How To Keep Your Basement Floor Warm And Dry
Finishing the basement floor allows for the space to be used recreationally as well as helps to keep the basement warm and comfortable!
Finished basements are often used as recreational areas or living spaces, serving as comfortable and accommodating extra square footage within the home. However, even the most beautifully finished space can become uncomfortable, cold, and chilly if the basement floor feels cool and damp. Nobody likes a cold floor.
Despite being an enclosed part of the home, the basement, and therefore the basement floor, is still underground which leaves the space vulnerable to soil conditions and water seepage. There are a variety of reasons that the basement floor may become wet; just a few of which include:
- Heavy rainfall
- Snowmelt
- Improper grading
- Blocked gutters
- Hydrostatic pressure
- And more.
If you're looking into basement finishing to create an additional finished living area--perhaps a bedroom, or in-law apartment, it's essential to make sure that you have the right kind of flooring to keep the room warm, dry, and comfortable for the inhabitants of the basement space. A great way to do this is by utilizing a floating subfloor.
Floating subfloors work by providing a thermal break between the cold floor and the basement flooring material. This air gap keeps any excess water from being trapped underneath, protecting your basement from moisture problems such as mold, rotting, and unpleasant odors. ThermalDry flooring is a highly superior alternative to concrete flooring and can increase your cold floor's temperature by 10 degrees for additional comfort!
How the ThermalDry Flooring System Works
With the Thermal Dry Flooring System, you'll never have to worry about water or pest damage!
Typically, floating subfloors need to be installed on a level surface, meaning that the entire basement floor will need to be leveled, and should also be waterproofed before the panels can be installed to avoid issues down the line, including pressing structural and indoor air quality concerns. ThermalDry flooring uses pegs to easily lift the planks off of the floor and can be installed directly over a concrete floor.
Modular Design
ThermalDry Elite Plank floor system's modular design means that the planks easily lock together, making it a simple task to remove individual panels if something goes wrong with your floor. A specific panel can be removed for cleaning or repairs and then effortlessly reinstalled if a wet floor incident occurs, without causing disruption to the rest of the flooring material, or the concrete beneath. No more cold floors!
Low Profile
If you have a basement with low ceilings and limited headroom, don't worry! Unlike other products on the market, ThermalDry is only half an inch thick, so it won't make your basement seem cramped or confined.
Looks Just Like Real Wood
The Thermal Dry Flooring System comes in a variety of colors and has the appearance of real wood!
Best of all, ThermalDry Elite Plank flooring looks just like real wood without a wood floor's vulnerability to water damage and warping. Available in Light Pecan and Dark Walnut, ThermalDry offers the warm, luxurious appearance of a wood plank floor while providing the water resistance you need for your basement's wet floor. Though, if the aesthetic of wood isn’t your cup of tea, there’s also the option of ThermalDry carpeting. Both materials are non-degrading, meaning they’re made of artificial materials that won’t be affected by water, mold, or pests.
While a waterproofing job and some high-quality, non-degrading basement flooring will do the real work to keep your basement floor warm and dry, there are still other helpful products that can assist your new flooring system, such as dehumidifiers. Designed to pull excess moisture from the air around them, dehumidifiers are a useful defense against mold and mildew, helping to keep the area dry and comfortable.
Finding A Basement Finishing Contractor Near You
Reach out to Total Basement Finishing for your free estimate, today!
The ThermalDry flooring system is available exclusively through Total Basement Finishing dealers. If you're ready to make your basement warm, dry, and comfortable, find your local dealer and schedule a free estimate today!
