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The DRIcore Modular Subfloor System The Foundation for Basement Comfort
February 2007 -- The basement beckons as an affordable way to expand a home's living area. A playroom for the kids. Your very own home theater...wine cellar...exercise room... home office...workshop/studio. The list of what you can do with the basement is nearly endless - if you can get past the fact that it's cold and dark and often damp "down there." One increasingly popular solution to the problem of a cold, damp basement is DRIcore®, an easy-to-install modular subfloor system that is an intelligent foundation for comfortable living on concrete.
The Foundation for Basement Comfort
Comfort
The DRIcore subfloor system consists of 2' x 2' engineered wood panels bonded to a rigid, moisture-resistant polyethylene sheet with a molded-in grid pattern. The grid on the underside of the DRIcore panel lifts the wood core off of the concrete, creating an airspace -- or thermal break -- between the cold concrete and finished floor. DRIcore panels have an insulating value of R-1.7, or R-2 with the finished floor - sufficient to make the floor feel six or seven degrees warmer than the concrete underneath.
Because DRIcore is a wood product, it has the subtle resilience that is characteristic of a wood floor and is more comfortable for walking or standing.
An Easy Weekend Project
Even novice do-it-yourselfers will find that installing DRIcore is an easy weekend project that requires only simple tools. The panels have a precision tongue-and-groove design and are press-fit together. DRIcore is a "floating" floor, which means that seams are not nailed or glued. In most cases, DRIcore can be installed in one-third to one-half of the time of a conventional subfloor. A 500-square-foot basement floor can be easily installed in an afternoon.
Dealing with small, uneven areas in the concrete is easy with DRIcore's leveling shims. Simply stack the necessary number of shims on the underside of the panel at the low spot in the floor, until the panel is leveled.
At about $1.50 per square foot, DRIcore is priced comparably to conventional subfloor components, without the hassles of a conventional installation.
Versatility
DRIcore has been tested and installed successfully with a variety of finished floor options, so homeowners can select the floor covering that best matches their lifestyle -- carpet, engineered hardwood, laminate, vinyl or cork. In utilitarian applications, where comfort is the only consideration, such as a space around a workbench, the wood surface of DRIcore can be sealed with several layers of polyurethane for protection and no other floor covering material is required. It's also a great minimalist decorating look. DRIcore's thin, 7/8-inch profile has minimal impact on headroom, compared to a conventional subfloor over concrete that can reduce headroom by up to five inches.
Durability
DRIcore panels are engineered for strength. They are sturdy enough to support the heaviest furniture, including pianos and pool tables. Tested for extended periods in sauna-like conditions of heat and humidity far exceeding those found in typical homes and basements, DRIcore panels maintained their shape without warping or buckling.
Managing Moisture
DRIcore is an integral component in a moisture management plan that will create a healthy and comfortable home -- an important consideration in humid climates and older homes where there is no vapor barrier under the concrete floor. The open grid on the underside of each DRIcore panel permits air to circulate, which allows the concrete to breathe and helps to dry up humidity and condensation that may collect on the concrete. By contrast, conventional subfloors or carpets laid directly on concrete can trap moisture.
The raised design of the grid also keeps the wood core from coming into contact with the concrete, preventing long-term moisture damage to the wood and the finished floor over it. The engineered wood core allows for uniform expansion and contraction of the panels with normal changes in temperature and humidity.
Environmentally Friendly
Laboratory tests have confirmed that DRIcore and its component materials will not support the growth of mold, which is the source of musty basement odors. DRIcore is fabricated of safe, non-toxic materials that are 100 percent recyclable. DRIcore carries a 25-year warranty.
The DRIcore engineered wood subfloor system is a product of DRIcore Division, Longlac Wood Industries, a unit of Kruger, Inc. Montreal-based Kruger is a major pulp and paper producer and a leader in sustainable forest ecosystems and recycling.
Contact:
Nancy Deptolla
2007 (262) 236-4175
nbdeptolla@sbcglobal.net
