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2 replies
Floating floor in basement RENOVATION
Hello.
I have bought a house from '78 where the basement floor is of the floating type. Concrete slab >Plastic> Insulation board and joists>Plywood>Laminate.
An old moisture problem has caused a bad smell, and we have received a quote to tear out the entire floor, level it, lay a ventilated platon mat, reinforce and cast (about 4cm concrete). We were advised to install underfloor heating pipes so that it's available if we want floor heating in the future.
This construction will be slightly different from what is currently there. It should become much harder, colder (if no heat is added).
But as I'm reading on the forum here, it seems just as common to lay insulation board and floor plywood on ventilated platon mat these days. That floor would be warmer, softer.
I'm torn like crazy. Which should I choose?? and why?
I have bought a house from '78 where the basement floor is of the floating type. Concrete slab >Plastic> Insulation board and joists>Plywood>Laminate.
An old moisture problem has caused a bad smell, and we have received a quote to tear out the entire floor, level it, lay a ventilated platon mat, reinforce and cast (about 4cm concrete). We were advised to install underfloor heating pipes so that it's available if we want floor heating in the future.
This construction will be slightly different from what is currently there. It should become much harder, colder (if no heat is added).
But as I'm reading on the forum here, it seems just as common to lay insulation board and floor plywood on ventilated platon mat these days. That floor would be warmer, softer.
I'm torn like crazy. Which should I choose?? and why?
What are you planning to use the basement for when you're finished? It won't be cold if you heat up the space, but it can feel significantly colder than it is due to higher humidity. Installing floor heating on a slab without a capillary-breaking waterproof layer and no insulation can become an expensive heating method. Before you begin, have you checked the radon level? If it's too high, other methods are necessary. Additionally, it's the perfect time to conduct a radon measurement at this time of the year.
The method you have been suggested is one of those that platon mentions in his brochure: http://www.isola.se/assets/Sweden/Brochure/PlatonGolv2013web.pdf.
However, not many people do that. There aren't really any good reasons. As cecar33 writes, there will be no insulation, crazy with underfloor heating.
I think this solution is sensible: http://www.villavarm.se/villa-varms-unika-golv even if you have an uninsulated slab.
You write that they should first "level" before platon, does that mean the concrete under the floor is not completely flat?
If so, you should look and calculate on a nivell or granab beam system. It may be cheaper since moisture-proof self-leveling compound is expensive. You should probably get more quotes anyway.
However, not many people do that. There aren't really any good reasons. As cecar33 writes, there will be no insulation, crazy with underfloor heating.
I think this solution is sensible: http://www.villavarm.se/villa-varms-unika-golv even if you have an uninsulated slab.
You write that they should first "level" before platon, does that mean the concrete under the floor is not completely flat?
If so, you should look and calculate on a nivell or granab beam system. It may be cheaper since moisture-proof self-leveling compound is expensive. You should probably get more quotes anyway.
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