It is fairly common to see the advice to never install solid hardwood floors in a basement or below-grade. Conventional wisdom is that sub-grade spaces are limited to engineered woods due to the changes in temperature and humidity, and the likelihood of too much moisture in the subfloor. With the Elastilon Self-Adhesive Membrane for installation of wood floors, conventional wisdom has been tilted on its head. Elastilon is perfect for installing a solid wood floor in the challenging environment of a basement because:
- It creates a floating floor that allows for overall expansion and contraction of the wood.
- It expands & contracts with the wood, eliminating gapping and visible seams.
- It seals the bottom surface of the wood and is waterproof, virtually eliminating cupping.
- It is quickly installed over a vapor barrier where the moisture content of the subfloor exceeds 3.9%.
- It provides cushioning of the floor, for both comfort and sound reduction.
If you’ve wanted to install a solid wood floor in your basement or sub-grade space and have always been told it isn’t an option, times have changed! Ask your installer, hardwood supplier, or us about the Elastilon system for wood flooring installation.