Traditionally, laminates have not been recommended for below-grade basement installations due to issues with rising groundwater and flooding.
However, new manufacturing techniques now producelines of laminatethat are rated to deal with moist, subterranean locations.
you might ensure that a particular laminate isgood for basement useby carefully reading the stipulations in the material warranty.
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This slab is surrounded by earth that contains various amounts of water depending on rainfall and humidity.
Applying a waterproofing agent to the concrete slab prior to installing laminate flooring is a good practice.
Basement humidity: Basements are oftenvery humid areas.
When it rains, the saturated soil around the basement can cause a basement to feel particularly muggy.
This humid air can then seep through cracks and seams, causing the laminate flooring material towarp or rot.
Below-grade flooding concerns:Basements are susceptible to flooding for several reasons.
There are new laminate materials that aremanufactured to be resistant to water.
This is a fairly simple test to check for moisture in the concrete slab.
There are more advanced moisture tests that use chemicals to detect the presence of liquids.
Others require you to chisel a hole into the concrete and use an electric meter to take a reading.
This includes doing things like making sure that all of yourgutters and downspoutsare clean and in good working order.
You also want to verify that all drains and surface levels direct rainwater away from the structure.
Newer concrete will still be losing moisture that can affect your flooring installation.
This is why it’s vital that you take the proper measures to install laminate flooring properly.
Both waterproof laminate and waterproof vinyl flooring are good options for basements.
Laminate flooring can cost a few dollars per tile, without factoring in labor.
