Hi guys,

I am new here and sure glad I found this forum. I bought a home recently and the basement subfloor was already done, but they installed 2x3s upwards and then 3/4" plywood, making a total height of 3 1/4". I would like to remove this since the basement ceilings are already low....barely 7'.

I have found a few options.

1. OVRX Barricade subfloor 2x2 planels. These are like Dri-Core, but instead of the dompled membrane it uses insulation foamboard which gives it a R3 value instead of R0.5 with Dri-core. It also eliminates the clacking sounds from Dricore. Has anyone tried these? If I install these and glue all the joints, are we safe? The benifit is that total height is 1"

2. FLoating floor. 1" insulation foam boards, topees with 2 x 1/2" crossed plywood. This would make it 2" high

Any other suggestions would be very helpful.

I will be installing 3/4 hardwood flooring and again my goal is to gain height. please let me know your thoughts or ideas. I am in Canada, so it does get cold in the winter and keeping floors warmer is a plus.

Have you moisture tested your concrete?

No I have not yet as I have not removed the subfloor yet, but it does not seem to be an issue. No smell, and low humidity, but I am in canada with extreme temperature changes, so I wanted to avoid laying hardwood directly on concrete

Have you thought about using a waterproofing product on the concrete and then laying a floating floor,(engineered hardwood)? If you install with a moisture barrier and a heavy pad you will end up with a much warmer and quieter floor. There are a lot of engineered floors out there that have just as much material on top as a solid floor. The advantages you get with an engineered floor are many in this situation. Do a little research before you buy and you may be pleasantly surprised what an engineered product can do for you.
You can buy unfinished engineered product if you prefer to finish your own as well.

the problem is that we like redoing the finish or color every 5 years or do.....engineering wooud will just not last a few sandings...or at least not the last time i checked. Am I wrong?

No solid wood flooring is recommended to be installed below grade. Period.

what do you mean below grade? Do you mean in basements?
even with subfloors or 2x2 dricore/ovrx panels?

anyone other opinions/recommendations?

Below grade=below soil. Basement, below soil.

Solid below grade is a know failure waiting to happen!!!!!!!


I would trade for an engineered and float it!

Definitely, use an engineered product in a basement. You will only lose but maybe one sanding if it is a glued down engineered floor.

Take another look @ engineered. There are products available with just as much wood from the tongue up as any solid out there.

i will take a look...here in canada its not very popular. What do you guys recommend I lay before laying it on the slab? something to keep the moisture out and still keep it warm, but at same time gaining as much headroom as possible.

How much does engineer wood (oak select) sell for approx?

Thanks

Take a look at Owen's Plank Floor. I have not had a chance to use htis product yet. I have heard very good things about it. I would not have any reservations using it on my next job that would require a site finished engineered plank floor. I believe there is information about this product on this site.

Most engineered flooring requires a pad to be installed underneath it. Take a look at the manufacturer recommends for their floor. I would use an isolation membrane of some sort first before I installed the pad. They come in a liquid form, (Mapei makes a great product), that you can trowel or paint on, or you can get it in sheets that you attach to the concrete.