Below Grade Flooring

This section applies to all levels of a home which are at ground level.

Below grade flooring.

Below grade below grade refers to a house s level that is below the earth s surface such as a basement or the lower level of a split level house. That s because the base material of the laminate can be damaged with prolonged contact with water and the top layers may begin to peel if they sit in a couple of inches of water during a flood. These sections are called floor grades. Basements garages and other areas below a home s main floor can prove challenging for floors.

The key to successful basement flooring installations is to ensure that the basement is dry and that there is a smooth flat surface for the new finish material. The purpose of below grade flooring is to have it resistant to flooding and other elements such as humidity and moisture. Here we ll highlight a few flooring options designed to handl. Below grade flooring basics.

Commonly used by contractors and builders the word grade is another term for ground level. Therefore below grade flooring refers to anything that is at risk of flooding since it is below ground more often than not below grade flooring is talking about basements. Installing below the recommended grade level can result in too much humidity and moisture getting into your hardwood floor causing it to warp and even crack. Below grade flooring does not refer to cheap sub standard flooring.

Basements can be susceptible to flooding for several reasons. While floors made with organic materials can be installed below grade they are not generally recommended for high humidity areas. It does not matter if the depth is only centimeters below the ground it is still considered below grade. There is on grade above grade and below grade definitions.

This humid air can then seep through cracks and seams causing the laminate flooring material to warp or rot. Some of these types include hardwood and bamboo. When it rains the saturated soil around the basement can cause a basement to feel particularly muggy. Because the floor of your basement is below grade and the lowest surface within your house it requires special considerations before flooring can be installed.

Everything above grade is safe from water vapor migration. In a general local flood such as may happen in the springtime the water that fills the streets will naturally spill down into any lower areas. Laminate flooring in a below grade space needs a proper subfloor which sits above the concrete and provides a raised surface to lay the laminate on. Above grade flooring is safe too from most normal instances of flooding.

If you re looking for laminate flooring for sale online wayfair has several options sure to satisfy the pickiest shopper. Below grade flooring below grade refers to flooring that is installed below the earth s surface this could be anywhere from 4 inches to 30 feet below ground or deeper.