Basement flooring suggestions, please!

[scottz29]

Dri-core is expensive as hell. I went with a DIY solution of the same thing, based on the recommendation of a friend. I used rolls of Delta-FL, with full sheets of 4x8 23/32" tongue & groove OSB on top. It's a little less than $1 per sq. ft., where a 2x2 sheet of dri-core is like 10 bucks...

http://www.cosella-dorken.com/bvf-ca-en/products/foundation_residential/floor/products/fl.php

You can buy Delta-FL at Lowe's, and I used 10% off coupons that you can get from the post office in their "moving packets".

I am in the middle of finishing the rest of my basement (arcade is already done) and I'm putting this throughout, except for areas like storage, and my workshop, and those areas are just sealed with Behr 1-part epoxy garage floor paint that you can buy at Home Depot. Nothing fancy there.

The moisture barrier is the big thing especially if you are planning on carpeting, like I am. Warmth is an added bonus.

 

[irobot]

Hey, you remembered! I originally laid sticky tile down back in 2001, and regretted it almost right away. Even with an immaculately prepared floor it would never be as nice as epoxy.

After some light flooding in 2007, about 25% of the tile lifted and another 75% started to mold. I had to tear it all up. Not fun! My basement has only flooded twice in 30 years; so don't think you'll never get water in your basement. Lay something that is water resistant!

I replaced the tile with garage grade epoxy(they didn't have red in basement grade). About 700 sq. ft.; cost me around $180. It looks great, its indestructable and has held up perfectly. It smells really bad, you have to wear a respirator when applying it. I laid the edges and corners with a brush, and rolled the rest on with a regular paint roller attached to a lengthy handle so I could stand and apply it. The stuff insulates the floor nicely, too. I can walk around down there in socks and not get cold feet. With the tile I had to wear shoes....

Here's some random pics starting in 2008...

what kind of epoxy did you use?

I'm surprized that the epoxy paint insulates the floor.

 

[delroy666]

Dri-core is expensive as hell. I went with a DIY solution of the same thing, based on the recommendation of a friend. I used rolls of Delta-FL, with full sheets of 4x8 23/32" tongue & groove OSB on top. It's a little less than $1 per sq. ft., where a 2x2 sheet of dri-core is like 10 bucks...

Agreed, Delta-FL is a good way to go, especially if the Dri-Core (or Subflor, Barricade, etc.) is really expensive in your area. I guess it depends how far from the factory/mill you are. I know in some parts of Canada, it's like $8/tile even though it's made here. I was originally going to use Delta-FL and OSB actually. At the time I did my basement though, Dri-Core was on sale for around $5.50/tile ($1.37/sqft). Plus, I could do the job myself, whereas 4x8 sheets are a pain to handle without help. I figured the time savings installing Dri-Core would make up for the extra cost.

 

[Silverunicorn]

Dri-core is expensive as hell. I went with a DIY solution of the same thing, based on the recommendation of a friend. I used rolls of Delta-FL, with full sheets of 4x8 23/32" tongue & groove OSB on top. It's a little less than $1 per sq. ft., where a 2x2 sheet of dri-core is like 10 bucks...

http://www.cosella-dorken.com/bvf-ca-en/products/foundation_residential/floor/products/fl.php

You can buy Delta-FL at Lowe's, and I used 10% off coupons that you can get from the post office in their "moving packets".

I am in the middle of finishing the rest of my basement (arcade is already done) and I'm putting this throughout, except for areas like storage, and my workshop, and those areas are just sealed with Behr 1-part epoxy garage floor paint that you can buy at Home Depot. Nothing fancy there.

The moisture barrier is the big thing especially if you are planning on carpeting, like I am. Warmth is an added bonus.

We also used rolls of Delta FL. This stuff is fantastic! We finished it with laminate wood flooring, and I like the result. We had water 2 times since the install due to sump pump failures, and the Delta FL (in my opinion) saved our floors. It was indeed a 'floating floor' whe it happened. The laminate wood suffered a little bit at the very edges, but all in all is fine.
The delta-FL also hold up well to the weight of the machines and a pool table with no issues too.



Chris

 

[Malice95]

I know I am reviving and older thread but I need some basement advice
I am planning on moving a few games in the basement this weekend and I
need to think about getting it finished.

Last spring with the rain and snow.. our sump failed. and of course noone
noticed for a couple days so I had 2 ft of water in the basement.
(this was before I had arcade games and the basement was just for storage)

So the general consenses in this thread is that Dri-Core or Delta-Fl is the
way to go depending on cost to keep out moisture. I have a french drain system around my basement.. a 1" gap around entire slab which allows any water to be collected into the sump. Do you install the either of these products over the gap? I intend to frame up the walls on top of these products.

Do you have backup sump pumps as well?
Multiple dehumidifiers?
Does the concrete stay dry without much airflow?

I'd love to use OSB (since its cheaper) but doesnt it just fall apart when wet? Wouldnt 3/4" T&G plywood be better?

 

[Silverunicorn]

I know I am reviving and older thread but I need some basement advice
I am planning on moving a few games in the basement this weekend and I
need to think about getting it finished.

Last spring with the rain and snow.. our sump failed. and of course noone
noticed for a couple days so I had 2 ft of water in the basement.
(this was before I had arcade games and the basement was just for storage)

So the general consenses in this thread is that Dri-Core or Delta-Fl is the
way to go depending on cost to keep out moisture. I have a french drain system around my basement.. a 1" gap around entire slab which allows any water to be collected into the sump. Do you install the either of these products over the gap? I intend to frame up the walls on top of these products.

Do you have backup sump pumps as well?
Multiple dehumidifiers?
Does the concrete stay dry without much airflow?

I'd love to use OSB (since its cheaper) but doesnt it just fall apart when wet? Wouldnt 3/4" T&G plywood be better?

Nothing is good when it gets wet, but I would think that Plywood would stand up better than OSB, but I am not sure.

We did not have a channel around our basement floor. That said, we framed our walls from the concrete floor to the ceiling in the basement, approximately 3" from the basement walls. We then put our Delta-FL within the bouandries of the walls. This made the overall space a bit smaller, but allowed for any condensation between our walls and the concrete basement walls to evaporate and not create mold. We have a pretty good airflow behind our walls.

If you are putting walls on top of the subfloor, I'd use plywood over Delta-FL or the Dri-core.

We have a main sump, with a battery backup (basement watchdog). The original sump we had failed twice (piping came apart) after the flooring was in. I have to say the Delta-FL "floated" well, even with the laminate flooring on it. This saved the flooring, and we did not need to replace anything after drying out. The laminate wood has some gaps in it now from being wet, but I am impresseed with how it held up overall.

We also have a dehumidifier that drains to the sump pit as well.

You know what? You need to come over! LOL.

Chris