Basement Flooring options

Bigin429 · 01-14-2013, 09:36 PM

Hello Everyone,
I'm at the point in my basement finishing, that I need to decide on flooring. We live in central PA. Last 2 Septembers with the big storms, we had no water at all in the basement. Did the "tape the plastic to the wall trick" and no moisture even in the dead of summer. Floor is level on the sides with a drain in the middle, the difference in height from the edge of the wall to the middle of the room (drain) is a 1/2 inch.

What flooring is the best. We want a wood look. I have looked at the Laminate and the Resiliant Vinyl Clic Flooring. What would be my best option? Subfloor needed for Laminate? Vapor Barrier for either type of flooring? Is either better for the slope? Should I level it first, I would prefer not to level it.

Thanks for your time, and answers.
Newbie doing it for the first time.

Jake

federer · 01-14-2013, 10:10 PM

what do you mean by tape plastic to the wall?

DannyT · 01-14-2013, 10:25 PM

tape the plastic to the floor.what do you plan on doing with the drain? the water in the trap if it has one will evaporate and if it is hooked to the sanitary sewer you will get sewer gas coming in.

BNTHERE · 01-14-2013, 10:36 PM

First - Drain.leave it open, find a way around it, do not close it.
Agree that you didnt have any leaks but you dont want to take that risk.

Try Platon for underlayment for Laminate. Google it and you can get a lot of info
Do not spend lots of money on basement flooring unless you are going for a well built underlayment with enough drainage.

Awoodfloorguy · 01-15-2013, 10:29 AM

I would say that your options for flooring are; tile, laminate, engineered hardwood, vinyl, or you could even acid stain the concrete. I agree with the other guy, make sure you don't cover the drain. I have a dry basement and put an engineered wood floor down there about 2 months later my drain backed up and ruined it. Luckily, I put thresholds in each doorway in case something like this ever happened, so I only needed to replace a hallway and still had enough leftover to do it. Now I make sure I have my main line snaked every 4-6 months even if it's not clogged to be sure it doesn't back up again.

Bigin429 · 01-16-2013, 09:18 PM

Ok thanks everyone
The slope is about 1 1/2 inches starting about 70 inches from the drain. For any type of click flooring I probably should level the floor correct? I would prefer not to, any way around it?

01-14-2013, 09:36 PM	#1
Bigin429 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 8	Basement Flooring options Hello Everyone, I'm at the point in my basement finishing, that I need to decide on flooring. We live in central PA. Last 2 Septembers with the big storms, we had no water at all in the basement. Did the "tape the plastic to the wall trick" and no moisture even in the dead of summer. Floor is level on the sides with a drain in the middle, the difference in height from the edge of the wall to the middle of the room (drain) is a 1/2 inch. What flooring is the best. We want a wood look. I have looked at the Laminate and the Resiliant Vinyl Clic Flooring. What would be my best option? Subfloor needed for Laminate? Vapor Barrier for either type of flooring? Is either better for the slope? Should I level it first, I would prefer not to level it. Thanks for your time, and answers. Newbie doing it for the first time. Jake

01-14-2013, 10:10 PM	#2
federer Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: dc metro Posts: 947	Basement Flooring options what do you mean by tape plastic to the wall?

01-14-2013, 10:25 PM	#3
DannyT Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Groveport, Ohio Posts: 1,597	Basement Flooring options tape the plastic to the floor.what do you plan on doing with the drain? the water in the trap if it has one will evaporate and if it is hooked to the sanitary sewer you will get sewer gas coming in.

01-14-2013, 10:36 PM	#4
BNTHERE Newbie Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 17	Basement Flooring options First - Drain.leave it open, find a way around it, do not close it. Agree that you didnt have any leaks but you dont want to take that risk. Try Platon for underlayment for Laminate. Google it and you can get a lot of info Do not spend lots of money on basement flooring unless you are going for a well built underlayment with enough drainage.

01-15-2013, 10:29 AM	#5
Awoodfloorguy Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 341	Basement Flooring options I would say that your options for flooring are; tile, laminate, engineered hardwood, vinyl, or you could even acid stain the concrete. I agree with the other guy, make sure you don't cover the drain. I have a dry basement and put an engineered wood floor down there about 2 months later my drain backed up and ruined it. Luckily, I put thresholds in each doorway in case something like this ever happened, so I only needed to replace a hallway and still had enough leftover to do it. Now I make sure I have my main line snaked every 4-6 months even if it's not clogged to be sure it doesn't back up again. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Basement Flooring options