basement

Reply to: COREtec is a great material and we highly recommend it in just about any area of the home... However, like with most clickable floating floor systems, it has to be installed correctly. Also, we can't ever stress enough the importance of a "Flat" (not necessarily "level") subfloor. The subfloor ultimately determines the outcome of the final product. A quick example would be that if the COREtec (or any floating clickable system) were being installed over a slab with big valleys and dips/high and low points, walking on these low points would eventually cause the seams to pull apart. We install COREtec all the time and recommend it to many of our customers. It's a great product, but again, like with most clickable floating floors, the installers need the experience to know how not to break interlocking edges, and also to know when the planks are correctly engaged. Repairs are possible, but also difficult because, again, taking apart an interlocked floor without breaking the adjoining plank, takes a certain level of skill, and patience. For more information on subfloors and floating floors (like COREtec) here are a few links you can check out: http://www.thecouturefloorcompany.com/what-is-a--floating-floor--.html http://www.thecouturefloorcompany.com/the-importance-of-a-sound-subfloor-.html The Couture Floor Company

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Reply to: Regardless of brand installer should do a skim coat to fill in any gaps, screw heads, etc. Bumps, crevices, screw heads, etc., that are not addressed in preparation will telegraph through to the finish.

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Reply to: Flooring manufacturers, installers and inspectors are discovering that vinyl has limits. No one can say for sure, but there have been enough inspections done on "long run" floating installations to warrant a "be careful" comment. No one has data (if they do they aren't sharing) about vinyl's maximum runs. A traditional "laminate" (with MDF or HDF core) has a maximum run of 30ft. Vinyl is supposed to be much better at long runs...but some instances are showing this to be a problem. No one seems to know what is causing the problems, but there have been enough stories to be cautious. If you want a floating floor, expect to use in-field expansion gaps. If you won't accept that, then go ahead and glue it down. In commercial settings (where the runs can be 60ft - 300ft) a glue down is the norm. I would go ahead and budget for a glue down (which means Modin is out)...I've seen maximums on some floating vinyl products at 50ft. Good luck.

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Reply to: Sorry but vinyl doesn't like very many of these subfloor gimmicks. The dimpled subfloor underlayments (like platon) isn't allowed under vinyl....you need to add a sheet of plywood over top = loss of ceiling height. DriCore would work except you will lose more than 1/2" because of it. Underpad under vinyl is very rare and very expensive. If you want vinyl in your basement, you are pretty much down to "bare concrete". If you can find some mass loaded vinyl underlay (1.2mm thick) specifically made for (and allowed by the manufacturer of) vinyl floors, then you can have underpad. A high-end laminate with cork underlay and a vapour barrier would be a better option if you want warmth underfoot without the loss of ceiling height.

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