buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
Yep, what i will use if i ever get to it. Way down on my list. Put it in my mudroom.
Laminate flooring in the basement
- Thread starter RobA
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The way I see it I'm running the same water risk with carpet as I am with laminate flooring. Pergo installation requires a vapor barrier between it the floor and, according to them, using it over concrete is OK. I don't see a problem with water wicking up from the floor. Carpet would potentially absorb moisture from below but it hasn't been a problem for years.
I'll check out the vinyl.
I'll check out the vinyl.
Last edited:
Steppenwolfe
Super Member
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Google LVT, luxury vinyl tile. Many styles, patterns, colors, etc. We use it commercially and it holds up very well.
Friend got this in his living room. Looks great and has survived with the new in ground pool and a lot of traffic. The heating and air business has been very good for him.
RNeumann
Elite Member
The flooring stores will have a moisture test kit. Remove the existing flooring and glue the little clear plastic “kit” to the floor. It takes a day or two before the results are accurate.
forgeblast
Elite Member
I think the one test I did was tape a piece of plastic to the floor to see what was happening with it.
I have ceramic tile in one room in our basement and then a built up subfoor with laminate on it in another. No issues and its been in place for 14 years now.
I have ceramic tile in one room in our basement and then a built up subfoor with laminate on it in another. No issues and its been in place for 14 years now.
buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
Tape plastic to floor, if moisture forms under it over a few days you dont want pergo.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
At one time, I was a fan of laminate flooring. Easy to install, affordable, and they looked nice. But since they are basically compressed paper dust, eventually moisture affects them and they start to rise at the edges. Depending on humidity in the air, and that's all it takes, it will eventually rise and give you a ridge at every edge. Additional moisture, either from wet shoes, water leaks or anything else, and this gets even worse.
The bigger names come with great warranties. If you have a bad piece of flooring, they will replace it for free. They will not install it, or pay for somebody to replace it, they just give you the replacement piece of flooring.
Laminate flooring is probably the hardest type of flooring to replace. It breaks at the edges as you take it apart. I don't care how slow and careful you are, a majority of it will break and become junk.
Most is slippery, and scratches easily.
I'm not talking about any one particular brand because I've dealt with just about all of them, and they are all the same.
If you want something similar, but more durable that does not care about moisture, look at the new types of vinyl flooring. It's heavy, but goes together the same, by interlocking edges, or the easier, but cheaper types glue together. There are quite a few out there to look at, and I'm not aware of one being better then another. That's all I use now, and what I recommend to my clients. The decision on what brand is always on which one they like the look and feel of better. I haven't found a brand from the box stores that I consider junk and wont recommend, but that doesn't mean I've tried them all. Just quite a few.
Having said that, tile is still king!!!!
The bigger names come with great warranties. If you have a bad piece of flooring, they will replace it for free. They will not install it, or pay for somebody to replace it, they just give you the replacement piece of flooring.
Laminate flooring is probably the hardest type of flooring to replace. It breaks at the edges as you take it apart. I don't care how slow and careful you are, a majority of it will break and become junk.
Most is slippery, and scratches easily.
I'm not talking about any one particular brand because I've dealt with just about all of them, and they are all the same.
If you want something similar, but more durable that does not care about moisture, look at the new types of vinyl flooring. It's heavy, but goes together the same, by interlocking edges, or the easier, but cheaper types glue together. There are quite a few out there to look at, and I'm not aware of one being better then another. That's all I use now, and what I recommend to my clients. The decision on what brand is always on which one they like the look and feel of better. I haven't found a brand from the box stores that I consider junk and wont recommend, but that doesn't mean I've tried them all. Just quite a few.
Having said that, tile is still king!!!!
PILOON
Super Star Member
I had a rental that sprung a significant leak.
The birch hard wood in one room was all distorted and total scrap.
To my surprise what survived was the laminate flooring in the adjacent room.
However I will say that it was HD based laminate (vs low density).
Not one piece was damaged even tho there was visible surface water everywhere.
It is all about quality products!
The HD product simply would not absorb water. Also it was the thicker style. (8mm vs cheaper 6 or 7)
Wish I could recall the brand.
The birch hard wood in one room was all distorted and total scrap.
To my surprise what survived was the laminate flooring in the adjacent room.
However I will say that it was HD based laminate (vs low density).
Not one piece was damaged even tho there was visible surface water everywhere.
It is all about quality products!
The HD product simply would not absorb water. Also it was the thicker style. (8mm vs cheaper 6 or 7)
Wish I could recall the brand.
DuckSlayer1017
Platinum Member
I’m putting vinyl strip in my basement as soon as hunting season is over. I’ve don a lot of research and one thing I did find is you want to pick one that has a thicker wear layer. They vary from 5 to 12 mills. For ref one mill equals 0.001”.