Waterproof Floors for Rhode Island Basements: What Fixer-Upper Buyers Should Know
Rhode Island basements get damp. Here is how to put a warm, finished floor over concrete without it cupping, smelling or failing the first wet spring.
A lot of Rhode Island homes sit on old concrete or stone foundations, and many basements take on some water every spring. That is why carpet and laminate so often fail down there. They soak up moisture, swell, smell and have to come out.
Rigid-core SPC vinyl plank is made from stone powder and PVC. It does not absorb water, so a wet day does not ruin it. That makes a finished basement possible in houses where it used to be a gamble.
Before you lay anything
- Fix active water first. Waterproof flooring will not stop a leak; it only survives one. Clean gutters, extend downspouts and deal with any crack that runs water.
- Check flatness. Lay a straight edge across the slab. Fill dips deeper than 3/16″ over 10 feet with a cement patch.
- Put down a vapor barrier. Lay 6 mil polyethylene over the concrete, overlap seams 8″ and tape them. This keeps slab moisture from sitting under the floor.
Which plank works best below grade
All of our planks have a foam pad attached, which takes the chill off concrete. For basements we like Citadel 8mm: the thicker core and 2mm pad feel warmer and more solid over a slab. On a tighter budget, Alpine 5mm still does the job.
Leave room to move
Basements swing in temperature from winter to summer. Keep a 1/4″ gap at every wall and post, and cover it with baseboard nailed to the wall, never through the floor.
Old tile warning: many older basements have 9×9 inch floor tiles, which can contain asbestos. Do not grind or break them up. SPC can usually float right over them once the floor is flat.
See our subfloor prep guide, or stop by the Cranston showroom and we will walk through your basement plan.
