What are the best floor coverings for a basement that might be under water ? My basement just flooded last week. Im getting flooring replacement cost . I had to remove all carpeting. Slowly waiting on my decision as to what would not hurt to be under water again. Thanks for your views in advance.
Tim Mooney
Prescriptive codes don't address the connection at less common angles, so base the connection off more typical ones using bolts, structural screws, blocking, and steel tension ties.
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Here's a link:
http://www.schooldesigns.com/constr_BottomLine.html
that might be useful. I dearly love VCT's, but they aren't the answer to flooding situations and you'll likely have trouble keeping them glued down if you have water under the slab. I would go with one of the faux stone finishes directly on the slab; i saw a floor in a furniture store not loong ago that was a dead ringer for granite. Better yet, let's fix the flooding problem...where's your water coming from?
Edited 3/25/2002 7:10:23 PM ET by splintergroupie
Thanks for the reply. My wife mentioned flaux today as a matter of fact. I also had the floor store call about vct tile in a basement . They recomended epoxy glue to set at 60 dallars per gallon at 125 sq ft coverage. Im still not scared , lol.
Where its comming from : I had a sump pump go out in an awful storm. But the basement gets a little water in bad rains in about 4 places. To day was a good example as we got a bunch of rain all day ,plus a gulley washer that lasted an hour and a half with hail. In all areas concerend I proably got 6 onces of water total. Im goning to work on the different spots with different methods because they are all different. Flower bed for one thing , catching water. Need to do some dirt work in another. Mainly we thought "if it ever flooded again ". Insurance covered it this time because of lightening. Next time I may not be as lucky. Im also planing on using dry lok on the wall in question.Sealing joint at the floor and wall. Any suggestions ???????
Thanks ,
Tim Mooney
Well, a sump pump with a battery backup would be a good start, since you're going to need it most when the storm is most likely to knock out your electricity. Is the sump tied to a drainage system under the slab or does it just collect "surface" runoff? <G>
If you have a walkout basement, make sure the downhill side is truly downhill--my drive was graded by one contactor, then another hauled in some road base, and it raised the drive over the level of the lower entrance and funneled water right into the door when spring thaw hit. I had them haul out more dirt and start over. I also dug up all around the basement to install drainage and a plastic membrane (search the web for "Dorken") over the walls, but your problems don't seem to warrant that drastic action. I moved the water-loving plants away from the walls, too, though i don't have any trouble now even without gutters and think the plastic membrane and French drains would have handled flower beds, too. I haven't used Waterlox, so can't speak to how it would work.
Edited 3/25/2002 10:39:36 PM ET by splintergroupie
I have a leach line all the way around the footing draining in to a sump pump. I did find out after I bought and installed a new one that I could have have bought one on battery back up. I think I can take care of the leaking problem. But, I am a constant problem solver. I want to put a floor down that wouldnt ruin me with out insurance.
The plants will have to go here also. LOL. I havent told my wife that yet!! shhh!!!!
Thanks ,
Tim Mooney
Ceramic Tile with expoxy thinset and grout over a mud bed. Mud bed supported by Troba (made by Schluter). The Troba allows the mud bed to be supported and will drain water. I would slope the slab down and out, so in the event that the slab and mortar bed get wet, the setting bed will drain onto the Troba and the slab will carry it away. Might even consider putting a light waterproofing membrane over the slab and underneath the Troba.Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
Pete I actually thought about epoxy paint, since most of it is a game room , but its a pretty nice game room , and cheesy was my thoughts also. Thanks,
Tim Mooney
Here's an IDEA! Solve the water problem! No Matter what the basement floor treatment is when it's covered with water that aint good.
There are floor coatings that have varigated colors in them to have a more decorative look.
http://www.ucoatit.com is an expoxy floor coating that you can sprinkel color chips in. I have never used it and I believe that there are other systems out there to do this also.