Damp basement flooring solutions
Has anyone used Greatmats for a damp basement floor? I am looking for a low VOC (no VOC would be best) product, so feel free to recommend an alternative. Here is the link: https://www.greatmats.com/basement-flooring/damp-basements-raised-flooring.php
My basement is unfinished, cinderblock construction, but has “Drylock” (or something similar) painted onto the walls and a gray sealant on the floor. Water trickles in after a hard rain, mainly just in one corner and along one edge, but there are drains around the perimeter (appx. 1′ away from the outer walls). Since the well pump is also at the perimeter – and my basement is a long rectangle – I would only “floor” the open area that (dare I say) never gets wet.
I don’t want to finish the basement completely, but it sure would be a nice place for the teens to gather.
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I would go with something completely impervious, I don't like the look of the carpet on those. Even glass can get mildew growing on it if it is subject to moisture. The best option is to control the moisture, but if you can't the second best is something you can mop the mildew off of periodically. Vinyl plank or ceramic tile would be my choices.
If you have bare cinder blocks the thing that would really make that basement more comfortable would be insulation on the walls. I'd do 2" polyiso in sheets. At the bottom I'd do 2" of polystyrene so the polyiso isn't sitting in moisture. If you provide a way for the water to exit to the perimeter drains at the bottom and seal the whole assembly it will be air-tight and dampness-tight.
The other thing to check is to inspect your gutters, downspouts and grading and make sure there isn't anything that is directing water against the house or allowing it to pool.
I have the same basement. Maybe I'm being too obvious but it should easy enough to fix. You probably just need another layer of the gray sealant and might as well put a vapor barrier over it.
I was in the same position and the best thing is the basement does not have the "old basement smell" any more. Humidity has also gone down.
A ceramic tile floor is often a reasonable way to go in trickle-damp basements (or even those with occasional inches of water), since it's highly moisture tolerant, and cleans up easily. Unless more serious measures are taken for water management, that's probably the better way to go.
The faux woodgrain tiles aren't too ugly, if that's a look you're willing to pay for. Simple plain square or rectangular paver tiles are less expensive and pretty easy to deal with. With a pallette of 2 or 3 colors and sizes it can be patterned attractively too, if the mono-tone look seems too drab.
I have never seen the tiles I suggested in person - apparently, all of you who have find them less than desirable! Thank you for your direction.
Jay, you are probably right, but I want to keep my home as free from chemicals as possible. We did put down a vapor barrier in the crawlspace and it was as if we had performed magic - so many issues went away instantly. I'll look into AFM Safecoat and see if they have any sealant that will work.
Dana, would Armstrong flooring fit the bill? Ceramic is probably easy enough to install, but Armstrong might be a little more "fun."