Mike Lamb Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 We are considering installing a laminate floor in the kitchen of a Michigan summer home with a basement. It is an old drafty place that gets winterized every fall. Lots of damp rise from basement. I have concerns about the particle board substrate. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I didn't know folks were still installing floating floors with particle board substrates. There's other choices available that aren't moisture intolerant. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lamb Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I have not installed lam flooring in years and material was lam on particle board. I am not sure of what the materials are today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Yes, one thought. Don't do it. Yes, I know it's "approved for below grade installation", but it's an approval shot through with specifics that are almost impossible to attain unless it's a new property with damp proofing and complete perimeter drain tile system. When I see them in Chicago, even on properties that are relatively new, there's always the tell tale swelling and initial delam at the seams. If you went full tile Delta FL or a Schluter systems membrane, maybe, but I'd have to see the specifics of the install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I am not a happy fan of Schluter or any variety thereof. Tile is great, but even then the extreme temp and moisture changes would mandate a "perfect" install I would not install any laminate in a summer home. Especially over a basement. I do have some bias against laminate in general. Engineered wood is more better and certainly looks better. I know of several installs in summer house with engineered that work well. Michigan summer houses are a category that is unique. Of course, Minn, Wisc, Maine, Penn and New York are also similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 What don't you like about Schluter stuff? I've found them to have the miracle materials of all time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 What don't you like about Schluter stuff? I've found them to have the miracle materials of all time. it is one of those products that should be taken out of the big box stores and only sold to tradespeople. it is extremely costly, labor intensive and subject to failure if you don't use the entire system. it is wonderful if used properly and cost is not a consideration. Just my opinion. And it is a puke color! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 I'm seeing a good amount of bamboo flooring in vacation or weekend type homes that are closed up for periods of time. Another consideration would be the tiles that mimic the look of wood flooring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 it is one of those products that should be taken out of the big box stores and only sold to tradespeople. it is extremely costly, labor intensive and subject to failure if you don't use the entire system. it is wonderful if used properly and cost is not a consideration. Just my opinion. And it is a puke color! I agree, it is the sort of product that an amateur could really screw up. But, it's not at all costly or labor intensive when compared to traditional systems. We've adopted it completely. Cost is ameliorated by the speed it goes in; labor time goes way down. No worrying about getting the dry pack right or working the cream up to the top; the fleece gets you the little drainage plane and the stuff drains great. No more clogged weeps in the receptor. Totally waterproof; no more waterlogged pans, which are epidemic in my market. Perfect for steam. The Ditra uncoupler is great. Incredibly great. They're new floor heat that goes in with the Ditra makes every other floor heating system obsolete. I'm doing my own shower right now with the stuff. I've even gotten over using the polystyrene pans; it's not the usual polystyrene we see; it's more dense and it works great. I used the 2" Kerdi panels on the exterior solid masonry wall; I "framed" the thing with foam. It's a miracle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 I'm doing my own shower right now with the stuff. I've even gotten over using the polystyrene pans; it's not the usual polystyrene we see; it's more dense and it works great. I used the 2" Kerdi panels on the exterior solid masonry wall; I "framed" the thing with foam. It's a miracle. I built a 4x4 shower and had it tiled in one day. The stuff is awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 Yeah. No more Durock/Wonderboard. No more humping a (literal) 1/2 ton of mud up the stairs for the mortar bed. I've read that in Europe, they "frame" up the entire bathroom in 2" Kerdiboard. I'm going to try it someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Continuing the 'slight' thread drift, but Chad noted he built a shower using a system ... I figured I could add the YouTube below about the "Wedi Board" system. I'm intrigued by it and am wondering about input from others who may have had some experience with it. My wife and I are finally getting around to remodeling our Master Bath (2-year planning project). Our house was built in 1982, typical green board around shower and flexible membrane shower pan. I'm preferring to try to get it as "right" as possible when I get all torn out to studs and start the refacing. It's a 14-minute video from the manufacturer, but easy enough to fast-forward to get basics. [utube] " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 I should move this to another heading, but what the hell..... It has some similarities to the Kerdi system; waterproof foam board substrates being the main one. Not a fan of the caulked seam thing and their drain assembly seems particularly Mickey Mouse. Note....I am a huge fan of foam board substrates substituting for all the crap everyone currently uses, so the basic component is probably great. Also, if you're not building brand new with the luxury of putting the drain anywhere you want, you got some gymnastics to perform getting it to all line up. Is your MBR bath currently a tub/shower? If so, Kerdi makes a kit specifically for that. Comparing the two, I'd vote Kerdi. Kerdi also has some really cool drain options; hidden slot drains, linear trench drains, tile in the strainer options, etc. If you're going to do a cool shower, the drain assembly is one of those details that can really tie it all together.....the Dude abides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 No the shower is separate. I did the tub a couple of years ago. Shower is not huge, but far larger than a typical single-stall shower. No exotic spray heads and such. Just two heads with a valve to switch between the two. The 2nd head is handheld. I'm kind of a KISS person. Less things to 'go wrong' that way. I'm looking up the Kerdi system to see what I can learn on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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