Basement subfloor options

[mustangmike6996]

I am looking to install a floor in my basement but I would like a subfloor as a preventative measure. I see Home Depot and Lowes sell a 2'x2' tongue and groove subfloor but it is about $4-6 per piece. I would be doing roughly 25'x25'.

Menard makes a roll of the plastic subfloor 3'wide x 25' long and it is about $80 plus the cost of lumber.

My basement floor is pitched towards the floor drains and away from the walls with about a 2-3" difference in height from the tallest point to the lowest point (drains)

What route should I look at taking? I really don't want to do stick-on tiles or mortar/grout tile to the concrete.

 

[The Man]

why dont you want to mortar/grout tile to concrete (other than it being cold)?

 

[mustangmike6996]

We wanted to do a wood (or some form of wood style) floor as opposed to tile.

 

[The Man]

Ever see the porcelain yes that look like wood planks?

 

[mikesfastss]

My coworker just did a plastic laminate floor he picked up at menards and said it's awesome, he wanted something that wasn't absorbent ( he breeds French bulldogs) for the puppy accidents.

 

[Roadrage]

Youre a brave man putting wood in a basement. We put in the vinyl fake wood floor and are happy with it, and no night terrors worrying about minor flooding.

 

[mustangmike6996]

Ever see the porcelain yes that look like wood planks?

Yea, I did my bar top in those.

My coworker just did a plastic laminate floor he picked up at menards and said it's awesome, he wanted something that wasn't absorbent ( he breeds French bulldogs) for the puppy accidents.

Was it the plastic floor that's similar to racedeck?

Youre a brave man putting wood in a basement. We put in the vinyl fake wood floor and are happy with it, and no night terrors worrying about minor flooding.

Id rather do a wood style floor, preferably something that looks and feels similar.

 

[wide winger]

Is your basement floor and exterior walls dry as an old whore's pussy?

 

[derbydad276]

remember a basement is a hole in the ground ....when it rains where does water go ?...

 

[mikesfastss]

Is your basement floor and exterior walls dry as an old whore's pussy?

now that's a good question lol. I'm not sure I'll find out tomorrow for you.

 

[The Man]

My boss has something like this in like 4 foot planks in his basement only a bit darker....Looks incredible....

https://www.google.com/search?q=por...AUICCgC&biw=360&bih=560#imgrc=Z3jsAk-DmkBfuM:

 

[Roadrage]

Id rather do a wood style floor, preferably something that looks and feels similar.

This is the vinyl in my basement. Its convincing enough that most people are surprised it isnt real.View attachment 80836

 

[wide winger]

Wood flooring in a basement can be a fantastic project or a nightmare. Location Location Location.......
There are a ton of considerations for proper installation of wood flooring in a below ground application.
No cookie cutter approach will produce good long lasting profitable results if installed improperly.

 

[mustangmike6996]

Is your basement floor and exterior walls dry as an old whore's pussy?

Not that dry. lol


I am working on diverting downspout water further away from the house. I will be routing downspout water in piping and it will go to a pop-up spout 50 feet away.

 

[Killjoy]

+1 I wouldn't put wood floors in the basement unless you're willing to kiss that $ goodbye at the first wall seepage, pipe break, sewer backup, bath tub overfill/leak, etc. etc. Mold also loves organic material.

 

[DRAG-ULA]

My basement had indoor/outdoor carpet some asshole glued to the cement. I didn't want to scrape it off, so I cleaned it, cleaned it again, bleached it, put a vapor barrier down and put a laminate over it. Haven't had any problems 3 years later. I bought the flooring at Ollie's bargain outlet unbelievably cheap.

The only floor drain is in my laundry room though, and my basement stays dry.

 

[soap]

Instead of doing the 2'x2' subfloor squares, what I did was put down rigid foam insulation with Advantech subfloor on top of it (then carpet). The rigid foam gives you a vapor barrier against the concrete and the biggest benefit is that the floor is nice and warm since nothing is touching the concrete. This was a huge issue for me, I hate basements with cold floors.

--Joe

 

[mustangmike6996]

My basement had indoor/outdoor carpet some asshole glued to the cement. I didn't want to scrape it off, so I cleaned it, cleaned it again, bleached it, put a vapor barrier down and put a laminate over it. Haven't had any problems 3 years later. I bought the flooring at Ollie's bargain outlet unbelievably cheap.

The only floor drain is in my laundry room though, and my basement stays dry.

That turned out very nice. I have been looking at some waterproof synthetic floors. I had the old tiles that were stuck to the cement with tar so my floor is a mess. I have scrubbed it as much as possible but Im not sure that anything would actually stick to it and Im not sure theres a way to remove it without grinding or using acid (both are not an option)

Instead of doing the 2'x2' subfloor squares, what I did was put down rigid foam insulation with Advantech subfloor on top of it (then carpet). The rigid foam gives you a vapor barrier against the concrete and the biggest benefit is that the floor is nice and warm since nothing is touching the concrete. This was a huge issue for me, I hate basements with cold floors.

--Joe

I would like a warmer floor for winter time (especially my wife). Is the foam ok for contact with water? I need something that will let water run to the floor drain if any water intrusion occurs. I dont get water as often as I used to now that I redirected my downspout drains but Im sure I will in spring, until I finish the drainage pipe project. When I do get water is only about a 4" wide stream that makes it to 10 feet in, its not like the floor floods.

 

[soap]

Is the foam ok for contact with water?

Yes of course, it is made for exterior/interior applications. I put rigid foam under my garage/shop slabs as well as around the exterior of the basement walls.

Just so there is no confusion, this is the stuff I'm referring to. Lots of different thicknesses depending on your needs/application (can be found at Home Depot etc)...
http://insulation.owenscorning.com/professionals/insulation/products/foamular-is/

--Joe