DRIcore Subfloor Tile System
Many basement floors require the installation of a subfloor to provide warmth by raising the basement floor up off of the cold concrete foundation. Installing a subfloor tends to be a fair amount of work, as a traditional subfloor system consists of, according to DRIcore:2x4 sleepers, vapour barrier, 1"-2" rigid insulation, 5/8" plywood and a lot of fastening.
The DRIcore system looks to be a more elegant solution. DRIcore comes in 2'x2' tiles and utilizes a tongue and groove system for easy installation. Also, from their FAQ:
DRIcore subfloor panels are engineered specifically for cold, damp environments typically found in basements. DRIcore subfloor panels are manufactured with a high density polyethylene moisture barrier that raises the 5/8" random wafer board core a ¼" away from damp, cold concrete floors. Since the panels are raised off the surface, the concrete floor is allowed to breathe.
DRIcore claims to save some headroom as well:
The combined height [of a traditional subfloor] is between 2 ¼" and 5 ¼" compared to 7/8" for a DRIcore subfloor panel.
1 Posted 2007-04-23 19:50:30 by MrPages
I've used this in an 1100 square foot area in my basement and it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm not usually this enthusiastic for a product, but I really love this stuff. My floor is warmer, softer (wood is much nicer to walk on than concrete) and not damp. This is a product I recommend to anyone redoing a basement.
My only "gotcha" is to make sure that the floor is very level. Mt floor was pretty level, with a few small dips. We put down a few rows and then had so many problems with the little levelling squares they provide that we pulled the whole thing up again, and then used a self-levelling concrete to level the floor. Mix it up really thin like a milkshake, pour it down and let it dry. Then the dricore went down like a breeze.
2 Posted 2007-05-03 14:05:03 by MrsFixIt
We found a product that we prefered called OVRX BARRICADE. It had better R rating and was easier to level than the DRIcore. One way or the other these kinds of products are the way to go in the basement.
2 Comments | Permalink |