What kind of flooring is best in a basement (tiles, epoxy...)

[wolfgang1]

Hello!

I have a brick house built in 1965 with a basement. I need to fix the floor in the laundry room and a smaller room; it's concrete? there now. In two rooms, the floor is framed, and as far as I know, I don't have any moisture problems.

I've heard and read that concrete floors can let in ground moisture and that tiles are good because they "can breathe" and allow moisture to pass through if any.

Now, through friends, I've gotten an offer that they will do epoxy flooring for my laundry room and the smaller room. They work with that and lay floors in various premises, industries, parking garages, garages, etc. However, I'm unsure if this is a good solution considering moisture. They say the epoxy also "breathes," but I'm not sure if I should believe that...

Does anyone have any info and experience with this? I've searched both here on the site and on the internet. Grateful for any answers.

Best regards,
Wolfgang

 

[Plupp 405730]

Hello!

I have a brick house built in 1965 with a basement. I need to fix the floor in the laundry room and a smaller room, it's concrete? there now. In two rooms there is a framed floor and I have, as far as I know..., no moisture problems.

I have heard and read that the concrete floor can let in ground moisture and that tiles are good because they "can breathe" and allow any moisture to pass through.

Now, through friends, I've received an offer to have epoxy flooring done in my laundry room and the smaller room. They work with it and lay floors in all kinds of premises, industries, parking houses, garages etc. However, I'm unsure if it's such a good solution considering moisture. They say the epoxy also "breathes" but I don't know if I should believe it...

Does anyone have any info and experience on this? I've searched both here on the site and on the internet. Grateful for answers.

Regards
Wolfgang

I would have preferred tiles so the floor can breathe..

 

[Banditen]

Hello!

I have a brick house built in 1965 with a basement. I need to fix the floor in the laundry room and a smaller room, it's concrete? there now. In two rooms, there is a framework floor and I have, as far as I know..., no moisture problems.

I have heard and read that the concrete floor can absorb ground moisture and that tiles are good because they "can breathe" and let through any moisture.

Now through friends, I have received an offer that they will make epoxy floors for my laundry room and the smaller room. They work with that and lay floors in all sorts of premises, industries, parking houses, garages etc. However, I am doubtful if it's such a good solution considering the moisture. They say the epoxy also "breathes" but I don't know if I should believe it...

Does anyone have any info and experience about this? I have searched both here on the site and on the internet. Grateful for answers.

Regards
Wolfgang

I work as a building manager and we are laying a lot of epoxy right now. It is a very durable and good material, I can't say if it breathes. But during my years with epoxy on various surfaces, I have never experienced any breakthrough or peeling.

 

[Oldboy]

To my knowledge, epoxy is a plastic, and as such, moisture-proof. The fact that epoxy is applied to many floors does not mean it is good. Just that it is quick and cheap. As with all modern materials & methods, they require the conditions to be exactly according to the specifications, otherwise, there is a high likelihood that it will fail in one way or another over time. So, if the health- and environmentally harmful option epoxy is to be used, make sure you fully understand all the conditions that apply and ensure that your floor/house meets them.

If the slab is not adequately drained/does not have a sufficiently thick and effective capillary-breaking layer underneath, then a sealed floor will cause moisture to rise up into the walls.

 

[Argastesnickaren]

I work as a construction manager and we are using a lot of epoxy right now. It's a very durable and good material. Whether it breathes, I can't say. But over my years working with epoxy on various surfaces, I've never seen it peel or fail.

I manage some properties and can only speak for myself.
If I have my way, never again epoxy.
In all the properties we've used it (against my will), we've had issues within a couple of years.
It has peeled or discolored in all our kitchens where it has been laid.
In the future, we'll opt for some type of flooring instead.
A small note when the problems started emerging, one of the installers mentioned that the maximum lifespan is about 10 years.
It feels a bit disheartening when some industrial kitchens had floors that were 50-60 years old and still in good condition but were to be replaced during major renovations.
NEVER again epoxy in our properties!!!!