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Have you wanted to replace the floor in your basement, but aren’t sure how? Next, I have a big project that will show how we installed a new premium subfloor in our basement to create a warmer and drier space that we can use every day.
We’ve been working with the team at DRICORE® and I’m so excited to introduce you to our new underground basement that we installed in our entire 800 square meter finished basement.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of DRICORE. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Here’s how to install DRICORE subflooring in a basement.
Whether you own an old or new home, there are places where a subfloor is a great and necessary idea. Especially if you may be concerned about possible water leakage, the warmth of the space, or want to cover something instead of removing it (like we did).
Having quality products in our home is our top priority when we do a project and DRICORE is one of my favorite things to use – yes, you can love sub-flooring!
A little background – our house it was built in 1900 and has the original cement and stone foundation in the basement, including the floor, which had a thin carpet. This is what the space and floor looked like before.
We removed half a room full of old carpet that got wet when some water got in, but it left glue residue everywhere. It was just unsightly and not a comfortable space to operate.
We are planning to convert the basement into a children’s play area and had to do it economically and comfortably. Plus we had to make sure we weren’t going to put in a new floor and have water get on it and ruin it.
This made the DRICORE premium subfloor a perfect solution. This product is different from the normal and most commonly used substrate. DRICORE has several subfloor products for use on floors (and walls) and even has one for those looking for even more warmth and insulation, DRICORE Subfloor R+. Perfect for what we needed.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for flooring options for your home (maybe even a basement like ours) and want to know what to use.
Because DRICORE provides many installation instructions on their site here and you can make them work for your space, I want to tell you more about why we chose this product over any other.
Here are some benefits of using DRICORE:
- DRICORE it helps protect against moisture, mold, mildew and small water leaks. These are all things that can happen in a new or old home, so it’s great to have a product that helps with issues like this. Raised panels are constructed so that potential water does not reach the finished floor.
- Raised panels allow airflow, which in turn helps minimize stagnant moisture that causes mold and mildew. We found a lot of mold in the basement when we moved in. So we tore it down and now we keep the place clean with items like this.
- DRICORE makes your floors touch warmer. We have thick concrete floors and walls in the basement, so the panels provide a thermal break from the cold floor. This is especially nice since we will be using the area as a play area for our kids.
- DRICORE R+ has more than double the insulating strength of DRICORE membrane panel (the black plastic panel product), so we have warmer floors with DRICORE R+ panels.
- And bonus – the floors are softer too. This is great because our kids play down there and it’s more comfortable for them.
If you already know about DRICORE and are looking for tips on how to install it, especially in an older home, here are a few things we did to make our installation a breeze.
The Product
You can read about DRICORE product details here. We used DRICORE R+ panels, which have more than double the insulating strength of standard DRICORE sub-flooring and are ideal for areas such as basements that tend to be cooler.
See what the bottom and top panels look like.
The tools we used
Here are the tools we used for this project.
- Kneecap
- 2×4 to hit the panels
- Tape measure and pencil
- Long straight edge and/or square edge
- Hammer or mallet
- 1/4- 1/8” spacer for the wall
- Table saw
- Safety equipment (earplugs, eye protection, gloves)
- Multitool for door frames/jams
- Level and DRICORE leveling set
This is the leveling kit for use with this subfloor. They are plastic pieces that will polish the floor for when you need to level it for variations up to 1/4″.
Our tips for installing DRICORE
Our basement was of course not new construction, but it was still easy to install these panels. We have a long rectangular space lined with finished walls and lots of doors to the laundry room, bathroom, two closets, and a central “island” room that houses our oven and a closet.
Here’s how to install DRICORE subflooring in a basement.
1. Dry Fit the Space
The first thing we did was dry run the space with a row of panels to see what size we would end up with at the end of the row and where we might need to cut.
The panels have a tongue and groove design, making them easy to install, but check the requirements for the exact frame you have to make sure you’re not cutting one too small at the end of a row. The last frame in the row must not be less than 3″ wide.
Place the panels as best you can to get an idea of what your first row will look like and also if you should do it near doors or at the bottom of stairs.
2. Install your rows
We started in the upper left corner of the room where there is a corner closet for utilities. The first piece went under this door. We didn’t cut the corner, we just left the whole panel attached to the door. Ours is a cabinet for the electrical panel.
3. Overcut door jams
This can be done before you start the installation or during. We used a multi-tool to do this. Measure how much of the door frames you need to cut and don’t forget to allow for the height of any other flooring you might put on top.
4. Cut around support beams and walls.
This takes a bit more time, but of course you have to cut the panels to fit around walls, doors, posts and other structures in the space. We cut around two support posts and on the ladder.
Instead of moving everything out of our basement for this installation, we just moved things from other parts of the space. Once we finish an area, we put the furniture, freezer, shelves and other items back.
5. Complete your last corner
All in all this subfloor installation took us about two and a half days. And that’s only because you’re doing other things on the weekend and working during the day, but it can definitely be done in a few hours when you have all the supplies and tools you need.
We installed a finished vinyl plank floor over it, so come back to the blog to check it out. I’ll link it here when it’s done.
We love having this product in our home. I specifically looked for something we could use in the old basement we have that would give us a warmer space but also keep any water off the floor. Dricore is truly the perfect solution for all of these!
Our finished subfloor
Here are pictures of the finished floor. We’ve already put a vinyl plank floor over it, so stay tuned for that blog post. There is a teaser of this floor below.
This subfloor instantly made the space feel warmer, cozier, cleaner, and like a space we actually want to use!
Read about our basement projects here. We installed it in that basement bathroom and in one of the closets we have in the basement as well.
How to learn more about DRICORE
You can read all about DRICORE here on their website. Be sure to watch the installation videos, they are extremely helpful.
Find DRICORE at Facebook and Instagram.
Did this help you learn how to install DRICORE Subfloor in a basement? Tell us below.
