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Hey there,

Anyone feel like answering this question.

I have an unfinished basement that I need to put a subfloor down on. The basement is concrete slab right now, and while there are load bearing walls, there is no framing currently up for the interior walls.

I intend to put 1" rigid foam covered by 5/8 plywood overtop, tapcon screwed into the floor (a la Mike Holmes), but am unsure whether I should first frame my walls (and get them sprayfoamed) or if I should put down the floor, and then frame up my walls on top of the subfloor.

Any suggestions from the experts in here?

Thanks!
why would you put the foam down first? goto home depot they have thes subfloors called drilock its 2×2 sheets that have a plastic bottom with nipples so the air can flow under the floor as long with water. you should never drill or put holes into the concrete slab (will will get water or dampness) just put the drilock down. then do the framing for walls. just secure the sills for the walls into the subfloor.
have you heard of / used OvrX?

Pretty much the same thing as rigid foam / plywood, but may be easier to install (and provide better seals because of the tongue and groove fit).
why build a subfloor anyway?

just put down foam, cover with carpet.

see the dri-lock is the same kinda stuff but does not have the foam it has the plastic back. im gonna check that stuff out do you know the pricing on the ovrx?? flooring and wall??
Do the foam and plywood. I’ve done it before, and I’ve used dri-lock. I’d use rigid foam and plywood over it any day.

take a piece of "styrofoam" ( i know rigid foam isn’t styrofoam) and poke it with a pencil. What happens. Now imagine table legs, or a couch, or the heel of your foot, or whatever, pressing down on it.

i think he means carpet padding.

Kent (like Rona, Home Depot) is selling the OryX flooring for $7.50 per 2×2′ square. Won’t be cheap, but it’s convenient, and fits well.

Carpet padding is just a moisture rot waiting to happen, IMO. I could be wrong, as I’m not an expert, but in Canada, with the changing climates each season, the changes in humidity, and all that good stuff, it’s just a potential disaster.

I’d rather have an insulation / moisture break factor that the OryX or rigid foam/plywood provides.

Yeah, I don’t think I’d consider the Dri-lock. I don’t like the idea of no insulation on it. Sure, it moves air and moisture, but it provides limited heat retention compared to the rigid foam (at least by my thinking).

Thanks for the input ya’ll.

I’m looking for input from people who have used either, and it seems some have. Very useful to get first hand opinions.
First thing I’d do is a patch test to see if there’s moisture diffusion through the slab. The amount would guide me for further steps.

Im gonna be buying a new house hopefully before the new year, I plan on creating an apartment in the basement, so Ill probably be doing this as well, let me know how you make out or which way you decide to go.

Will do.

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