Basement Sub floor Panels - Are they worth it?

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Basement Sub floor Panels - Are they worth it?
In this episode I will go over the installation process for insulated sub floor panels and cover some of the pros and cons on including this in your renovation or basement development. I will also share how much of a floor surface temperature difference was made by installing these dri-core insulated panels.

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Опубликовано:

7 апр 2020

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Комментарии : 168

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed! Just past the 500-subscriber mark and half way to my goal of 1000 subscribers. Please consider subscribing and helping out a small RU-vid channel!

@_A_343 2 года назад

What did liquid did you put on the concrete floor before you put the panels down?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

@@_A_343 I'm just washing the concrete floor down with soap and water. Whatever dust and debris is on the floor when you put down the panels is there to stay forever. So I tried to get it as clean as possible before putting down the panels.

@exodus_hc7616 Год назад

Thank you for sharing this experience watched the whole thing, I’m in the USA but thinking about installing in my home!

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

Glad you enjoyed. I would definitely recommend it. I have a few other videos as well about tiling over top of these subfloor panels that you might want to check out as well. Let me know how your project turns out!

@iohannesfactotum 2 года назад

Gonna do this in my mudroom, very helpful!

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

Good luck!

@alextirabasso2441 Год назад

Great video and knowledge base! Thanks for your service. I got a 800sq/ft basement slab to finish. It’s a new build from 2011, with a vapor barrier under the slab, exterior vapor barrier on concrete walls and a new spray foam install on concrete walls at 2.5in thick. I live in Zone 4. Basement slab is bone dry except for one small peculiar corner that shows fluorescence. I did a poly vapor test on it for 3 weeks and it showed the smallest amount of humidity on the plastic. The Concrete in that area is darker from that humidity. All in all, it seems like a low risk area of concrete dampness in a 1ft area. Im considering Dricore panels over most of the basement. With LVP at 5mm thick laid on top. Ill leave a couple of dricore slabs loose at the “humid corner” so I can easily remove it and inspect the concrete underneath after a few years. Interior doors will have to be cut down at the bottom since the floor will be effectively higher. The stair case will be adjusted with new real wood steps and meet up in height upstairs with the real hardwood flooring. Any step height difference will be split. The basement will be fully finished and livable space with kids running around it and me playing loud guitars. Right now, I just don’t see any better options than the dricore even if it’s at the inflated cost of $11/sheet

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

I like your plan of attack. The Dricore panels have gone up in price but I still think it's a good product and easy to work with. The dricore panels will provide a little air movement and allow that moisture in that area to escape. It will work much better than putting flooring down right on top of that moist area. The panels might also help with the acoustics of the basement too!

@billgagne1 3 года назад

We use the barricade version of the same product (The Lowe's version of dricore) on a lot of our basement projects. Basements bleed heat through the slab. Our clients find subfloor and soundproofing to be the biggest values. I like how you used the time lapse wide view so people can really see it go down. And for small basements or townhouses with limited access, the 2x2 format makes them easy to get. Nice work.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Thanks for watching and sharing your kind words.

@jc2367 3 года назад

do you remember what the price was for a 2x2 black bottom piece before the price hike? trying to find that info out.

@CP-mb7ly Год назад

Ummm that's not how a basement works... Heat rises, cold falls. Your basement likely has too many leaky areas (doors, windows, utilities like pipes, conduits, etc). Get a temperature gun and look for the leaks?

@BobPritchard 3 года назад

Great job on the Dricore. I've used their product and loved it. Warmer basement, protects from water and effectively cushions whatever is put on top. Not loving that plastic on the wall though. Better to put foamboard against the wall as an insulator and vapor barrier and then build a stud wall with roxul.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Thanks, there are lots of ways to do basement insulation, depends on where you live. This is standard where I am. I would be a little worried with how you would seal the edges of the foam to ensure a lasting air barrier? As well over time would there be moisture build up behind the foam board as there is no air gap there?

@a.h.3456 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild you seal the seams with seam sealer tape and you can use spray foam for any larger cracks. It doesn’t get moldy and is the preferred method on outer basement walls. Interior walls use the roxul. 👍🏼

@martinfoster5163 2 года назад

Great video. I live in Mongolia and am building some modern yurts. The winter ground temp can be -30C and we want underfloor heating so we need a substantially insulated floor. I'm planning on using 10cm of XPS (maybe 15cm) on gravel on grade. Then on top of the XPS will be OSB then then a reflective foam then heating mats then parquet flooring. We will also have a multi-fuel stove for extra (probably daytime) heat in the coldest months. We want to be energy independent so we'll have a solar array with battery storage.

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

That sounds like a really cool project. I would love to see how it turns out!

@martinfoster5163 2 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild Thanks! I should probably make a video ;)

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

@@martinfoster5163 Yes you absolutely should. Builds in interesting areas and lower budget housing is a pretty popular subject. You would do really well with it I believe. I would check it out.

@mae2759 Год назад

I would put the tongue toward the wall so when you are using your beater block it's flush with the groove side. That way you're not damaging your tongue on the next piece.

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

They are pretty robust. even the groove side it prone to bucking up if you don't use a big enough block.

@pebilo62 4 года назад

Beautiful

@ResearchDesignBuild 4 года назад

Thanks. It really does make the basement not really feel like a basement when it is all down and finished.

@ngc60 3 года назад

Great video, thanks! Buying a house with unfinished basement, no water issues but like to be safe. Did you compare using these dri core panels versus installing the plastic dimpled sheet product like Platon, then tongue and groove panels over that? Wasn't sure if price would be better?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Thanks, I didn't compare the two options. I was looking for the insulation value to make sure the basement didn't feel cold in the winter. I think the problem with the 4x8 sheets is how do you level everything out. If there is a dip in the floor it's hard to shim the center of a 4X8 sheet. Whereas with the 2X2 panels that is much easier to do. Plus depending on your house getting 4X8 sheets down to the basement isn't the easiest thing to do sometimes.

@thegoods2240 2 года назад

Another con, and the reason I'm going to just lay my vinyl plank on the slab, is the stairs. Unless the stairs were built with a sub floor in mind ahead of time, raising the floor will make that bottom step shorter than the others, and where I am it will not pass inspection. So if I do a sub floor, I'm also ripping out a staircase and building new.

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

That is a potential problem with older houses for sure. There are creative ways that some people have worked around that issues. For instance creating a small landing at the bottom of the stairs that essentially eliminates the last step. Depending on the product you are only adding 3/4 of an inch so it isn't all the noticeable depending on what the rise is on your stairs. But a good point and something to discuss with your building inspectors, or city permit office.

@dirediredude 5 месяцев назад

Looks great! Thinking about doing something similar with my setup. One question I have that I haven't seen in any install videos I've watched is can this flooring be cut diagonally or at an angle and still hammered into place? Every room I've seen this demonstrated in have been perfect rectangles. Thanks!

@Eric-un1dq 2 года назад

Great video. My basement is NOT currently framed out. Ive read its best to add the subfloor and then frame on top of that. What are your thoughts on that? Thanks in advance.

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

Putting the subfloor down first is by far the easiest and if you are installing something like carpet over the subfloor it will help to ensure you don't pull up the subfloor panels when you stretch your carpet. The only real downside is that if you get water damage it will be harder to replace and more costly. It is unlikely that you will damage the studs with some smaller water damage but the subfloor panels will be damaged for sure. Hope this helps, enjoy the project.

@Auto-View 4 года назад

If you have floor drains do you leave them accessible? I have a sump in basement. And its worth mentioning that i have another floor drain in mech room.

@ResearchDesignBuild 4 года назад

I stopped the sub floor just inside of the door to the mechanical room. So I kept access to all floor drains and my sump pump. I believe that by code you would need to maintain access to all drains, clean outs, and sump pits. But you could put the sub floor over them but cut the sub floor so you would have one small section that could be pulled up if required for maintenance or inspection. You would also have to do the same with the flooring that you put over the sub floor. Sp there are ways to make it look OK, but it will still be somewhat noticeable that there is an access there. Hope that helps.

@sebdark 3 года назад

Hi i used the barricade air plus and I am looking for the next basement room for the insulated one. Are you affraid about no airgap beetween the concrete and the product to made create condasation of water?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Not really with the Dricore product. There are half inch wide, almost like dados cut out of the insulation in a boxed pattern. So there are channels for air flow and water flow if you had the unfortunate need for it at some point. I think with that air flow you would avoid any condensation issues. Where I build there is a requirement for a barrier against radon gas, so under the slab there is a poly air / vapor barrier. So there isn't much if any water that can come up through the slab anyways. The vapor barriers are typically 100% effective but better than just a slab on gravel. There are other similar products on the market that do not have the grooves cut in the foam, that in my mind would for sure trap any moisture and could be a problem long term. So I avoided that product.

@alejvalencia1553 3 года назад

Thanks. I appreciate the video. We were just at the building supply looking at these. We have a 1910 house with exposed brick foundation walls and concrete floor. The floor isn’t the most even. We want to use this product (debating between black dimple and blue foam) for the floor and put some sort of wall covering on part of the basement to create a playroom for our kids. We’d only be doing the front part of the basement approx size 16’x10’. What are your thoughts and tips? Thanks again.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

The two questions I would have is: 1. Have you had any problems with water in the basement before? If you do then definitely go with the black dimple. and 2. What is your climate? If you aren't going to be insulating the walls and / or you are in a warm climate then go for the black dimple as it is less expensive and the added insulation isn't really going to help as you don't have insulated walls. Depending on how bad your floor is in terms of being flat you might want to try to get some self leveling cement to even it out a bit as that will make your life a lot easier putting this stuff down. I have a video where I use this for encasing heated floor cables in a bathroom. Same product different application. Hope that helps

@alejvalencia1553 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild Thanks for the speedy reply. We’re located in southern Ontario, Canada. The basement is damp in the summer so we run a dehumidifier from about May to October and that has kept it very comfortable. I’m not sure about the walls. I was scared that it would trap the damp between the the brick wall and the insulation/drywall if we finish it.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@alejvalencia1553 The older houses for sure do cause problems and you have to be careful to address the issues correctly. And for that I am not an expert. I would definitely go for the black bottoms panels in your case.

@danrob821 3 года назад

Do you remove the 1/4" shims after the Dricore is installed??

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

I believe that it depends on the type of flooring that you are putting down on top of it. I did remove all of my shims as they interfered with the installation of the drywall on some of the exterior walls. If you are putting down tile or carpet on top like I am the dricore instructions say to install concrete fasteners to ensure the panels don't lift or move. For tile it is 5 fasteners per panel! and for carpet it is every other panel around the perimeter and a couple in the middle of the room. For carpet that prevents the panels from lifting up when they stretch the carpet.

@helloward9759 Год назад

I think they recommend installing walls on top of this subfloor where possible. Did you plan on doing this after framing and if so why? Trying to decide which order I should install it, thanks.

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

My exterior walls were already framed and insulated, so I wasn't going to rip those out and cut them down to install the subfloor under them. I did install the interior walls on top of the panels. I wouldn't worry about the exterior walls, but I wouldn't install the interior walls before the subfloor. For instance when you get into a closet, if you are trying to install the panels in the closet you are going to end up with very small pieces, and those are going to be hard to hold down and flat.

@tonyrollin402 2 года назад

I'm going to use a rigid foam insulation on my basement walls should I put that flooring down first or the rigid board insulation first and then leave the quarter inch gap

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

Tony, I'm not sure that it matters too much. Either way should be fine.

@ShadelessDen 3 года назад

If I already have a wall up (just one) can I still use these?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Yes you would just need to work around the wall. I had my exterior walls up before starting this project. Just depending on your final flooring choice you might have to add some concrete fasteners down on the perimeter as you won't have the walls to hold down the subfloor. Capet for instance will pull it up as they stretch it. Sorry for the late reply.

@liehuizhou7450 3 года назад

what can be on top of the insulated sub floor, carpet? tiles??, Thank you, looks easy and affordable to do

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

You can put anything on top of the subfloor. I have a video showing how to install tile and a heated floor on top of this subfloor, as well as carpet.

@songanon 3 года назад

i used these on a cold and moist basement concrete floor and it did the trick. On top, I laid some vinyl because the floor wasn't exactly straight and vinyl has great flex. I got vinyl that has an underlayment attached to it (it's like a thin grippy rubber). Super easy to install and it worked great. The floor is also super soft. I also don't get wet feet or a draft any more

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@songanon Thanks for sharing

@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267 2 года назад

Looks great, question did you anchor any of the insulated panels or is the floor floating 100 present , great video, price today is $10.99 Canadian

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

It depends on what type of flooring you are putting down on top of it. If you look at the bathroom tile project I have on my channel you can see the large number of fasteners I used to secure the panels that were under the tiles. For the areas where I installed carpet I only secured every other tile around the perimeter and and few tiles in the middle of the floor. This is really only to prevent the tiles from lifting when they stretch the carpet. The price sure has gone up.

@joerejc3693 3 года назад

How do you approach a drain area of a basement floor as far as leveling is concerned and do you cover over the drain? I am doing a washroom ,rec room and laundry room . . Washroom is cleared out and I am putting a dricore floor in that area also.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Are you taking about a floor drain where the cement has been troweled down around it for drainage? You would have to keep access to it for sure. What room is it located in? What type of flooring were you hoping to put down in that area?

@joerejc3693 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild Yes it is the basement floor drain in laundry room area. Low spot of basement. We are considering putting some sort of laminate floor down. I will be installing dricore + in whole basement to keep it even flowing.

@jamshidmirzabekov6342 2 года назад

Do you think a ramset shot with drive pin and washer could work to hold the dricore in place?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

I always find those hard to get to sit completely flush. Great for walls where if they are sticking out a little it isn't an issue. I would stick with the countersunk concrete screws.

@mohammadupalmahfuz8982 11 месяцев назад

Hi. With the existing frame on concrete floor, doesn't it block the breathing of the subfloor because subfloor panels touch the pressure-treated lumber on the floor?

@ResearchDesignBuild 11 месяцев назад

No because there is a quarter inch gap all the way around the perimeter.

@brycklin 3 месяца назад

what did you do with the bottom step of the stairs? wouldnt that shrink the step down by like 2 inches when the flooring is in?

@bikerdoubled 3 года назад

Question I like the ease of that flooring but if you have a furnace in the basement do you just work around the furnace with the subflooring or does it need to be lifted?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

I wouldn't put subfloor under your furnace or hot water tank if applicable. I don't think you can actually do if as I believe fire code has a distance between furnace and hot water tanks to anything they consider combustible. I put down my sub floor in all the living areas, however left the mechanical room alone. So there is a small 1 inch step down from the basement into the mechanical room where my furnace and hot water tank are. I have another video on how I did that transition.

@bikerdoubled 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild thank you for the response I'm newer and I like the dyi projects and want to finish basement. Do you happen to have. Link to that video to see?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@bikerdoubled ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bnSNGTpvtKk.html is for the transition into the mechanical room.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@bikerdoubled If you go to my main channel page you can see a lot more videos on DIY home projects. ru-vid.com/show-UCBqwjdfZX8cRiCvM-N8XuEA Make sure to subscribe as I will have a lot more DIY content coming out as well. Thanks

@donaldandmijung Год назад

Did you have any issues with doors hitting rhe raised floor?

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

No I didn't have these issues as I hung the doors after the sub floor was installed. But you will have issues if the doors are already mounted. You will most likely have to trim the bottoms of the doors.

@CountJeffula 7 месяцев назад

What do you recommend doing about the stairs being noncompliant after adding so much height to the floor? The inspectors in Wisconsin would be all over an upgrade like this and possibly force me to redo the stairs.

@ResearchDesignBuild 7 месяцев назад

A code inspector has to be pretty picky if they are going to fail a basement development over the last step being 3/4 of an inch off from where it is suppose to be. Asking a home owner to rebuild an entire set of steps is no minor task. Having said that there is no reason to have the final inspection done prior to subfloor and finished flooring. Typically final flooring isn't really part of what they are looking for as it isn't structural, isn't plumbing or electrical, etc. You can easily say, I like the bare concrete look and there isn't anything they can say about that. If you look at new homes some of them have stairs to the basement built for a subfloor and so that last step is 1" of so too tall. All those houses pass final inspection on the basis that something might be done in the basement at some point in the future. So there is a little grey area from what I have seen in the industry.

@CountJeffula 7 месяцев назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild thanks so much for the reply. That’s a good strategy also that I may use in the future. There is indeed a ton of variation from city to city.

@stevenewman3968 2 года назад

Installed floating amdry subfloor on solid concrete slab with required gap to outside wall. Installed Pre finished solid 3 inch maple wood flooring in top nailed to subfloor. HUGE I mean huge buckling up problem - doors no longer close etc. Any ideas or suggestions as to what’s going on?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

I'm sorry to hear you have had such a big problem. Here is what I found on DriCore's website for hardwood installations: "Engineered Hardwood: Follow the wood manufacturer's guidelines as to what can be installed at or above grade and below grade. The National Wood Flooring Association defines below grade as any part of a concrete floor that is 4" or more below the soil level. Before installing glue-down or nail-down floors a 3/8" plywood underlayment should be fastened to DRICORE® using 3/4” 18 gauge narrow crown staples. When installing nail-down floors test a piece of the finished floor to make sure the fastener does not puncture the plastic membrane. Remove the 1/4" wall spacers after the wood flooring has been installed. NOTE: Do not glue engineered hardwood floors directly to DRICORE® panels" The only other ting I'm wondering is how long did you let the hardwood site and acclimatize to the basement? Maybe do some research on that as I believe if you let it acclimatize properly then it will already expand or contract before you install it. Best of luck, It's a terrible feeling when a big project goes sideways.

@stevenewman3968 2 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild Thanks so much for the quick reply. How much of a gap would you typically see left between the finished walls and the edge of the hardwood floor?. Could this be the issue? As the wood floor expands and if the gap was too small, the floor between the walls will buckle up to relieve the pressure. I'm worried that even if I can dry out the floor, the buckling pulled on the nails and they wont go down themselves...ouch!

@LtKregorov Год назад

Subfloor do not provide enough wood for hardwood nailing. You need an extra layer of plywood all around. If you didn’t do that, the whole setup needs to be removed and redone.

@anjenettea6226 4 года назад

Did you do any framing on top of the subfloor?

@ResearchDesignBuild 4 года назад

Yes all the interior walls for the bedrooms were framed up right on top of the subfloor panels, closet framing etc. 2 inch screws were used to temporarily attach the bottom of the walls to the subfloor panels and then I came back with TAPCON concrete screws and drilled through the 2x4, and the subfloor panels into the concrete to secure it all together.

@brandonlefebvre9365 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild do you think you could have used a Ramsey through the 2x4 and the subfloor to attach to secure to the concrete?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@brandonlefebvre9365 yes I think it would be possible. Some time I found the nails don't like to go in straight when they hit an air pocket. As in when the nail goes through the 2x4 and the wood portion of the subfloor, then air and foam, then back into concrete. I have had some issues in the past, but still had success.

@puupii9432 2 года назад

Can you build walls on top of the subfloor or should the walls be built first?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

You can do it either way or a combination of the two like I did. For myself the outside walls were already framed. So the panels are not under the outside walls. But the Interior walls I built on top of the subfloor panels.

@fimbulvetr2 Год назад

Is that a bouvier des flanders in the video? I will be starting our dricore this week and our bouvier will do about the same thing - walk around and watch. Except ours is a puppy so she will want to chew each tounge and groove as well as any debris on the floor.

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

It sure is, they are great dogs!

@billhamlin2690 2 месяца назад

How do you add access for the basement floor drain? Thanks.

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 месяца назад

My basement floor drain is in my mechanical room so I didn't have to worry about access as I didn't put subfloor in the mechanical room. you are right though if it was in the middle of the finished space you would need to make some access. Access through the subfloor panel would be easy, just have a section cut out that you can pull up. But making it look good with whatever flooring you put on top of the subfloor will be the tricky part. Would be much easier with tile, or vinyl or even wood than with carpet.

@BOOMSTICK-PRODUCTIONS 3 года назад

Dope

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Thanks

@tonystarkcoins2014 Год назад

Hi does this wobble or make click clack sounds as I don’t see you nailing the panels to the floor? Also did you nail the wood wall framework to the floor? I want to build a framework myself for insulation but I don’t want to damage the water proofing by drilling in the ground.

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

There is no sounds from the subfloor. I You need to sim the panels so that there aren't any gaps between them and the floor and they all lock together. Check your local building code but the walls need to be fastened to the floor. There will be specifications for how you have to do it. Hilti nails are the most common. But I did drill and used tapcon concrete screws.

@tonystarkcoins2014 Год назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild thanks for clearing that up.

@HummerH1Cummins 4 года назад

great video thanks for posting

@ResearchDesignBuild 4 года назад

Thanks for watching

@billshannon9900 10 месяцев назад

And if your basement leaks will it still work?

@ThePrime206 3 года назад

Can you build the exterior walls directly on top of these

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Yes that would be the best way to do it. I didn't as the exterior walls were already up and installed when I started this project.

@arunchaudhary2180 Год назад

On these dicore insulated pannels can I use cement and put tiles directly ?

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

These panels would be installed on top of a concrete floor. I would not install these on gravel or dirt if that is what you are asking.

@dbennett4 3 года назад

Pros/cons between choosing the blue insulated ones vs the black plastic bottom ones?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

The main difference is going to be the insulation value. If you have an older basement where the concrete is damp often then maybe the black ones would provide more air flow and perform better in those circumstances. But otherwise if you are going through all the effort already the extra insulation will be worth it.

@dbennett4 3 года назад

My house was built in 1972. Basement is very dry. I think I’ll use the insulated ones.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@dbennett4 That would be my choice as well. Good luck with your project!

@scrinari Месяц назад

I am about to install the same panels in my basement. My house is from 1972 and I just removed the previous vinyl floor to find a damp concrete slab. Since there were vinyl planks on the concrete, after removing the vinyl floor it also started to smell of mold. I am now in the process to clean up the concrete but am wondering if I should put a rubber membrane. I found products like Blue Seal - The ultimate waterproof rubber membrane. Would you consider adding that under those panels?

@ResearchDesignBuild Месяц назад

You are in a tough spot. Putting down a membrane will just trap the moisture in the concrete. The real answer is get rid of the moisture first, but I know that is a hard and expensive thing to do.

@scottdegan8962 Месяц назад

Maybe RadonSeal would be worth looking into. It's a penetrating sealer for blocking water vapor and radon gas. I don't think it would fix water seepage, though.

@ResearchDesignBuild Месяц назад

@@scottdegan8962 It is a touch one, it's like building a damn. It's pretty hard to do, water will find a way up through almost whatever if it has no where else to go.

@davidnilsen8400 3 года назад

Is there any movement at all when you step on the finished subfloor? Does it press down at all?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

There are these small plastic spacers that you should buy if you are planning to install this type of a sub floor. The plastic spacers or shims are used as you put the panels down to compensate for any unevenness in the concrete floor. If you do that correctly then there is no movement in the panels and they don't press down at all. Depending on your desired finished flooring there is also the need to secure down the panels. I will have a follow up video shortly covering that process. But it ranges from no fasteners needed, to 5 fasteners per panel if you are doing tile for instance. So in that case the fasteners would pull the panels down as well and they wouldn't be going anywhere.

@dice8245 7 месяцев назад

Do you also put it on washroon? So is it better to do it before putting s wallframes(rooms)?

@ResearchDesignBuild 7 месяцев назад

Yes I also did a full washroom. IT is easier to do the subfloor panels first and then frame the walls on top. However if you do have some wall already up, I would just work around them it wouldn't be worth tearing things down just so you can get the panels under them.

@dice8245 7 месяцев назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild thank you! I will do it that way then.

@ngc60 2 года назад

Did you anchor each panel to concrete with screws?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

It depends on what type of flooring you put down. If you look at my bathroom flooring video I put tile down on top of the dry core with a heated floor system as well. For that each panel got 5 concrete screws holding it down. In the rest of the living area every other tile around the perimeter got a screw and several in the middle of each room also got one screw to hold it all together.

@saidroid3220 Год назад

Ive watched a few dricore subfloor installation videos and i am still trying to figure out how does this subfloor stay in it's place overtime? If it moves, then the flooring on top of it would be ruined. So how does one keep these dricore subfloor in the same position overtime? Drill/screw these dricore subfloor down in to the concrete?

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

I have another video where I put tile down in the bathroom with a heated floor as well over tip of this subfloor. So I show you have I secured it for that application. It depends on what flooring you install on how you need to secure it. I did carpet in the main areas so every other subfloor tile got one screw into the concrete. And then a few random tiles in the middle of each room.

@saidroid3220 Год назад

@Research Design Build thank you for the reply. I will be laying LVP on top of this dricore subfloor. What is the best way going about securing the dricore? Or is the dricore meant to float as well?

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

@@saidroid3220 I would double check the dricore website. They have a full installers guide that details how to hold down the floor for each flooring type.

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

@@saidroid3220 If you go to the dricore website they have a full installation manual available and a section at the end about securing the subfloor to the concrete floor. It all depends on the type of flooring you are using and they have a lot of different recommendations depending on what flooring you are installing. Here is a link to the manual dricore.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dricore-detailed-instructions-1.pdf starting on page 6 it gets into how to secure it to the concrete for each flooring type.

@LtKregorov Год назад

Well they could only move 1/4 of an inch in any direction at most due to the gap, which is not much at all. The whole assembly weight quite a bit and each tile do not easily slide on concrete. If on top you framed several walls here and there and used tapcon screw through the bottom plate and subfloor into the concrete, there is no way this subfloor will move.

@joerejc3693 3 года назад

Sorry .. Replied in wrong area. Yes, I am talking about the low spot of cement floor that is in laundry room. I am installing dricore+ through whole basement area and am unsure how to handle this low spot area.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

That is going to be a hard one. You can't really use self leveling cement as you want to keep the drainage going to that point. I would use shims and glue them down so they don't move on you. And then cut a hole through the dricore and find a cap for a drain that you like the look of to place through your flooring into the dricore so you still have access to the drain even with the final flooring on. It isn't going to be a perfect solution but that is what I would try. It is kind of a tough spot to use dricore or any subfloor for that matter.

@heyzeuss Год назад

Can I place subfloor down before framing/wallplates? Is it suggested?

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

Yes you can. It is much easier and faster this way. However if you do flood your basement it might mean more work after the fact to repair it. My exterior walls were already framed and insulated so I only framed the interior walls on top of the dricore panels.

@heyzeuss Год назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild thank you!

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

@@heyzeuss Let me know how the project turns out!

@heyzeuss Год назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild will do! Haven't started yet but I decided to get that 10.98$ dricore at home depot (ouch) and will use 2" rigid foam (ouch x2 rigid foam is EXPENSIVE) and place directly on top of subfloor and caulk them directly to concrete with pl 300. The beauty of Rigid Insulation for my situation is that winter is coming and if we want to spray foam I will have to rush electrical and plumbing to get permits in time so that spray foam can go onto concrete before it gets too cold out. Now if I rigid foam it is literally the 2nd step after subfloor to finish my basement so once that's up I can take my time all winter and finish the rest of basement and saving money on hydro. It'll only be r10 but better than bare concrete until I get the r14 fiberglass in.

@samiracful Год назад

What’s the r-value for these?

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

The panels have an r value of r-3. It doesn't sound like much but it also provides a thermal break. And that makes a huge difference in floor temp and the feel of the basement.

@TFerns194 2 года назад

Should I dry lock my floor before putting a sub floor ?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

I have not seen people do this before. You aren't going to be able to make it water tight as you will have holes though it for securing walls, and even the subfloor panels. If you have moisture and water issues I would solve those before putting down the subfloor. Although that can be easier said then done, and expensive.

@TFerns194 2 года назад

I appreciate it

@jc2367 3 года назад

right now the price is $5.98 for a 2x2 black bottom of this board, can anyone tell me what the price was before covid hit?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

That sounds to me about the price they were back then. I don't think that Home Depot sells a whole lot of this type of product so it very well might be left over stock and they haven't ordered in new product and adjusted their price yet.

@jc2367 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild thanks

@squeezy99 Год назад

hat is beneath the sub-floor? Concrete? Earth? My project involves digging out and insulating an earth floor

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

There is a full concrete floor under these subfloor panels. I would not recommend installing this over just a dirt floor as the moisture will just get pulled up into the OSB that the panels are made out of. I'm not aware of what you can put on top of a dirt floor without having issues. I would dig it out, add gravel and then pour a concrete slab and make it as water tight as possible. Much more costly procedure, but the end result will be really nice.

@doublej5045 2 года назад

talk about basement flooding. Does this help?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

If you basement floods (as in over a quarter inch of water). Then having this product will not help you. If anything it will cost you more to repair as this will all need to be removed and replaced. If you just get a little leak, then potentially it would save your basement by allowing the water to run under the subfloor to a drain.

@doublej5045 2 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild How about using DMX LVT underlay?

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

@@doublej5045 I haven't used it but looking at their website it is still really thin, so if you did get water in your basement you would probably still end of replacing it. Maybe it would be savable if it was just a small amount of fresh water? Either way water in your finished basement is going to be a pain to deal with. The other thing you won't get from the DMX underlayment is the insulation value. And I think that is the big advantage to the Dricore panels.

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

@@doublej5045 You won't get the insulation value that you will out of the dricore. I haven't used it before and just quickly looked up the product. But seems like 2 different types of product. DMX LVT seems very thin so it won't help with water either. Basically you have to keep the water out of the basement.

@jerparker6538 2 месяца назад

I couldn't find a name for this product. A little help please?

@Tracer88 Год назад

Why not build the walls on the subfloor panels?

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

I would have but by building code the exterior walls have to be insulated. And When I finished the house I was leaving the basement unfinished. All the interior walls were framed on top of the subfloor.

@Jalahr77 3 года назад

So, what you're saying is...if you can afford it, do it. Otherwise, don't bother. Got it.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

Yes, your living space will be completely fine without the sub floor. However it is a big improvement, so if you can afford the extra cost I would definitely recommend installing it. If you intend to spend a lot of time in the basement especially if you live in a location with cold winters, then this probably goes higher up the priority list.

@diggingintolife3466 3 года назад

Its just floating? No need to screw down.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

It depends what type of flooring you are putting on top of the subfloor. For Tile you need 5 fasteners per panel. For carpet you just need every other panel on the perimeter and a couple in the middle of the room to prevent the panels from lifting when they stretch the carpet. For hardwood, and vinyl plank there is no need for fasteners. But double check they website for whatever type of flooring you are using.

@mrwalkyoudown2175 2 года назад

Why the vents off the stack?? That’s completely over kill

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

I have a sink for the bar that get's installed there. So it's a vent for that sink. That was a code requirement for my location. Have to keep those inspectors happy!

@hteadx Год назад

Honestly, this dricore product isn't worth it. Any dimple membrane like dricore foundation wrap and osb will do, if you screw it down with tapcon screws. It doesn't even have to be tongue and groove either. Just screw down the panel corners and move on. Don't let contractors scare you into using expensive material it's a basement subfloor for goodness sakes.

@ResearchDesignBuild Год назад

The Dimple membrane isn't going to give you any insulation value. It's going to be very hard to shim it to make it flat. You have to own a truck to haul 4x8 sheets of osb. You have to carry 4x8 sheets to your basement. There are pros and cons.

@wayneguy6043 3 года назад

How much a foot?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

$7.28 Canadian for 4 square feet. In the US the same product is selling for $7.19 US. For once we are getting a pretty good deal up north of the border. Maybe add 10 cents a square foot for fasteners, shims, etc to complete the installation.

@Innocence44 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild did they raise the price recently? they're going for almost $10/tile now.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@Innocence44 Yes that is a big price increase that just recently happened I think. I'm pretty sure I just checked a month ago for another subscriber and they were still selling for just over $7 a tile still at that time. It isn't too surprising all building materials have gone up a lot in the last few months. It is an expensive time to be starting a home renovation project.

@Innocence44 3 года назад

@@ResearchDesignBuild damn it. I think I'll just pick up the cheaper ones with the plastic backing. Im also not sure whether something like Delta FL + plywood/osb sheets screwed into concrete would be a better option, in case my floor isnt level. Any tips?

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

@@Innocence44 Ya all the prices are just out of control right now. If you put a 4 foot level across your floor how much are you measuring for out of level? If you go the 4x8 sheet route it might be cheaper but you won't get the tongue and groove effect to hold the sheets together potentially on all edges. And trying to get those big sheets to sit flat might be hard. The 2x2 squares with the dricore are pretty easy to level out with their shim kits.

@tigrankasparov5389 2 года назад

Why Dricore reduce the thickness for 3 mm? You increase price from $5.80 CAD to $8.38 CAD during pandemic period and reduce thickness!!! What I should do know if half of my basement covered with "old" product and new doesn't fit know!!! Just money in mind!!! Not quality!!!

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

I didn't know that they did that. Kind of surprising. I would call around and see if anyone has some old stock around.

@designlife4living547 2 года назад

This whole discussion is confusing. On the one hand, people say a subfloor is essential to keep cold from seeping ionto ypouir basement from the floor; others say never put any organic materials in your basement as they abnsorb moisture and rot. I’m not selling anything so I think my view is fairly unbiaised.

@ResearchDesignBuild 2 года назад

Probably depends on the age of the basement and the location around the globe. Some houses are prone to a lot of moisture. I remember one old house I looked purchasing once had a stone foundation and had a trench at the edge of the exterior walls leading to a French drain that when down to a hill behind the house. That basement was designed to leak and had something in place to control the water when it did. That basement was never designed to be finished as a living space. So I would not ever have developed it. Modern homes have good water sealed basements, some even with sump pits and pumps and piping around the exterior of the foundation to control any water that does goes down around the base of the foundation. Most modern homes also have a vapor barrier designed to control radon gas. But also helps keep ground moisture from getting into the concrete slab. Those basements are dry and you shouldn't have any problems. So in the end I think it really depends on the house, the style of foundation, and even the area of town. Some spots are just wet and have water problems in their basements.

@designlife4living547 2 года назад

Thx for the reply. Well, in our case, we have a new home so it’s nice and dry. But I’m still wary of laying down any organic material, even Dricore. So should I use a dimpled undergarment and the. put vinyl planking over that?

@atarileaf Год назад

All these systems add height to your floor which screws up your stairs. Might be a code violation if you try to sell

@phumes4783 3 года назад

This system is not the best. Too many seams. You can't seal the seams with dri-core like you can with Delta or DMX membrane and with tongue and groove spruce plywood sheets. DO NOT use OSB. Yes - Dricore is convienent. That's about all it is. Moisture WILL come up between the joints.

@ResearchDesignBuild 3 года назад

If you have moisture coming up off the concrete it would be still coming up if you didn't have a subfloor and still going through your finished flooring? I don't know why you would want to seal that area. There is very little air movement and so if you got real moisture are in water, not just higher humidity I would want that to dissipate as quickly as possible. Having moisture hanging around under my finished flooring sounds like a situation where mold would develop. As far as higher humidity creeping up though the concrete from the ground a lot of newer construction homes will have a full vapor barrier under that concrete slab in the basement that is there to prevent radon gas from making it's way into the basement. So that will also prevent moisture.

@zachrich2487 3 года назад

This is not intended to be a vapor barrier... If you are installing in a home (say pre 1995) without vapor barrier poured into the slab then you should probably go a different route. This product is generally best for a "newer" home with vapor barrier in the slap. It is intended only to provide a thermal break and insulation between the top of the subfloor and your slab. Concrete has a higher thermal conductivity than plywood, which means it sucks more heat out of the object on it (your feet, flooring, furniture, etc.), thus making the room feel colder even at the exact same floor temperature.