One of the biggest considerations when choosing the flooring for your basement is moisture. Condensation and water vapor are moisture-related hazards that are unique to basements. They affect the kind of flooring that makes sense downstairs. Conditions in the basement are usually different than they are upstairs. These differences not only affect the flooring choices but also how your flooring is installed.
For most people, making the decision on the type of flooring that is appropriate for a finished basement floor can be a headache. So it’s only natural for you to wonder whether you can use a subfloor for a finished basement floor.
You should use a subfloor for a finished basement floor. A subfloor is a sort of a floor cover for your basement and it creates a strong and sturdy shield that prevents water/moisture from seeping through. This will typically help improve warmth.
Think of a subfloor as an impenetrable barrier that keeps the floor of your basement dry. The definition of a subfloor is “the foundation for a floor in a building”. When you install a basement subfloor successfully, you ensure that your basement remains bone-dry.
In this article, we are going to discuss in detail whether you should use a subfloor for a finished basement floor and the best basement subfloor options. So sit back, relax, and read on to find out more. This will certainly be an enlightening read for you!
Should You Use A Subfloor For A Finished Basement Floor?
Yes, you should. A subfloor is a floor cover for your basement. It provides a sturdy and strong shield that prevents moisture from seeping through. Subfloors are a welcome addition to basement spaces because they help to improve the warmth of the basement. They can be made from both synthetic and natural materials and are usually highly resistant to moisture.
When finishing your basement, keeping a dry floor is essential. Because they are below grade, basements can potentially have water coming in from several directions. Groundwater can seep through the floor or the foundation walls. It can also gush or drip from pipes.
Therefore, before installing the basement floor covering, you should install a subfloor. This subfloor will elevate the floor cover and act as a barrier that prevents moisture from seeping upward.
Basements are especially prone to developing pockets of unwanted water. Having the right type of subfloor will go a long way in ensuring your basement remains dry. Basements usually require special subflooring that will not get moldy or deteriorate when it’s exposed to moisture.
You can achieve a subfloor in either one of two ways:
- By installing a basement subfloor system. This uses pre-made materials that already provide a barrier between the floor and the water.
- Building your own subfloor. This can be done using different preferred subfloor materials that are built in the shape of tiles so that they are easily installed. They can also come in the form of rolls and sheets.
Basement subflooring has a lot of jobs. So why do you need a basement subfloor? What does it actually do?
A subfloor is attached to your floor joists and it provides support for your finish (surface) flooring.
- It also provides a stable and level surface.
- It keeps moisture at bay thus preventing mold.
- It provides a thermal break (insulation).
Basement Subfloor Options
Believe it or not, but a basement subfloor increases the value of your property and provides a good warm floor surface. A subfloor is an essential aspect that you should never ignore in your basement. Installing a basement subfloor has quite a lot of benefits as we have discussed earlier.
There are several subfloor options available for your basement. Choosing the right type of subfloor is a relatively easy task. It should however be noted that choosing the wrong subfloor material can have direct consequences in the basement. Luckily though, we have our picks for the best subfloor option you can use for your basement. So read on to find out more!
Plywood Subflooring
If you are looking for a cheap but durable subflooring option, then plywood is a viable one. Plywood subflooring is considered one of the more traditional methods of subflooring. It allows you to create your own subfloor using cheap wood materials.
Plywood is the material that is most commonly used for subflooring. It is manufactured from thin sheets of wood that are glued together with the grain of each layer perpendicular to the previous one. It provides strong support with a smooth surface and at a reasonable cost.
It is also referred to as scratch-built subflooring. It is extremely cheap, efficient, and easy to assemble. With the right materials, you can do it yourself.
Plywood is one of the most affordable subflooring options available. Since you can gather the materials and install them yourself, it can heavily cut down on costs. Typically, it can cost anywhere from around $700 to $1000. Depending on the state and nature of your basement, however, these prices can change drastically. It’s still more affordable than DRIcore subflooring.
Plywood subfloor is superior to other prefab or premade subflooring options. Some people will prefer plywood for some of the following benefits:
- Plywood subflooring is cheap. It can be made using common and affordable materials.
- It is convenient. It’s extremely easy to lay down your own panels and cover a large amount of ground with this option.
- It looks great. Plywood looks just as good as real wood.
- It’s extremely durable
DRIcore Subflooring
DRIcore subfloor systems are one of the newer systems in the industry having been invented in the 1990s. They typically come in panel shapes than the available plywood sheets. DRIcore is amazing for subflooring a basement that has low to mid-range moisture problems. It’s a lot like insulating a floor, the only difference being the added protection of a water barrier.
DRIcore subfloor systems will typically cost about $6.43 per panel or tile. Each tile measures 2′ × 2′. So this means that each square foot of DRIcore costs about $1.61. With an average-sized basement, you can expect to spend about a few hundred dollars more than you would plywood. Despite this, there are several reasons why some people still prefer DRIcore over plywood subflooring.
DRIcore is one of the best-engineered subfloor solutions that is specifically designed for basements. It creates an air gap above damp and cold concrete to protect, cushion, and insulate your finished floors.
DRIcore has a simple to use calculator on their site to give you an accurate estimate as to how many panels you need. Check it out Here
Once you know how many panels you need, the cheapest route to go is to buy them through Amazon. Here is a direct link for pricing with free shipping.
DRIcore is popular among people with low hanging ceilings in their basements and for people looking for the most durable subflooring option. Some of the benefits that DRIcore subfloor has to offer include:
- The DRIcore subfloor does not raise the floor as high as plywood does. This makes it a good choice for people who have a low-ceiling basement.
- DRIcore makes the application of the premade subfloor more easy and efficient. With this option, you need not deal with a scratch or build-it-yourself subflooring.
- DRIcore has air gap technology that helps protect against moisture, mold, mildew, and small water leaks.
- DRIcore is easy to install. It has a tongue and groove design that makes installation fast and easy. You could complete a 500sq. ft. room in the afternoon.
- It protects finished floors. It’s compatible with all types of the finished flooring.
- It is strong enough to support heavy objects including furniture and equipment that may be in the basement.
- DRIcore uses OSB (oriented strand board) panels. OSB is generally not great for a floor covering itself, but due to its appearance and moisture swelling, it is a great option for subflooring.
Wood panels such as plywood and OSB are often installed on mini-joists known as sleepers that allow it to sit above a concrete pad. This is done because wood is naturally a porous substance that will absorb moisture when used as a basement subfloor. Coating the panels with waterproof sealant for extra protection is also recommended by some experts.
At the end of the day, it’s your choice. You can decide whether you want affordability or ease of convenience on your side. Both of these options are equally durable, functional, and long-lasting.
All in all, installing a subfloor in your finished basement floor is a good idea. It will seal and protect your basement against intruding moisture!
