Do you need a subfloor in basement?

First, any good basement subfloor adds insulation so your feet stay warmer in winter. Second, good subfloors provide protection of the finished flooring from lwater or water vapor moving up through the concrete, discouraging rot and mold forming underneath.

Are subfloors in the basement?

A subfloor is a sort of floor cover for your basement, which elevates the floor itself and creates a strong and sturdy shield to prevent water from seeping through. Think of it as an impenetrable barrier that keeps your basement floor dry.

Do I need a subfloor on concrete?

Do I Need a Subfloor Over a Concrete Slab? While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you’ll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: Dampness control.

Can I put a subfloor over concrete?

Check your flooring manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure you’re using a proper subfloor. As with a floated subfloor, NWFA recommends a vapor retarder for glue-down subfloors when installing ¾” wood flooring over concrete. The NWFA recommends plywood with a minimal thickness of ¾”.

Can you put a subfloor on concrete?

You need a dry, clean and flat surface before you can install finished flooring in a room built on a concrete slab. One of the simplest options is a sleeper-based subfloor. The result is a subfloor that protects finished flooring from cold and damp concrete-based floors.

How do I keep my basement floor warm?

The solutions most commonly recommended for warming up a basement are to insulate the below-grade walls and the floors, and to add heating—either through installing radiant heat floors or making revisions to the main HVAC ductwork system. To be usable, most basements need to have some source of active heating.

Do I need a subfloor over concrete?

If you don’t plan to use the space, there is no need for a subfloor or floor covering. Concrete or tile-over-concrete are acceptable floors for uninhabited basements. But to install any kind of floor covering—engineered wood, laminate, carpeting—basement subflooring is highly required.