent decided on what flooring I'd like to put down but am exploring the subfloor right now. I've read that traditional 2x4 and plywood subfloors are trouble as they eventually will rot and mold, I've read that although used in the past, plastic vapor barrier isn't a good option because although it keeps moisture from coming through, the moisture pools below it and doesnt allow evaporation, I see there are a number of products on the market specific for concrete subloors but they also have drawbacks.

What have any of you done with success or not success or do you have any reccomendations for me. I'm looking for a warmer feel (carpet would be great)but do not want to run the risk of installing something that will give me moisture, must, mold issues in the future. Thanks

 

So dont use carpet. You could buy the super nice concrete paint like you can get for your garage. Seals out litterally everything and has many color options. Then buy some nice area rugs.

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I finished off a basement and put laminate floor down on the concrete and it worked great.

 

I went through this same thing last year. I ended up going with floating floor, under it i put a pad that is moisture barrier and padding combined. Installation was extremely easy, maybe not the fanciest floor.

 

I used the 2' x 2' OSB tongue and grove with plastic feet on mine and it worked great. I installed it in 06 and have not had an issue plus the floor is warmer.

 

Do you have a subfloor below the laminate or any vapor barrier?

 

The guys that have installed OSB, did you put anything like foam board underneath, or directly on conrete?

 

Subfloors in basements are not a good idea..Journeyman mason 20 years..

 

So if I wanted a laminate, carpet, anything of the sort......you reccomend straight onto the concrete?

 

yes..get a dehumidifier if you think the moisture is high..do you have a sump pump?.

 

I think we put down a plastic vapor barrier under the laminate per the manufactures instructions.

 

That will help..We always lay vapor barrier down before we pour the concrete on new const. My advice to people who want to put flooring down on an existing home is if the floor gets wet from moisture your asking for trouble.

 

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...5E2%2580%2593-all-you-need-to-know%2F;322;268

 

We've had people put down tile, carpet, and wood flooring down on floors we've done and not had problems with moisture. Most of the time in older basements that we've went and fixed the moisture wasn't coming up through floor its usually through walls, especually on older houses. Like hoyt said a dehumidifier will help out but if it was me it was me I'd go with carpet or floating wood floor right on the crete. I also wouldn't be that worried about moisture getting into any padding and causeing a problem unless you all ready have a lot of moisture that appears on the bare concrete floor and if that was case I'd either leave it or jus seal the floor and that will make it slick to touch but will still show any flaws. That's jus what we've done and suggested to people and but only about 10% of our buisness is repair jobs its usually new basements, crawspaces, and flat work.

 

I have a dry basement and put carpet down on the concrete. I run a dehumidifier in the summer months. No problems. If there is a chance the basement will get wet, just tape it down so you can pull it up to dry if necessary.

 

That may be one way of doing it. If you like the laminate look, check out Home Depot Allure vinyl planks. These are the vinyl planks that click together like laminate, not the glue strip ones, but they are waterproof. I had laminate in my kitchen....once..... never again, any kind of moisture on laminate is the death toll. I ripped that up and put in the vinyl planks and it is wonderful, water has no effect on it and it is quieter that laminate. Very easy to clean and looks like real wood.

 

http://www.dricore.com/en/do-it-y.aspx

This is what I have in my basement and would recommend it. It is made to give you "warmth" but yet allow for the things that happen in a basement to happen. Last year my water heater split down the side and dumped several hundred/thousand gallons before we got home. We turned on fans and the dehumidifier right away pulled what little bit of carpet that did get wet and by the time the pros got there late the next day to "clean up" the floor was dry underneath and they ended up doing nothing. We were probably lucky in our case but I'm sold on it.

 

I've looked into the DriCor but am now leaning towards a product from Lowes called Delta-FL that you lay down in sheets. The bottom is dimpled allowing for air flow and evaporation underneath but there are no seems and no plywood to get wet. I've read good things about the DriCor but have read if the plywood on top of the product gets wet, you need to remove and replace?? The Delta is all plastic. Need to look into further..thanks.

 

My Bro In Law textured the concrete in his basement. It looks like tile but is just textured and colored. Really cool product and other than being a little cold, it makes a really nice floor. Throw a nice rug down for ambiance and your done. If it gets wet... mop it.