Basement Development & Associated Costs

[stang]

Well I have 9' ceiling but gonna have a drop ceiling to 8'

I was just going to run the drywall up 8 feet. And then that way I would have access to the top of the walls from the ceiling if needed in the future..

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by stang

Movin the wall isn't an option... I'd rather just box frame the beam and attach to that. I was just curious if I didn't have to go that route.

The teleposts are going to be in that wall and hidden.

Also I asked about the speakers in the home theatre mega thread. I am
Completely open to suggestions on what kind of system I should go with.

Drill a couple of small holes in the flange of the steel beam and bolt your top plate to it.

Or rent a explosive actuated nailer, and nail a plate onto the steel.

[Northendzone]

^ I am not sure you could drive a nail thru that beam

[speede5]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Or rent a explosive actuated nailer, and nail a plate onto the steel.

Please do not try this. That nail is going to end up in your skull.

[ah123]

Bumping this thread to get some advice.

We are talking to a contractor about getting our basement done. Instead of laminate, we decided to go with a high quality underlay and berber carpet. Our contractor is telling us we don't need a sub floor and that the underlay&carpet directly can go directly on the cement floor. Anyone with experiences (good or bad) with this approach?

[red sky]

I'd be interested in hearing this same advice as I may be in the same boat. Also, is it best to go with a general contractor or is it easy enough to just bring in the trades people yourself?

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by ah123

Bumping this thread to get some advice.

We are talking to a contractor about getting our basement done. Instead of laminate, we decided to go with a high quality underlay and berber carpet. Our contractor is telling us we don't need a sub floor and that the underlay&carpet directly can go directly on the cement floor. Anyone with experiences (good or bad) with this approach?

we put the underlay on the concrete and 5 years later everything seems ok. In retrospect, if i was doing the basement again, I'd likely go the subfloor route to give the basement a little more warmth - but that being said, a cool basement is a great place to hide away from everyone who might bug you (wife, kids etc)......

[AMG_G]

I put a 10lbs underlay with a good quality carpet so it does not feel cold on the barefeet at all. Basements are going to cooler than the rest of the house sub floor or not. That is why I put in a fire place in the media area to warm up the space. Half way into a movie we always turn it off because it gets toasty fast. As for the gym I prefer to have it a bit cooler while working out. Only regret I have is not putting in infloor heating under the tile in the washroom...the nanny will have to deal with that shock every morning...lol.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by ah123

Bumping this thread to get some advice.

We are talking to a contractor about getting our basement done. Instead of laminate, we decided to go with a high quality underlay and berber carpet. Our contractor is telling us we don't need a sub floor and that the underlay&carpet directly can go directly on the cement floor. Anyone with experiences (good or bad) with this approach?

I just went through this thought process, as I was removing old thin laminate from my basement and putting down carpet for my home theatre.

After talking to some people, we determined that the most value would be to get the thickest underlay we could for the carpet and forego a sub floor.

Our basement is now MUCH warmer than it was before, and the underlay makes the carpet very luxurious.

[AMG_G]

Another issue with a subfloor is that you will be losing about an inch in height so if your basement is 8ft (most are just short of 8ft) it will make the ceiling feel even more lower. Or even lower if you go drop down ceiling....lots to consider forsure.

[Knalus]

Anyone have any alternatives to carpet that work well in a basement without a subfloor? I don't have the headroom to do a subfloor, and I have cats. I would prefer something other than carpet. I was considering cork, but I hear that cats will rip that stuff up too. Any other options?

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Anyone have any alternatives to carpet that work well in a basement without a subfloor? I don't have the headroom to do a subfloor, and I have cats. I would prefer something other than carpet. I was considering cork, but I hear that cats will rip that stuff up too. Any other options?

You could put down laminate with a vapour barrier under it.

Something thin like superseal.ca's laminate subfloor. It's only 3mm thick.

http://www.superseal.ca/all_in_one_subfloor.html

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Anyone have any alternatives to carpet that work well in a basement without a subfloor? I don't have the headroom to do a subfloor, and I have cats. I would prefer something other than carpet. I was considering cork, but I hear that cats will rip that stuff up too. Any other options?

Cats rip up cork?

We have had cork on our main floor and our cat has not tried to rip it up in the 5 years we've been here. Our 2 dogs and crazy ass kids don't even make a mark in it.

Cork is my suggestion.

Laminate on an uneven concrete floor, (even with a good underlay), will be cold, feel very hard to walk on and have a lot of movement in it.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by Madman

Cats rip up cork?

We have had cork on our main floor and our cat has not tried to rip it up in the 5 years we've been here. Our 2 dogs and crazy ass kids don't even make a mark in it.

Cork is my suggestion.

Laminate on an uneven concrete floor, (even with a good underlay), will be cold, feel very hard to walk on and have a lot of movement in it.

Did you put cork straight on concrete, or did you use a subfloor?

[AMG_G]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Anyone have any alternatives to carpet that work well in a basement without a subfloor? I don't have the headroom to do a subfloor, and I have cats. I would prefer something other than carpet. I was considering cork, but I hear that cats will rip that stuff up too. Any other options?

I used a professional gym type flooring that went directly onto the concrete. I choose not to glue it down so that I can left it up easily if I ever decide to get rid of the gym. I paid $2k for that area installed but it material would be about $1200 if you DIY. The stuff pieces are thick and heavy so if installed properly they will not move or lift. I used Dynoflex http://www.dinoflex.com/172/ but you can order directly from http://www.flexcourtcanada.ca/rubber-gym-flooring.php if you want to install it yourself

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Did you put cork straight on concrete, or did you use a subfloor?

Sorry I wasn't clearer. Our cork is on the main floor - I was simply pointing out its durability.

No way I'd put anything down on your basement floor without an underlay.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

Only regret I have is not putting in infloor heating under the tile in the washroom...the nanny will have to deal with that shock every morning...lol.

thoughts and prayers

- OR -

fyp

Originally Posted by AMG_G

..the nanny will have to deal with the shocker every morning...lol.

[tvp2003]

Putting carpet in my basement -- I'll actually be doing both (a subfloor as well as a thicker underlay, for comfort). Room is pretty small though so cost isn't really a factor.

[Madman]

I installed the Barricade subfloor system recently, and while it is expensive it'll keep it warm, not smelling musty and feel nicer to walk on.

[surferguy]

How did the install go?