Posted by Evan Lauridsen on October 19, 19100 at 07:40:02:
In Reply to: Refinishing basement - What type of floor to use? posted by Ray Price on October 17, 19100 at 21:28:34:
You need to be careful about flooring selection in below grade concrete slabs. First check for moisture emitting from the slab before looking any further. If moisture levels are beyond 3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft in a 24 hour period based on a calcium chloride test ASTM F 1869-98 (a test that must be ran by someone specially trained to do such, consult flooring pros in your area) then I would consider going with ceramic tile since it is more moisture "resistant" than any other flooring product.
Hint: If going with ceramic tile b/c of excessive moisture, use a white grout. Grout discoloration can occur in excessive moisture/high alkaline conditions, this white powder that can occur is called efflorescence and is less noticeable on white grout.
good luck, Evan
: We are nearing the completion of drywall in our basement and are still trying to decide on what type of floor to put down. We have two kids (2 1/2 and 5) and a dog, so we are obviously looking for something durable. We are currently considering a laminate or engineered wood floor for the durability and the fact that we wouldn't have to worry about spills as much. I've seen numerous messages about mold buidup on concrete floors, so I'm curious what is the best bet for covering a basement floor.
: Lastly, I was at fastfloors.com and saw that they have just started carrying Venta flooring which is a laminate with no-glue installation and a waterproof core. Sounds pretty close to what we need. Our other consideration was Award Pro engineered flooring.
: Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
: Thanks.
: Ray.