Question from Susan50
Hello Debra and folks: I am in the process of doing a renovation to my bedroom which is a basement bedroom that became moldy and unusable after water got in the home. I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada and am looking for building materials that will not annoy my MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivies) I have got the construction guys to put up the new drywall walls, and it is time to lay down the subfloor. These guys say they can not lay a wood subfloor directly on the concrete due to potential moisture/mold future issues. The subfloor they like is a clicking technology, with plastice egg carton type bottom and a particle board top. With my MCS being so severe I have issues with the offgassing from anything non natural. So, I am unsure what to do……they say a wood subfloor is bad on a concrete basement floor, and I say I need zero offgassing. I wonder if I put natural pine flooring on top of the plastic subfloor if that would hide the offgassing? Can anyone help with this? Thanks! Susan
Debra’s Answer
First, particleboard WILL offgas formaldehyde and pine flooring WILL NOT block the formaldehyde.
I have often laid wood flooring right on cement slab (the floor I am sitting on right now if laid directly on the concrete, however, if there are moisture problems with the concrete slab that’s not a good idea.
I would be inclined to solve the moisture problem with the concrete as you shouldn’t have a floor on top of damp concrete anyway. And they lay whatever you want right on top.
Readers, any other ideas about this?
A. I find pine a killer, so not think that’s the answer.
B. How about putting Denny foil between the concrete and the wood
C. Home Depot has some ‘formaldehyde free’ wood for a subfloor i believe; i’m notsure what that totally means, but should look into
D. Can/should seal both sides of the wood floor
d1. may want to consider sealing first with 2 or 3 coats of
afm safeseal
d2. then see how deal with the floor
d3. if need more, can put a 4th and/or 5th coat of vermont natural on top of that
good luck
Hi Susan, I’m in the same situation, but it’s the 2nd floor, so no concrete. What did you end up doing? Don