Help!!! Which basement subfloor or underlayment do we choose?

7 years ago

We have a small « shoebox » style home from the 50´s and are going to be moving our bedrooms into the basement. We are redoing the floors and currently levelling the cement floors.
We already bought a cork floating floor and have been given different advice on what to lay down between our floor and the cement.
6 mil poly vapour barrier, insulating membrane and floor?
Sleepers?
The newer prefabricated subfloors like dricore, dmx...etc?
Our priority is to minimize the humidity and gain some height.
Does the cement need to breathe? Will mold form between the cement and the poly barrier? HELP!!! Thanks in advance

Featured Answer

PRO

GN Builders L.L.C

7 years ago

Yes, don't use poly, use XPS underlay foam boards and you can lay your flooring right on top of it. It comes in various thickness so you can gain the height you need.

Also before you move bedrooms into the basement be sure to have a code compliant egress windows for each of the bedrooms to have an escape/rescue route in case of fire.

Good luck

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Comments (6)

Nadia Fazioli
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you! Are you familiar with DMX Airflow? It’s a dimpled membrane.
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PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
7 years ago
Yes you can use that product also but foam gives a better feel when you walk on and you mentioned you want to add some height to it.
Nadia Fazioli
Original Author
7 years ago
Oh...I meant I wanted to GAIN some ceiling height as my basement is only about 7 feet. I have a cork floating floor which I will be installing over it that feels really nice on the foot.
Nadia Fazioli
Original Author
7 years ago
We have been given so much conflicting advice!!! I really appreciate your help! Do you believe the cement slab has to breathe? I just want to minimize the chance of mold/humidity as we will be sleeping there.
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
7 years ago
The foam comes in a 1/4" also so you will not lose much of the ceiling height.