Basement Flooring Suggestions/Ideas?

[crybdr]

My Fiance and I are purchasing a house in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Moving from Madison, WI.

We would like to find a flooring solution for the main room (and perhaps other rooms) in the new basement before we move-in. The current floor is carpet, which we will be removing immediately (it's in bad shape). The layer under the carpet is most likely VCT with 'asbestos'. Our home inspector is pretty convinced based upon the age of the home (1958) and the tile size.

Regarding the existing tiles, the inspector did say that the basement has stayed remarkably dry over it's lifetime - the tiles usually come loose around the perimeter, where water/condensation is the worst. These tiles seem well-adhered to this day.

I don't want to begin tearing up the existing tile. I would like to have a flooring solution that I can put over the existing tiles. Potential options are:
1. Carpet Squares (commercial grade)
2. VCT over the existing tiles?
3. Cork? (floating tiles, cork 'breathes' unlike other flooring)
4. Engineered Flooring Laminates?

The basement main room measures 20x22. The basement is 1/2 below grade and 1/2 at grade. The back of the house is a 'walk out' basement - the main room is biased toward the 'walk out' portion. The basement has sub-slab HVAC runs that feed the main basement room, the adjacent basement laundry room, and an adjacent basement bedroom.

My big question is if any of these options will work in a basement. It's hard to say how dry the basement is throughout the year. It is 'bone dry' right now, even with the light AC running for showings (it's unoccupied). Maybe we should live there for a season before we decide on a solution?

Looking for input.....I'd like to do this job only once....

Thanks,

crybdr

[cwsmith]

I use these in my basement here as I do get moisture, even to the point of seepage after several days of rain. At the time I bought them, they were about $5 per each 24 x 24 block. I don't have them covered or even installed in a permanently fixed manner... as I needed something quick. But even as they are, they are very effective and provide a very good floor for the shop as it's easy to stand on and move tools across. Even when I have water seeping across the floor, everything stays dry.

Here's the website: http://www.dricore.com/en/eIndex.aspx

I bought mine at Home Depot and at the time, Lowes carried a similar product. These have also proved very nice even for temporary floor storage in the garage...keeps the moisture from absorbing into boxes, etc.

I hope this is helpful,

CWS

[cabinetman]

If this will be living space and not shop type space, you might do what you suggested...live there for a bit and make a decision.


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