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Basement Subflooring
If you would like to remodel your basement
so that you can maximize the living space
in your house and significantly add to its
resale value, do not be discouraged by a
cold, damp concrete floor. You can still
have the basement playroom, family room,
exercise area, home office, or media room
that you want.
Attractive traditional flooring
can be installed
over a prefinished, panelized
flooring system
that will keep the surface of
the basement
floor warm and dry, as it channels
moisture
to floor drains. These panels
are manufactured
from a layer of oriented strand
board over
a corrugated plastic base that
positions
the panel 7/8 inch above the
concrete. The
corrugated channels on the bottom
of each
panel create an air gap above
the concrete
floor. Moisture flows through
the channels
to the floor drain. The air gap
also serves
as a thermal break and provides
insulation.
Interlocking panel edges keep
the panels
tightly fitted together.
If you are thinking of installing
these sub-floor
panels, consider the following:
- Each panel is about 8 inches wide and 54
inches long and covers about 3 square feet.
Measure the space you want to cover before
purchasing them.
- These panels can be used as flooring themselves
and so are manufactured in a variety of colors.
For a really fine appearance in your room,
you will want to use them as a base for a
finished floor (see flooring). Carpeting and laminate flooring can be
installed by putting down the appropriate
padding or underlayment first. Engineered
hardwood can be nailed directly to the panels,
but care should be taken not to puncture
the channeled base. Vinyl tiles require an
underlayment of plywood, while ceramic tiles
need a cement board underlayment to keep
the tiles from cracking.
These sub-floor panels are sturdy
enough
to support heavy pieces of furniture
and
exercise equipment. They are
also resilient,
providing an ideal surface for
exercise or
play.
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