Replies

1. 
   Billy | Mar 08, 2008 09:51am | #1

   Put 1" XPS foam on the floor, put 1/2" plywood on top and tapcon it into the slab, then put another layer of 1/2" plywood on top of that and perpendicular (staggering the joints), and screw the top layer of ply to the bottom layer of ply with 1" screws.  Then put your floor covering over that.

   Andy Engel did a neat article on basements a couple years back in FHB.

   See photos below.

   The other option is to install heat mat such as Nuheat and put ceramic tile on top -- I included one of those pics as well.

   Billy

   
   

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   Edited 3/8/2008 1:53 am ET by Billy

   
1. 
   Francorosso | Mar 08, 2008 09:22pm | #2

   Thanks for the effort Billy, that was a great reply.  How about the insulated subfloor tiles by OVRX?  The are about 1.75 a square foot and don't add much height to the floor.  Ever heard anyone who has used them?

   Frank

1. 
   Billy | Mar 08, 2008 09:51pm | #3

   Frank,

   I don't know anyone who has used the OVRX product, but it looks like a good solution.  I have seen people use similar interlocking tile products successfully, but they were OSB with a dimpled plasic bottom and no XPS  insulation.  The insulation is a big plus and I would use OVRX given the opportunity.

   Also, check out http://www.buildingscience.com if you want to learn why foam insulation is a good idea in basements.

   Billy

   Edited 3/8/2008 1:55 pm ET by Billy

2. 
   MNMike | Mar 08, 2008 10:01pm | #4

   I had the same problem.  House had a previously finished basement when I bought it - all carpet.  Even with carpet, the floor always felt pretty cold (especially in our Minnesota winters).  Plus, even though the basement was (and still is) dry as a bone, it had a punky smell which I attributed to the carpet laid on concrete.  When I ripped out all the carpet, I found that the carpet tack strip was the problem.  At every nail, the tack strip was dark as if it had been wet.  In between the nails the tack strip was normal color - no discoloration.  Apparently the cold nails (driven into the cold concrete) caused moisture to condense on the nail/tackstrip and caused a continuously moist condition.  I ripped it all out and put down about 1500 sq ft of Dri-Core sub floor with an engineered Oak wood floor on top of that.  The indoor air quality improved immediately, and while I would not call the floor "warm," it is also not cold - even in the dead of winter.

   Here are a couple of pics of the before and after of one of the rooms - a playroom I built for my boys.  Sorry, no in-progress pictures of the Dri-Core going down.  Pretty simple job though - it just floats on top of the concrete, fits together t-n-g.

   --MG

   View Image

   View Image

   
   

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   Edited 3/8/2008 2:02 pm ET by MNMike

1. 
   Francorosso | Mar 10, 2008 03:05am | #7

   Very nice job!  I am doing the same thing-re-doing our previously finished basement which doesn't suit our needs.  I am going to go take some pictures right now so we don't forget what we started with.

   Frank

3. 
   wasco | Mar 09, 2008 01:27am | #5

   Sorry no answers from me....just more questions.  Expanding this question.... how about electric heating mats for the floor?  Do they work?  What type of flooring can you use with these things?  I know that they work great with ceramic tile, but does any other type of flooring work with these things?

1. 
   Billy | Mar 09, 2008 05:22am | #6

   Check out these links and let the manufacturers speak for themselves.

   http://www.nuheat.com/home.html

   http://www.suntouch.com/

   http://www.warmlyyours.com/

   http://www.wattsradiant.com/homeowner/electricradiant.asp

   Billy

2. 
   hvtrimguy | Mar 10, 2008 05:16am | #8

   without foam insulation you may lose more heat from the mats into the concrete and earth than into the room. I am about to try out STEP Warmfloor prducts. sofar they seem like a good idea. they are low voltage, use half the watts of electric baseboard heat and are a self regulating carbon based element. they come in rolls and can be cut to fit. I'll let you know how it turns out if you remind me."it aint the work I mind,
   It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latinihttp://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com

4. 
   bigman | Mar 25, 2008 01:52am | #9

   If you don't want to lose any ceiling height check out Delta FL, I am finishing my basement off with it.

   http://www.deltafl.com/