To install dricore

Perfect for what we needed. If you are reading this, you are probably looking for flooring options for your home maybe even a basement like us and want to learn about what to use.

Since DRICORE provides lots of installation instructions on their site here and you can make those work for your own space, I want to tell you more about why we picked this product over any others.

If you already know about DRICORE and are looking for tips on how to install it, especially in a older home, these are a few things we did to make our install a breeze. This is the leveling kit to use with this subfloor. Our basement of course was not a new build, but it was still easy to put these panels in. The first thing we did was to dry fit the space with a row of panels to see what size we would end up with at the end of the row and where we might have to cut.

Lay out the panels as best you can to get an idea of what your first row will look like and also if you have to do it near doors or at the bottom of stairs.

We started in the upper left corner of the room where there is an angled closet for utilities. The first piece went under that door. We did not cut off the corner, we just left the panel whole to stick into the door.

Ours is a closet for the electric panel. This can be done before you start the instal or during. We used a multi-tool to do this. This takes a little more time, but of course you have to cut the panels to fit around walls, doors, poles, and other structures in the space. We cut around two support poles and at the stairway. Instead of moving everything out of our basement for this install, we just shifted things from other parts of the space.

Once we finished an area, we put the furniture, freezer, shelves, and other items back. Overall this installation of the subfloor took us about two half days. And that is only because of doing other things on the weekend and working during the day, but it definitely can be done within a few hours when you have all the supplies and tools you need.

We did install a finished vinyl plank flooring over this, so please come back to the blog to see that. We really love having this product in our home. I specifically looked for something that we could use in the old basement that we have, that would give us a warmer space but also keep any potential water off of the floor. Dricore is really the perfect solution for all of that! Here are pictures of the floor finished. We already have put a vinyl plank flooring over this, so stay tuned for that blog post.

This subfloor immediately made the space warmer, more comfortable, cleaner, and like a space we actually want to use! Read about our basement projects here. We installed this in that basement bathroom and in one of the closets we have in the basement too. Make sure to watch the installation videos, which are super helpful. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article Steps. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: September 15, Remove any existing flooring material that will trap, block or absorb moisture such as vinyl, carpet or wood flooring. If you have asbestos tile, see the Environmental Protection Agency website for details. This is most important if installing a wood floor finish. For subfloor panel quantities, take the square footage of your room and divide by 3.

This equals the number of subfloor panels required. Prepare tools and materials necessary to install the subfloor panels see the "Things You'll Need" section below. Acclimatize the subfloor panels and wood flooring if applicable, to the temperature and humidity in the room where they will be installed. Start at the longest wall and pre-measure the length and width of the floor area to ensure the last panel pieces in each row end are greater than 6" in width.

Adjust the starting panel of each row to accommodate for the end of row panel width. Cut panels and spacer material outside or in a well ventilated garage. Check your starting corner for squareness.

If your starting corner is not at a degree angle into the room, then the wall edge of your first row of panels will require cutting. Slide the next panel against the starting panel by press-fitting the groove of the second panel into the tongue of the first panel tightly in place.

Use a tapping block and hammer to ensure a snug fit. Repeat until the row is complete. Use the pull bar to pull the last panel into place. Check each row for leveling and use leveling shims where required. Stagger panel seams of alternating rows by using off-cuts from previous rows as starting panels for these rows. Rows 1 and 3 look the same. Alternating rows 2 and 4 are staggered. Only work with 2 rows at a time. This will make adjusting panels or shimming for leveling easier.

Continue to install panels, staggering seams until the room is completed. Finish with your choice of finished flooring including openings for the vent covers. Install vent covers in the openings along outside wall edges every 10'.