Conditioned or not is the whole question
A heated, dehumidified basement with a sealed slab is a conditioned space, and solid wood on the floor above behaves normally.
An unheated basement, or one that runs above 60 percent humidity in summer, feeds moisture into the underside of the floor above all season. Solid wood over that will cup, and no finish, species or installer skill changes it.
- How it is done
- an unconditioned basement is a humidity source under the whole floor
- What goes on the floor
- engineered, or solid with a proper vapour retarder and a conditioned basement
- Ready to use
- n/a
- Typical cost
- $6 – $10 per sq ft installed
- Service life
- n/a
What goes over what, in a Des Moines house
The test is a hygrometer left in the basement through July and August, not an opinion in April. Above 60 percent for weeks at a time means engineered rather than solid on the floor above.
Directly on the slab, engineered is the only wood option, glued with a moisture-control adhesive or floated over an underlay carrying a vapour retarder. The slab gets a moisture test first and the number selects the adhesive.
If the basement has ever taken water, LVP is the honest recommendation for the basement floor itself. It survives an event that ends any wood floor, and it costs about half.
The floor laid by someone who did not ask
What we get called out to is a solid floor laid over an unconditioned basement by someone who did not ask. It looks right for a year, and cups through its second summer, and the only real fix is the basement.
Where we work
We cover Des Moines, the western suburbs, the Ankeny corridor and the older neighbourhoods inside the city, including and 18 more areas.
Questions we get asked about hardwood over a basement
Can I put solid hardwood over a basement?
Only if the basement is heated and dehumidified. Otherwise the floor above will cup in summer.
What goes directly on a basement slab?
Engineered wood or LVP. Never solid. Test the slab moisture before choosing the adhesive.
How do I know if my basement is dry enough?
Leave a hygrometer down there through July and August. Consistently under 60 percent is what you need.
Get a free estimate
Tell us what you need. We answer the same day, the free estimate is on site, and nobody chases you afterwards.
Get your floor looked at
Call and we will come out, measure, and leave you a written quote. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation afterwards.