Is a subfloor necessary in the basement?

First, any good basement subfloor adds insulation so your feet stay warmer in winter. Second, good subfloors provide protection of the finished flooring from lwater or water vapor moving up through the concrete, discouraging rot and mold forming underneath.

How do you lay a subfloor on concrete?

To install a floated subfloor system, first place a layer of plywood subfloor panels with the edges parallel to the wall. Use a ¾” spacer between the plywood and the wall and a 1/8” spacer between panels. Next, lay a second layer of plywood at a 45-degree angle to the first layer.

Do you need a subfloor on concrete?

While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you’ll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: A subfloor will help insulate against a concrete floor that becomes overly cold in winter.

How do you install a subfloor in a basement?

Start by setting 1/2-in. spacers on the floor around the perimeter of the room. Then set the first panel in place. Cut a 4-ft. barbed spacer strip down to 23-1/2 in. using a pruning shears or fine-tooth saw. Press the barbed spacer into the groove on the end of the first panel.

How to install a dricore subfloor in your basement?

For subfloor panel quantities, take the square footage of your room and divide by 3.3. This equals the number of subfloor panels required. Prepare tools and materials necessary to install the subfloor panels (see the “Things You’ll Need” section below).

Can a subfloor be installed on a concrete slab?

You need a dry, clean and flat surface before you can install finished flooring in a room built on a concrete slab. One of the simplest options is a sleeper-based subfloor. The result is a subfloor that protects finished flooring from cold and damp concrete-based floors.

What kind of underlayment do I need for a basement floor?

You can buy moisture barriers by themselves or you can buy underlayment that have pre-attached moisture barriers. Concrete floors in basements are often cold to the touch. This means if you want something like laminate or vinyl planks, the concrete sub-floor will actually make your planks colder as well.

What should I use to make a subfloor in my basement?

The right kinds are even dense enough to support a plywood subfloor without any supporting wooden strips underneath. You simply lay sheets of foam on the basement floor, then fasten 5/8” plywood on top with concrete screws driven into predrilled holes in the floor. The screws hold down the plywood and the plywood holds down the foam.

How to install engineered floor panels in the basement?

Follow our helpful tips below before installing engineered floor panels in your basement: Check your local building code, and pay special attention to rules concerning vapor barriers, span ratings (subfloor thickness) and floor drains. Use a digital moisture detector to measure the moisture content (MC) of the concrete slab.

What should be the spacing of subfloor panels?

Improper spacing. To avoid buckling, subfloor panels should be spaced with a 1/8-inch gap at all edges and ends to provide room for naturally occurring expansion. Tongue-and-groove edges on many premium floor panels, such as Weyerhaeuser’s Edge Gold ® OSB panels, are designed to self-gap. 2. Using green joists.