vinyl plank flooring for a damp basement, any suggestions?
Debra Weiner
5 years ago
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Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
5 years agoDebra Weiner thanked Sina Sadeddin Architectural DesignRelated Discussions
Dark Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring in Basement?
Comments (1)You have a walkout basement with lots of natural light, so it wouldn't seem a problem. But I confess I prefer dark floors to light ones anywhere--except for a small space with light walls where a dark floor would emphasize the smallness of the space. I would avoid using any vinyl directly on a basement floor to avoid mould problems. See this thread for some further comments on basement flooring....See Morevinyl plank floors- moisture in basement
Comments (39)@Ryan Thanks for the question. A concrete slab that is sitting ON the earth (ie. not in a high rise on the 10th floor) always requires a vapour barrier underneath. Always. If anything, it maintains your warranty. There are three definitions of slab concrete: 1. Below grade. This is normally poured concrete for a foundation that has been dug into the ground. Like a basement. Even if 1 square inch is 'below grade' we view it as ALL below grade. 2. At grade. This is a common situation. Concrete is poured onto the ground and the house is built from there...going up; not down. Again, this is sitting 'on the ground' therefore it is considered 'damp' until proven otherwise. Even in the desert areas, we find dampness in slabs that are sitting on the ground. Moisture LOVES to condense on cold surfaces...like concrete. 3. Above grade or 'suspended slab'. This is the 'high rise' situation. You don't have to be in a high rise. It just means the slab is suspended in the air. It touches nothing but air above it and below it. This is the ONE situation where you can 'get away' without a vapour barrier. But you still void the warranty as soon as the contractor starts laying the first run. The installer is responsible for installing product on-site. If you did not purchase the vapour barrier, then the installer did not install it. If you used the SHOP'S installer, then they are responsible for ensuring you purchase everything you need for the job. Which requires you to tell them what your situation is. You get what you pay for. A good flooring installer *should have pointed out you needed a vapour barrier. And then would have told you what to purchase for him/her, or they would have said, "I have some in my truck, it will cost another $1/sf for the materials plus $0.50/sf to lay it." Something like that. And the preparation of the concrete is another thing that should have been paid for and performed. But so many contractors just want a paying job, that they offer the 'no frills' install. They get there, they install what is needed/purchased/sitting out for them and then they go home with a pay cheque in hand. I've had experiences where my QUESTIONS to the homeowner caused them to hang up on me. Yep. The question, "Is this for a bathroom?" caused such angst they started to yell it was none of my d@mn business and hung up on me. OKee DOKee then. I don't know what your situation is. The above is just an example as to why a store, with highly trained FLOORING professionals (ahem...a flooring store and not a 'big box' store like HD) would miss something as simple as a vapour barrier for a concrete slab....See MoreVinyl plank flooring in basement? safe for kids??
Comments (4)My son and husband have severe allergies so carpet is not an option but thanks for the suggestion. I really would like to go with the vinyl plank flooring and have began my brand research but was hopeful someone had already been done this road and could offer some advice on safest/healthiest options....See MoreLight colored vinyl plank flooring suggestion?
Comments (1)You want to search for 'European Oak' look. It will get you the colour range you are after. I know CoreTec has some beautiful European Oak products (you can go natural E. Oak or you can look at fumed/smoked for a some extra gray tones)....See MoreDebra Weiner
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