When wood sub floors are used on the basement floor, however, they can lead to serious problems for the homeowner.  Because concrete is porous and allows moisture to pass through it as water vapor, it regularly enters the home through all concrete surfaces in the basement.  If a wood sub floor is installed on top of this concrete, the moisture will instead become trapped underneath the wood.  The moisture will continue to build up and soak into the wood, causing it to swell with moisture and create buckling on the floor.

Even if no moisture was to come through the basement floor, it's just a matter of time before a pipe breaks, a sink overflows, a water heater breaks, or washing machine hoses burst.  When this happens, water can flood the basement floor and soak in.  With no easy way to remove the moisture, homeowners are forced to frantically remove the main flooring in an attempt to dry out the sub floor before the damage is permanent- a process that will not necessarily work.

As the floor boards buckle, they can make doors difficult to open in the area and create an uneven, creaking floor surface.  The moisture will also create the right environment for mold, rot, mildew, and dust mites, and some insects to grow and thrive in.  This mold will spread to any wood, carpet, cardboard, or other organic materials that are laid on top of the surface.  Eventually, the flooring will become so damaged that it will have to be ripped up, removed, and replaced at great expense to the homeowner.

As the flooring decays, it will create odors and unhealthy allergens that can become a significant health issue in the home.  Allergens that are created in a basement will rise through the home due to the stack effect.  The stack effect occurs as warm air in the home rises up and exits the upper levels.  Any air in the lower levels is then sucked upwards, and any allergenic materials that are pulled up with it enter the main living space of the home.  This means that humidity, mold spores, dust mite waste, and odors formed in the basement sub floor can find their way to your home.  And with mold spores sometimes being toxic and dust mite feces containing 15 household allergens, this is a situation that's too important to ignore!

The best basement sub floors are made out of vinyl and set on plastic pegs on the basement floor so that moisture is not building up underneath them.  If you're looking for an award-winning basement sub floor that will not support the growth of mold, rot, or dust mites while also insulating the basement floor, be sure to check out our ThermalDry Basement Sub Floor!  There's nothing like it for keeping your basement carpet free of mold and mildew!