catchit
Aug 29, 2008, 10:18 AM
I've recently bought some Laminate wood flooring for my basement (not yet installed) and have a few concerns.
Synopsis: This is a typical basement, drywalled, drop ceiling, concrete floor currently covered with carpet and ceramic title. Drain pipe located in titled room and will NOT be putting laminate near laundry area. Basement sometimes a little musty/damp in summer, dehumidifier fixes that though. Never had a water leak, though noticed some brown spots creeping up the wall an inch or two in one corner of the tiled room, looks like rusty water stain.
My concerns are:
1. Wood laminate is OK to use if basement doesn't have leaks, correct?
2. Should a "moisture test" be preformed in each room, or just one?
3. How likely is it that moisture will come up through that drain, and can I seal or get a special cover?
4. Should I seal the concrete flooring or leave as is?
5. The underlay is specially made for basements, with foam on the bottom and plastic on the top. Will this cause any molding?
6. Also, I was planning to lay the laminate right over the tiled room, remove any carpet in the other, put down some sheets of plywood to compensate height difference once the carpet is removed so both room are same height. Will that cause me problems, or should I remove the tile and lay down on concrete?
Synopsis: This is a typical basement, drywalled, drop ceiling, concrete floor currently covered with carpet and ceramic title. Drain pipe located in titled room and will NOT be putting laminate near laundry area. Basement sometimes a little musty/damp in summer, dehumidifier fixes that though. Never had a water leak, though noticed some brown spots creeping up the wall an inch or two in one corner of the tiled room, looks like rusty water stain.
My concerns are:
1. Wood laminate is OK to use if basement doesn't have leaks, correct?
2. Should a "moisture test" be preformed in each room, or just one?
3. How likely is it that moisture will come up through that drain, and can I seal or get a special cover?
4. Should I seal the concrete flooring or leave as is?
5. The underlay is specially made for basements, with foam on the bottom and plastic on the top. Will this cause any molding?
6. Also, I was planning to lay the laminate right over the tiled room, remove any carpet in the other, put down some sheets of plywood to compensate height difference once the carpet is removed so both room are same height. Will that cause me problems, or should I remove the tile and lay down on concrete?