Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - cement backer board under carpet

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karenr1999
01-30-05, 11:20 AM
I have a cement slab with carpet and padding. The slab floods after heavy rains, soaking the carpet. Can we put concrete backer board under the pad to eliminate the water soaking into the pad?

Daniel Wachtel
01-30-05, 12:51 PM
You may want o address the outdoor drainage problems before spending any money indoors. Step one, keep the water out. Check downspouts make sure they drain as far away forn the house as necessary. make sure the topsoil is on a grade away from the house. CBUs under pad will not give you anything but wet pad and wet CBUs.
Carpets Done Wright
01-30-05, 02:24 PM
Displacement! It is like placing a rock into a cup of water. The water level rises, and your carpet is still wet. You have to reduce the amount of water in the cup!!!


Address your drainage as Daniel has suggested. It will save you thousands of dollars in water damage later.

karenr1999
01-30-05, 04:45 PM
Thanks for the info. We have addressed the leak with drains and grading. And the problem is significantly improved. There is nothing more that can be done outside so we are left to cope with the occassional flooding - especially after 20 inches of rain in less than 48 hours. We will probably just go with tile rather than try to work with carpet again. Thanks again for your help.
Daniel Wachtel
01-30-05, 09:19 PM
Is the first floor a slab or are we talking about the basement?