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Basement flooring and underlayment confusion

3 years ago

I am looking at flooring options to use in a finished basement and its so confusing! I have narrowed the flooring down to LVT or a cork wood look floating floor. Next is underlayment, I know I need a vapor barrier, but should I put down a dimple product alone, with 6mm cork, or a full plywood subfloor? We are finishing the basement for my 82 yo grandmother and I am concerned about the hardness of the concrete and coldness. Has anyone finished their basement and love the products they chose?

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Comments (4)

dsnine
3 years ago
Ditra underlayment is wonderful (the orange waffle barrier), and you should be good to put that directly over the slab. The floor will be cooler if it isn’t heated underneath because that’s just what happens, but not more so than wood or vinyl. The Ditra is thick and a good thermal break.
worthy
3 years ago
I've used Ditra above grade. But, below-grade, Delta FL which is specifically designed for basement flooring.
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Floorman here 40 years experience professional installer First. You have a bigger leak under floor if it buckling. Sound to me you would be better to have vinyl plank installed instead of wood. If you want a professional job it will cost you $10 plus for wood and labor no furniture. Labor alone is $5 in Missouri. The cheap hardwood is all going to be soft easy to scratch. Vinyl plank would be cheaper. Labor is $1.50 to $2.00 sq ft. Its glue down or it can be loose laid if you buy that type. If a peace gets scratched easier to replaced even for DIY but that peace will have to be glued. Vinyl plank looks like real wood now days. Water won’t hurt it as long as not a major leak. If your on concrete for wood or vinyl a moisture test should be taken first to see if there’s any hydrostatic pressure if there is it shouldn’t lay either one would have to fix problem first. With vinyl plank if it is glued you might need 1/4” underlayment on sub floor. But loose snap in vinyl plank you shouldn’t need underlayment. If your floor is wavy so will the vinyl plank look. Just my advice.
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You MUST HAVE a vapour barrier installed over the concrete. All floating floors have this requirement. Vinyl is NOT to be used as protection from moisture migration UP! You can purchase 6mil vapour barrier + moisture resistant tape (aka Red Duct Tape) for the seams. Should cost about $0.12/sf for the space. And NO....you CANNOT use another "underpad" under that vinyl. You can ONLY USE polypropylene plastic sheeting. Vinyl does NOT like padding underneath. You must work with something thin WITHOUT padding or cushion. Go cheap and cheerful. The 6mil vapour barrier (as above) is considered "Best Practices" in the flooring industry. No need to reinvent the wheel.
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SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
I've personally sold 6mm cork underlay + 1/2 cork floating floor to a homeowner in NORTHERN Saskatchewan (the Northwest Territories' boarder was only an hour drive away). She put it in her basement. The basement is now the WARMEST spot in the house. The cork flooring and underlay raised the temperature in the basement by 7 C (12 F). It is also the quietest spot in the house. And the cushion on that floor is impressive.

The winters in that area = -50C for weeks at a time. If cork+cork can help in this situation...it is going to be warm enough just about anywhere in N.America.

If you use cork on cork...you don't have to do anything 'expensive' like a dimple membrane. A $0.06/sf vapour barrier (6mil poly sheeting) + red duct tape (moisture resistant) is all you need.

I've sold dozens and dozens of cork + cork flooring products in Canada = cold climate. I've never had anyone come back and say, "The floor is too hard. I can't believe I listened to you." Never.

And I've only had one complaint about temperature issues with cork+cork in a basement. The homeowner used 6mm cork underlay + 1/2" cork floating floor. The hubby LOVES it...the wife (mid 50's and going through 'The Change') finds it too HOT. The basement doesn't drop below 21 C (70 F) even with all the vents closed off to the area.

That's the ONE complaint I've had about a basement install with cork+cork as the option. It was too WARM. Sigh...I tried to tell hubby to go with the 3mm underlayment...but he thought 'thicker is better' but forgot about how difficult it can be for someone who runs 'too hot' to live in a space that is too warm.
Jenn A
2 years ago
Hi SJ! I am in the middle of a basement renovation and the contractor needs the flooring next week. The subfloor is concrete and my biggest concern is warmth as my kids will be playing down there. Could I put a cork underlayment directly on top of the concrete and then the LVP on top of the underlayment? The LVP would have an attached underlayment but I assume it will only help to make the floors warmer? Let me know if you think there are any issues or any flooring you recommend particularly to help with warmth. I was also considering buying Dri Core instead of the cork underlayment as the R Value looks much higher. Any advice would be much appreciated!

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