question about laying floor near basement drain

[Biggredd]

We bought our house about 6 months ago and the basement had just been recently renovated and finished. They walled off the area and put a door on it. The room has a rough in for a toilet and sink. It also shares the furnace, water heater and sump. To give an idea if your standing at the door looking in the toilet would be directly to the left, the sink would be directly in front of you and the corner to forward left (between the toilet and sink) is where the sump hole is. to the right would be the furnace, water heater and a couple shelves for storage. The drain is basically in the middle and the room is essentially a rectangle. I want to put the toilet and sink but am worried about what type of flooring. Is it ok to use the wood click together style with the padding built into the bottom? Should I just lay it on the bare concrete and try to keep the slope of the floor towards the drain?

 

[limitout]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

lay vinyl flooring or vinyl tile so it keeps the natural slope to drain, if you want the wood look there is vinyl floor tile in plank sized strips with the wood look.

your other option would be to build a skinny sub floor over it (1 1/2"-2") to level it off and allow under the floor drainage to occur in case of water issues

 

[dingbat]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

I would never put wood in a basement. Stuff will and does happen.

 

[colbyt]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

Just my opinion. Basement floor, ceramic tile is best, vinyl a distant second, wood not so much.

FYI, any wood or composite laid in a basement must have a vapor barrier under liner and specs call for it to be installed level. Each MFG has different specs but it is something in the range of 1/8" in 6-8 feet.

 

[sphelps]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

The floor should slope to the drain . I would lay ceramic tile . If there is a good slope to the drain you will have to use smaller tile 4" or smaller . If your going for looks then natural slate with a wet look sealer looks sweet !

 

[Biggredd]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

Thanks for the advice. My first thought was a vinyl wood look since it gets cold down there and would be warmer, plus s vinyl wouldn't warp same as real wood. I think the four inch tiles might be a good option to not have to level the floor and just keep the natural slope, which isn't a drastic slope but one I don't want to mess with too much.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

Its absolutely fine to use either the flexible flooring you mentioned or the click together 24"square flooring....both of which are Home Depot products I think. The square flooring mentioned has a plastic/rubber bottom to it (as does the flexible flooring) which would sit on the concrete and provide some protection from moisture, cold, etc.
Both of these products go down very quickly and easily and both can accomodate a floor drain if required.
Do not put tiling or wood only flooring down directly on basement concrete....or they will 'pop' up in a fairly short time.
Good Luck and keep us posted.
BP

 

[nwcove]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

epoxy coatings are always a good option for that application, a bit pricey, but if prep'd correctly, they last forever.
UCoat It Photo Gallery

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

My neighbors installed a floor warmer encased in a grouted type base, then installed bamboo...been there since 2008!

I'm not implying this is an acceptable installation, only that it what was done and has held up very well. Granted, it's a 4th bathroom and the shower is rarely used!


FWIW, they make some really nice wood grain looking ceramic tiles? I believe this is what he installed? FLOOR HEATER

 

[greenbush future]

Re: question about laying floor near basement drain

With this room being an area with moisture, (shower sink, sump, toilet), don't use the synthetic planking, you will be very disappointed. I don't think they (mfg) even recommends it for these types of rooms. Then if you have any curves (like drains) it wont lay down well.