Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Floating Floor Basement Install - Drain

Hi,

We are planning to install laminated floating floor in our finished basement. The floor is (painted) concrete.

We will not install flooring in the laundry room, which contains the washer, dryer, furnace/A/C, water heater and chest freezer.

The flooring planks are 54 3/8" x 7 11/16" x 9/32" (138cm x 19.5cm x 7mm).

There is only one drain, which is located one foot outside the laundry room, in the main rec-room, three feet from rec-room entrance door.

Drains have their purpose in life, as this one has clearly showed. I can only imagine that the floor would become damaged in the event that water leaked/overflowed onto the floor, finding its way to the drain.

What is the best method/approach when installing floating floors over drains in basements? What considerations must be made or alternatives taken when installing over drains?

Thanks.

I am assuming the moisture content of the slab is adequate.
You need to install over the drain and forget it exists.
I do not know the proper process, but the drain is useless with that floor.

I strongly suggest that you reconsider your decision! I would not install a laminate where such conditions and evidence exists in my home.

If you were to install sleepers and a built up floor you might improve your chances.

if you must do a laminate then here is a suugestion (although i would not recommend a laminate in that area)......

Build up the subfloor with 3/4 plywood or osb. Leave a "canal" from the laundry area to the drain (This is only if you feel you really want that drain )Cover all the subfloor with moisture barrier and install laminate. Once complete use a silicone caulk around the edges that can be exposed to water in case of leak.

I srongly warn that if there is any type of water over floor this may or may not help. If the floor becomes wet it is through !!
Good luck,
Marc

Thanks for the replies so far.

So far, we could: abort our mission; install the floor over the drain and ignore it; build a subfloor.

florcraft- what do you mean by the drain being useless with that floor? As for moisture content, I haven't done a test yet.

AzFred- what are sleepers?

marcthornton - we were hoping to not have to put in a subfloor.

AzFred/marcthornton: You both appear to be against the idea of installing this floor in the basement. I have seen other posts from people who are in the process of doing this type of install in their basements, yet nobody ever suggested against it. Is your trepidation because of the drain (which everyone must have) or is it other reasons too? There must be some successful stories out there, no? I'm a bit confused.

I was thinking of an idea yesterday. Is it possible (or even a good idea) to build another drain just inside the laundry room (one or two feet away from the existing one) with a pipe leading to, and connecting with, the existing drain? Any leaked or spilled water could then find its way to the drain. The slope is still mild and in the same zone. As per marcthornton's idea, I would silicon caulk the edges of the flooring that would meet the laundry room. Would this be a good alternative? Would it be a lot of work?

We are talking basement here, I believe, the lowest level in the dwelling, right?

If you have an overflow from a dish or clothes washer or a burst hot water heater, where will the water go?

Basements have a pitch so that they drain and yours is draining under the floor. Laminate flooring failure occurs on the bottom or under the laminate planks not on the top.

Sleepers are 2X6's placed on the concrete, a moisture barrier is installed first, and a plywood floor is attached to the top. This permits the isolation of moisture and water from coming in contact with the laminate planks. Sounds like this may not "work" for you from your reply.

Trepidation has a double meaning, Basement and Drain.

;)

The reason I say forget about the drain is because if the drain ever becomes usefull, the floor will become useless. Yes the water will go in the drain, but the water will damage the laminate.
Laminate is installed in basements all the time, and lots of people love it, but exess water will tend to kill it, but it will probably also kill some vinyl (MAYBE) or carpet (MAYBE) , definately wood too.
I wouldnt be against laminate just because you may be worried about something bursting and causing a flood. Then my only recommendation would be painting the floor or maybe v.c.t. Who wants to live on that?
You have some issues to consider, theres good and bad to everything

good luck

Hey .. thanks for the replies. I appreciate your input and suggestions!

AzFred - yes .. the basement in the lowest part of the dwelling :D

In the past, the water has only hit the floor once from the laundry tub due to crap plugging the drain, and once from the water heater pipe. Both were small amounts that found their way to the drain, but I bet would be enough to damage the floor if it were installed back then. Drain back-ups are rare now, so I won't worry about that. Considering all of this, s%$t happens, so it is good to be prepared for worse case scenarios.

We will go ahead with the install, keeping in mind everything each of you have told me. As a precaution against a future water spill, I will silicon seal the floor edge that faces the laundry room, in hopes that a small amount of water will pool there until we a) notice it and b) remove it. I read that we should glue the edges of each connecting piece for a basement install. I may install a 4 x 4 section at the drain area, without glue so that the boards could be easily replaced in the event that there is future water damage there.

I hope you all had a great holiday.
Thanks for your help on this.

Mark:D

I suggest you look at a product called DRIcore


DRIcore (http://www.dricore.com)

Or they sell the cleats separately to attach to plywood.