[aquafire]

Any members just go carpet on there basement cement floor? I'm debating spending the money on DRICORE?


How is it heat wise?


Extra thick underpad?


Do you notice any of the unlevel of the bare cement?


Anything easy to install but cheaper than dricore?


thanks,

WS

 

[Cathan]

We had carpet on cement in our old place. Never gave us any issues. Floor was a bit cool during the dead of winter, but otherwise fine. Planning on doing the same with this build.

 

[jjdche]

I bought Dricore for my basement theater. I haven't installed it yet, but I'd be really leery about putting carpet right on the cement, even if it was a historically dry basement. One basement leak or plumbing problem and you'll be replacing the carpet, thereby justifying the cost of the Dricore in the first place.


Is far as temperature, the Dricore flooring is going to MUCH warmer. Air is a great insulator and just that small gap will give you a lot.


If you want something cheaper you can use 2x4's and plywood with a polyethylene vapor barrier, but that's definitely not easier than Dricore and it really isn't THAT much cheaper either. Maybe half as much? I'd pay the extra few hundred bucks for the ease of use of the Dricore.

 

[e-bear88]

I know some people have used DELTA-FL, not sure if its any cheaper than Dircore though

 

[SCHNEEDOO]

I went with Dricore and would use it again in a heartbeat. I helps make the room feel warmer and it also give a better feeling to the floor. Less basement like.

 

[Fuzzybear50]

I put carpet on the cement floor when I lived in Chicago but I used a good moisture designed padding that was almost as expensive as the carpet. The floor was never cold and people never complained but I also had a fireplace down there that kept it warmer.


The basement I am finishing in our new house will have dricore probably just because it is widely available.

Here is a picture of my old basement.

 

[two-rocks]

I used dri-core in several basement remodels I have done - it does as claimed, goes in easily, and makes the floor feel much more comfortable. Dust mites love cool floors and carpet.


I'll be using it in my basement.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Cathan /forum/post/12866346


We had carpet on cement in our old place. Never gave us any issues. Floor was a bit cool during the dead of winter, but otherwise fine. Planning on doing the same with this build.

how about the infrasonic sounds, does it travel well?

 

[calv1n]

I went with in-floor heating in mine but its not a practical thing to add if your not at the building stage. In my last house I used Dri-core and it works well I never had any issues and enjoyed the benefits of a dry,warm and comfy floor (of course now I have a really dry, warm and comfy floor but at many times the cost)


Cheers

Calvin

 

[aquafire]

Thanks for all the reply's!


I have about 900 sqft in my basement. So the cost will be about $2000 for the Dricore...$6.97 / tile here in Toronto. Thats the cost of a nice new projector! So really hard to justify....



We have lived at this house for 3 years with 0 water on the floor. I saw an underpad today at rona that was $40/100 sqft. It looked waterproof on 1 side. Anyone try that sort of thing?


WS

 

[bass addict]

Our whole basement is carpeted, with no issues at all. I can't even say the floor is really that much colder in the winter. The only plus I can really see to a sub floor (non flooding area), is a much better tactile feel from your sub. I'd really like to not have had to use butt kickers for my tactile response, especially considering I'm running a PB12/2 Ultra.

 

[aquafire]

Bass addict- no subfloor?

 

[gtbuzzzz]

Has anyone ever tried to "paint" their basement floor with one of those epoxy floor paints like I've seen in garages and then put down pad/carpet? Would this create enough of a barier for water coming up through the floor? Just a thought.

 

[usualsuspects]

I skipped the subfloor/drycore and went with standard pad + carpet on concrete.

Quote:
Originally Posted by aquafire /forum/post/12866069


How is it heat wise?

Just fine in the winter and summer. It is -4 F here right now, and the floor does not feel noticeably cold.

Quote:
Extra thick underpad?

Nope, did not pay any attention - used the pad recommended by the carpet company.

Quote:
Do you notice any of the unlevel of the bare cement?

No. The floor is not level, but not by enough to notice, you would never know it was not ruler flat.

 

[bass addict]



Quote:
Originally Posted by aquafire /forum/post/12871217


Bass addict- no subfloor?

No, flooding is a non issue where my house is built. I went to install underground sprinklers last year and after the first ten feet of trench gave up. My house is built on an old river bed and I guarantee if there is water in my basement there is going to be an ark sitting outside.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]



Quote:
Originally Posted by aquafire /forum/post/12869640


Thanks for all the reply's!


I have about 900 sqft in my basement. So the cost will be about $2000 for the Dricore...$6.97 / tile here in Toronto. Thats the cost of a nice new projector! So really hard to justify....



We have lived at this house for 3 years with 0 water on the floor. I saw an underpad today at rona that was $40/100 sqft. It looked waterproof on 1 side. Anyone try that sort of thing?


WS

A bit off but would help your basement.


I'm also a member of Terry Love plumbing forum. Last year or two, I told them that I really want a basement free from water. They told me to add another sump pump. They recommended Aquanot II sump pump. So maybe, if you really want your basement to stay dry and not be bothered when you are sleeping, you might want to install this brand. They're claiming that's it's the most durable sump pump they ever had and had seen. I don't know if that's really how strong/durable it is.

 

[tony123]

I'm currently making the same decisions.


Our last house was on a slab, and padded and carpeted. That is no different than the situation in our new walkout basement. It seems to be common practice here with all the houses on slabs. I don't think I will be using anything under the padding.

 

[aquafire]

Awesome feedback guys much appreciated.


I'm still undecided but think I may go with doing the theater room in Dricore since it is the only area in the basement that will have carpet. We are thinking of possibly going with a cork floor in the rest of the basement...in my mind I think the cork will be warm for some reason. Maybe im wrong?


I'm ITCHING to get at least the theater room carpeted and then start trimming it.


What would cork floor be like in a theater room? I read this on a website:


Sound & Vibration Reduction

Cork reduces the transmission of sound, vibration, heat and thus is a great insulator. The tiny cellular compartments seal air in each compartment insulating each from the other with a moisture resistant, waxy-like substance. This makes cork a great material for recording studios, entertainment rooms, and any other places where sound needs to be reduced. Cork has long been used in commercial buildings between floors and on roofs under heavy machinery for sound and vibration reduction. Cork reduces impact sound (IIC) as well as sound transmission (STC).

 

[badcrazy]

Just to come at this from another angle, I went a slightly different way: 15 years in my house, water in the basement twice (although none since since regrading, new gutters, other mitigation steps). However, Murphy's law prevails. When I finished the room, the intention was to make it "recoverable" should a flooding occur. Instead of Dricore, I went with those 2' x 2' interlocking foam pads sold for kids playroom/work areas - you can find them at the Big Box stores. Over that went the carpet (in my case, I went with a bound remnant that fit the exact dimensions of the room). The idea is that in the event of water, I can roll up the rug, pull up the squares, and let everything dry out with minimal loss. Meanwhile, the closed cell foam provides a nice soft cushion for the rug, makes it "feel" warmer, and was far cheaper than the Dricore. YMMV.

 

[aquafire]

WOW...good idea...Did you tape the foam pads together? My wife uses them in our daycare here at the house. They sit over top the carpet but slide around everywhere. Any problems with movement?