Guide to Finishing a Basement With a Floating Slab Floor

Preparation

• You want to ensure that no water is leaking into the basement, since this will damage the flooring. Taping a 1-by-1-foot piece of plastic onto the concrete slab and leaving it for 24 hours tells you if the basement has a moisture problem. If drops of water appear on the plastic after the 24-hour period, you need to treat the slab with a sealer. Check for any unevenness in the concrete floor. You may need a liquid self-leveling solution to level the uneven spots.

Layout

• Before you start applying the panels, you need to sketch a layout plan on a piece of paper. After measuring the length and width of the room, make sure that the last panel in every row will have width greater than six inches. You might need to adjust the size of the first panel in the row to ensure this. Laying down a row or two loosely before you get started can help you visualize any problems.

Tongue and Groove

• Subfloor systems often use a tongue and groove to connect the panels. You should leave a one-fourth inch space around the perimeter of the floor to allow for the expansion of the panels. You can use wood strapping to fill the gap. Starting the installation in a corner provides best results. You will need a hammer to secure the tongues to the grooves. Placing a board between the hammer and the panel prevents any damage to the flooring. When starting the second row, you use a partial panel to make sure the joints do not align with those of the first row.

Finish

• You will need to cut panels to fit around obstructions such as posts or door jambs. A jigsaw works well for this task. If you hit any uneven areas use shims to make the necessary adjustments. Manufacturers often provide shims along with the panels. You will probably have to cut the last row of panels to fit. A circular saw makes this job go more smoothly, according to the Extreme How-To website.