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Folks,
I have a request for a basement floor to be placed on a slab in a family home in the Hudson Valley. The slab passes the sheet-of-poly test for humidity. We’ll lay some 6 mil poly down, but owner saw a TV show where they used pressure treated 2X4 as sleepers. I don’t like the stuff in my house, personally. What thinks ye? We haven’t decided on the flooring yet, it’s for office use.
thanks,
dave p.
Replies
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Other than the odd fear of off-gasing the use of pressure treated lumber extends the life of your investment.
However, you can save yourself money and height clearance by simply using a layer of cork over the plastic and then using one of the many floating floors available for a durable and good looking floor. If this room is for a home office then a cork floating floor would be the quick answer as it insulates and is none conductive.
*Gabe,I like the cork idea and want to have a system spec-ed, priced and ready to sell for the future.Who sells it...What's it cost...what happens if a spring is real rainy and the basement gets a half inch of water...Thanks very much,Jack : )
*I understand there is a special PT lumber that is rated for use in agricultural feed bins, corn cribs, etc. that is less toxic. Maybe uses something other than CCA? Apparently also used for playground equipment.
*There are a couple of alternative pt materials -- one called ACQ (or something like it) and featuring in TOH magazine (yes, I do read it, mostly to look at the pretty pictures). Good luck finding a lumberyard that stocks or has even heard of it, you'll need to make a few calls. I can't see what hazard the standard CCA (chromated cupric arsenate) stuff could be if enclosed and not burned (or eaten!).I also don't see a need for sleepers. You could use Pergo-type foam (about 1/8" thick) as underlayment for Pergo or another floating floor system, or plain old plywood -- at least Exposure 1 for a margin of error. I know many here go berserk over the idea of installing pictures of wood rather than "real" wood, but I think it is a very good choice for the basement with its typical humidity problems. If the edges are caulked, it will withstand a flood for a time. Wood will not, and nasties will grow in it. Obviously you could use sheet vinyl or another synthetic very easily. Or tiles.One really important hazard, which Rob kindly addresses below, is that the floor will be too cool and attract condensate, resulting in moldy area rugs & such (that's what happened here before we moved in). Unless the space will be perfectly dehumidified year round, insulate.
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There is a much better way than the PT or the cork.
Basement Systems from Seymour CT has a product called Thermaldry that gives you a vapor barrier, insulation (raise the floor temp by 10 degrees) vents under the floor so mositure won't build up and only takes 7/8" of head room away.
There is a dealer for Basement Systems in Albany.
We have used it many times with very good results.
The costs are less than putting sleepers down and
you can put any flooring over it you like.
Rob
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Sounds interesting! Phone number or Web address to locate dealer?
Or maybe I can answer my own silly questions:
http://www.cosella-doerken.com/deltafl/index.html
Ain't the Internet great? And a gov't project at that.
*Why not put the poly over the sleepers? You won't get much off-gassing through the nail holes.
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Basement Systems phone number is 1-800-541-0487
Yes it is a cosella-doerken product, but Basement Systems takes a step further as a basement water/moisture control system.
http://www.basementsystems.com
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David, Visit the Southern PIne Council's site. They'll tell you all you want to know and more. About PT lumber and will send lots of brouchures and stuff. http://www.southernpine.com
*I like the idea about laminate flooring but I do wonder how it would perform in a basement. I thought I read some Are not to be used below grade. I like how easy the stuff goes down & would like to use it in bsements.As for the treated lumber, cca stands for copper chromium & arsenic. I agree that if it is covered and does not have an oppertunity to leach into the soil or water where it will be ingested it is harmless.
*Pergo OK below grade with vapor barrier -- http://www.pergo.com/p03am.htmI hate to admit it, but I really do like the stuff.
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Gentlemen.
Thanks millions for the ideas. I'll pass the ideas on.
regards,
Dave
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Then you have a real floating floor...
*DaveIf your customer still wants a "sleeper" system why not use Cedar, red or white. . . no nasty chemicals and much more stable than the junk they use for PT. And why 2x4. . . if resting on concrete 2x2 will do the job. I would buy 2x6 or 2x8 and rip 'em up. . . longer lengths and better grade in the larger sizes.
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Folks,
I have a request for a basement floor to be placed on a slab in a family home in the Hudson Valley. The slab passes the sheet-of-poly test for humidity. We'll lay some 6 mil poly down, but owner saw a TV show where they used pressure treated 2X4 as sleepers. I don't like the stuff in my house, personally. What thinks ye? We haven't decided on the flooring yet, it's for office use.
thanks,
dave p.