Foamboard is just one solution to safely putting down moisture sensitive flooring in the basement. You can also use Delta FL(or equivalent) or Dricore (or equivalent).

Vinyl flooring on concrete is just asking for bubbling and oozing water.

I have often successfully used low-pile synthetic carpeting directly on the concrete with no under padding in basements and wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

Tile or natural stone works well. And you can soften the ambiance with area rugs. I have severe dust allergies so I'm partial to hard surfaces on all floors.

Here is a link that might be useful: Understanding Basements

Worthy,
What about the RUSTOLEUM product used on garage floors with the speckle chips you throw in..its an epoxy...It says for concrete and I know its popular in garages...?

With appropriate preparation, epoxy coatings should work well. Building Science regards high-quality brands as appropriate for basements.

I have no personal experience with them, but others here have.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Apply Epoxy

read some of the 'understanding basemen't stuff...still confused.

So stone type tile hith with the propper adhesive would apparently let the floor 'breath'. It seams synthetic carpet would as well.

Then what are these vapour barried pads they push for under the carpeting? what about the carpet advertised for basements with the padding built in? To me that blocks the water vapour from passing thru. The carpet people say the material will not mold so its fine and that I would not be getting puddles of water anyway. Ditto say the HD folks on the Allure vinyl floating floor product.

Another question...I was hesitant to try concrete stain as it seams its more a layer of paint that will peel. Well I spilled some grey wood sideing stain in the work area of my basement. I wiped it up. It seamed to penetrate the concrete...begs the question...will a fence stain work on the floor...

Allure vinyl planks are suitable for a basement, according to the manufacturer Halstead International. The gaps around the edges of the installation and joints are not as tight as vinyl tiles and the planks are not glued down. So that would presumably handle the moisture drive problem.

what are these vapour barried pads they push for under the carpeting?

I've responded on thisbefore.

will a fence stain work on the floor.

Probably, if it's a solvent-based stain. However, it would seem to make sense to use stains designed for concrete.

On new concrete floors in unfinished basements I've often used concrete floor paint to keep the dust down and have noticed no problems for many years.

Here is my experience with Allure-
After researching floor options to death, we installed Allure vinyl planks in our basement in April. We installed it ourselves in about 5 hours (~300 sq ft), for $600 or so. (I loved that HD had free shipping and lets you return unused boxes)

Our basement is dry and we have great drainage, but we seem to have bad luck with flooding - drains backing up, hot water heaters belching water, and such. True to form, a few days after installing the Allure, our laundry room flooded with 3" of water. (this time it was washer installation error.)

Amazingly, the floor is fine. It was a little squooshy at first, but I toweled up the water as it came up through the joints over a week or so (It is pretty water tight, but it's certainly not 100%) and have had no problems since.

Anyway, we've been really happy with it-- at this price, I had really low expectations. I am keeping an eye/nose on the laundry room, but I expect it will smell musty if mold is present (this happened with the carpet in another part of the basement that flooded a while back), and it hasn't at all.

so there was no need to remove the allure stuff and let everything dry?

Worthy,
So what kind of tile is good for a basement...HD has .68 sq ft ceramic tile that does not look bad. What will be resilient to stuff getting dropped on it, be non slippery and inexpensive...ideas?

How hard is it for a DIY'er to install...I am thinking about trying it myself..in my work room...before I hit the main areas..of the basement...if I screw it up..no harm done there! I assume there is a special premix adhesive for basement concrete? I do not want grout lines so I assume tiles can abut each other.

Was just at the depot and saw some real cheap ceramic tile that did not look half bad. I did not get the PEI # though. I think I saw some that was unlazed. I assume this would not be slippery. Is this:

1) suitable for the basement

2) how will it hold up...I mean its only .68 sq ft!

3) how hard is it to install?

4) I hate cleaning grout. Are there disadvantages to NOT have grout lines...

I am thinking of trying it out in my workroom..I am the only one in there so if I screw it up...no big deal. If all goes well I'd run a path from there to my washer and up to the stairs..ie the walking areas. The remaining area I'd carpet as Worthy mentioned. Thoughts...

Tile chips if you drop something with concentrated weight on it. Like tools in your workshop. Or pots in your kitchen. So-called porcelain tile has colour throughout, but is expensive. I'd suggest using throw mats for a work area. Easier on your legs too.

Tile requires a grout line. The standard for fired clay tiles is 3/16"-1/4" wide. Aside from looks, the grout is where the water vapour comes through the flooring. It's why impermeable roll vinyl or rubber backed carpet are lousy choices for a basement floor.

When I was a real estate broker I would often walk across newly-laid tile in a basement, cracking a piece with every step. Some amateur had obviously not bothered to level the floors or sweep every last pebble away. Aside from a few bathroom wall tile repairs, I've left tiling to the pros. More people should.

Well worthy, I spoke with a lot of people this weekend, installers, sales folks and a contractor. Let me says that I understand that the concrete will to 'breath', release water vapour of some sort�we all seam to agree with that. I can see how it can do so thru the grout on a tiles floor. I can see how it could do so via a synthetic non-padded carpet as well. I can not see how it can do that thru the Allure vinyl flooring sold at HD that we spoke of. The joins overlap and stick in place�I see no way for vapour to pass thru�it would get trapped underneath. What I did come to understand is that is not necessarily a bad thing so long as:

1) the product is mold proof
2) you are not getting puddles of water underneath!

Further they claim they sell water/mold proof pads that could go under carpet OR are part of the carpet. Similary they have mold/water proof vinyl products that are perimeter glued.

I could have been fed a bunch of hooey�or maybe they thought process is different here in the states. I am not sure. I just know I am not comfortable putting carpet in from of all my appliances (washer, hot water heater, water softener.)

That leaves labor intesive tile, allure flooring or a vinyl product that lays on the concrete, glued on the perimeter that is supposedly mold proof.

At least that is what they tell me�.

I could have been fed a bunch of hooey

It comes down to whether you take the word of the building scientists or the vinyl flooring salespeople.

As mentioned above, Allure is not glued down, so the moisture drive is likely accommodated by the gaps.

Even materials that don't provide food for mould can be covered in mould feeding from foreign matter, such as dirt and skin flakes, on the "mould proof" materials. That's why it's important to remove any bulk water ASAP with vacuums and heat and use dehumidification in basements to keep the RH at least below 50%.

the only gaps with allure is the 1/8" gap left arund the perimeter...the sticky stuff seals gaps between 'boards'...with allure ultra...it snaps in place...says no gaps...says waterproof...still investigating...

Re:

With appropriate preparation, epoxy coatings should work well. Building Science regards high-quality brands as appropriate for basements.
I have no personal experience with them, but others here have. Here is a link that might be useful: How to Apply Epoxy

...just read thru the original link....
So, its not the vynil that the problem if you put down vinyl tile its the adhesive...

So how about the very thick armstrong sheet vinyl they sell at HD...it says no adhesive require...just tape around perimeter..I'd assume the vapour would still rise thru concrete, hit this mold proof barrier and dissapate back into concrete..

I have had a 24 x 24 peice of plastic taped to floor for a week...thru rain, cold and warm days...no moisture yet...

this is soooooo frustrating...a different story from everyone at big box stores and flooring stores..and I have found few folks who have:

1) ceramic tile in basement
2) carpet with no pad

They are pushing the mold proof, water proof or resistant sheet vinyl big time...no glue down...tape around perimeter. I agrue floor won't breath...they claim so what...vinyl won't mold....vapour will go back into concrete...

I am quite tempted to try the vinyl...I see no difference between this and the allure advanced snap together flooring...very frystrating...I really dont want carpet with the cats unless its an area rug thing....sheet vinyl is my second choice...area rug on top...wife against ceramic tile....which is likly cheapest!

The moisture doesn't go back into the concrete. It gets trapped beneath the vinyl and the concrete and feeds mould growth on the bottom of the "mold proof" vinyl.

As long as you put the uneducated self-interested views of flooring product salespeople on par with building scientists you'll be trapped in your conundrum. Good luck!

if its this simple I do not see how so many different 'safe for basement' flooring products are sold. I am also dubious of the whole Allure flooring line. To me there is NO difference between the snap together stuff that claims to be waterproof...and sheet vinyl...yet the Allure Advanced snap together is marketed as waterproof and mold proof.

Is it possible that these products are made of something that does not feed mold? I am tempted to take some of their samples and soak them and tape them down in the garage and see if anything grows!

We have a basement that does get dampness in the air, but no visible dampness on the floor. We had allure flooring down and i LOVED it -- just the right warmth and it looked beautiful. BUT we had a sewage backup issue and had to take the floor out, and saw plenty of mold on the bottom of the allure (that was not from the sewage as we took it up immediately and it was in areas well beyond the sewage). So, in a nutshll, even though the floor may be mold resistant, it will still form if you have enough vapor coming up on the bottom of any non permeable surface... hope my experience can help someone!

Good feedback. And exactly what I would expect.

The point that people forget is that even if the product doesn't provide food for mould, the foreign matter on it--dust, human skin flakes, organic fibres etc.--provide food for mould. That's why you find mould prospering on concrete--and vinyl--when their other vital needs, considerable moisture and the right temperatures, are available.

Well, I see no solution in site. I would have thought of the floors were swept before the allure...no mold. I am at a loss as to what to do. I like the carpeting idea but the carpet guys say it won't well w/out padding. Plus I have the cats to consider. Plus the area where the washer, water softener water heater etc etc etc are. I have a guy who want tp put down that Rustolium product typically found in garages...but I am not sure I trust it either.

Nice tips, guys!

I'm wondering if doing one of those acid stains then sealing would do the trick. I thought I remembered though reading something long ago which said that if you truly block the moisture from coming up, the moisture will find its way to the joints (?) or that area where the floor and wall meet, seeping out there or even climbing up the wall till it gets out somewhere. Did I dream that? I"m pretty sure I read that. So I too don't know what to believe. One neighbor had her house waterproofed by local waterproofing specialists who concentrated mainly on the inside, and added a sump pump etc and then she put cork flooring down and has had no issues in about 7 years. My other neighbor did stain and seal about 4 years ago and also hasn't had issues (but then her basement never did seem to get wet, if I recall). All our houses are on clay. Anyway, my instinct says that staining and sealing the floor is the best bet for preventing mold...I just hope that issue of climbing up the walls isn't legit! Because even if the sump pump kicks in and all is well with no odors etc, is that really good for the walls of the house (that essentially hold up the house?!) if the pores in the concrete are getting bigger and everything's waterlogged all the time? Sorry if that sounds ignorant but hell - I am ignorant about most of this stuff! : - p

We had a Mannington vinyl wood-look plank floor installed in our old basement. Had it for 10 years and loved it. Moved two years ago and installed Mannington slate-look vinyl tiles. This product is warm on your bare feet and softer than tile or real wood. never had any problems with moisture or mold.