Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Basement flooring question

Hi-

I'm finishing my basement and I'm about ready to think about flooring. My floor is a concrete slab that has some cracks in it that were put in on purpose for expansion and contraction. Beyond that, the floor is continuous and has never had any moisture seep through, even when I taped tin foil to it during the wettest of days to test for moisture.

I'm planning on putting down both carpet and laminate flooring (glueless, floating). Should I seal the basement floor first before putting flooring down, or is it really not necessary? Should I fill the expansion/contraction crack line in the concrete floor before sealing or putting flooring down?

Thanks for your time,
Steve

Steve; Confirm the floor moisture condition. Using a 24" - 30" square sheet of 6mil polyethylene tape the poly to the floor with duct tape. After 24 hours examine the poly for moisture droplets on the bottom side. This may seem redundant but the test is worthwhile. If you get no droplets, your floor only needs simple and routine prep.

Will that be red carpet sir?

AzFred-

Red Carpet? Will that go with the purple walls?

I'll do that test again. You mentioned that if there is no moisture found, I only need routine and simple prep? How would you define simple prep?

Thanks,
Steve

The red carpet remark had to do with your screen name;)

Usual prep would include 6Mil polyethylene wrapped up the walls for about 2" and if not a full sheet that seams be overlapped 8" than a foam underlay applied with the shiny side up and again wrap up on the walls about 2".

The wraps will depend on the height of your base board as the base board hides or covers the ends. The wrap allows for a more moisture secure situation and an opportunity for the foam to "wick" some ventilation under the flooring planks.

Good Luck with your project.