Sub Floor Choices

In basements and in homes with slab on grade foundations the subfloor may simply be a concrete slab.

Sub floor choices.

Wood panels such as plywood or oriented strand board are common subfloor choices. A number of trowel able and pourable tile underlayment options are available each with its own purpose and best use. Yes you can build a 12 inch high basement subfloor and stay dry above everything but basement ceilings tend to be low. Choosing the wrong subfloor for your needs or having one installed incorrectly can have disastrous consequences further down the road.

Even an inch or two in elevation for your subfloor will make a noticeable difference. Above this subfloor a good underlayment of cement board will further guard against flexing. Doubling them up sistering may help make the floor more rigid. However because wood is a naturally porous substance that will absorb moisture when used as a basement subfloor these materials are often installed on mini joists known as sleepers which allow it to sit above a concrete pad.

Full 8 foot tall basement ceilings in older homes are rare with 7 footers more the norm. Many basement flooring materials like paint epoxy tile and rubber flooring for example can go down directly over the basement s original poured concrete floor as long as the concrete is in good condition. Many floorings options like tiles rubber flooring paint epoxy can be directly put over the basement s existing poured concrete floor as long as the surface is in good shape. Make sure the joists are sturdy and not subject to flexing.

The subfloor is the foundation beneath finish flooring materials. Thicker 3 4 inch a c plywood is the best choice for underlayment here and make sure it is solidly anchored to the joists. Some engineered wood flooring can be installed as floating floors over a wood subfloor or consrete slab. Protect your floors from water damage by starting with the right subfloor products.

Nevertheless this direct installation will create a cold surface that becomes uncomfortable in the winters. On wood frame floors the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists. We ve got the details on plywood vs osb and enhanced options in each. Creating a bed of mortar is an older method of setting tiles on a concrete slab.

Subflooring is a structural layer and should not be confused with.