I'm planning to install wood laminate flooring in my basement. Although the folks at home supply stores assure me that I can install the flooring over a foam underlay only, I would prefer to install a sub-floor first. I think the sub-floor would be warmer and would provide better assurance that any water leaks into the basement won't destroy the floor. (This is strictly precautionary, I haven't had any water leaks in the room in the past 10 years). Currently, my basement floor is painted concrete. There are a few spots on the floor where the paint has blistered. My plan for a sub-floor is to install 1x2 firring on the concrete, then lay 1/2 inch poplar subfloor on the firring.This sub-floor would also minimize the loss of head room in the basement. 1) Does my overall plan make sense? and 2) What is the best strategy for attaching the firring to the concrete. I think nailing/ram-setting the firring to the floor will break the concrete, and I'm not sure if any adhesives will work on a painted floor.
Answer:
Let's get backa to square one here. If the manufacturer suggests doing it in a particular way, you should not tinker with that. The flooring will be no warmer with a sub-floor than without it. The bistering paint tells you that you have a sleeping moisture problem. This is liable to wake up at any time and I'd rather it woke in pain view than under a sub-floor that will then have to be removed and discarded. If, in spite of all this you plan to put in the sub-floor anyway, remember not to attach it to the concrete at all. Keep it a quarter to half-inch away from all fixed objects (jack posts, walls, chimney, etc.) and do a lot of praying.
