Platon Subfloor - Anyone use it?
zeetwoeight
subfloor from HD (roll of dimpled plastic like the bottom of those
Drycore tiles). I've heard rave reviews from those who have used it
from "up-along" but I want to know if anyone here on The Rock has used
it? If so, what are the pros/cons you have experienced.
Thx
Borrall Wonnell
I'm also interested in this. It's much cheaper to build a floor out
of this + T&G rather than buying those 2'x2' panels.
Rex
I have it installed in my basement as well as another basement.
I had approximately 1000sqft undeveloped in my basement when I moved
in. The front half I used the DriCore 2x2 tiles. They were easy to
put down and I have had no issues with them. The second half of my
basement I discovered Platon. It's about 1/3 of the cost of the
DriCore.
I have to say it was excellent...faster to put down, easy to work
with. At the end of the day using 5/8 t&g OSB it is the same height
of the Dricore...7/8 of an inch.
I rolled it out...sealed the seams with plastic adhesive and also
taped the seams. Put down my sheets of OSB. Did the entire 500sq ft
in an afternoon. Nothing to it!
zeetwoeight
Thx Rex for the info. I'm really leaning towards the Platon due to
simplicity and cost (for me, 1/2 the cost of Dricore).
Do you have any flooring put over your subfloors? I'm thinking about
a high quality laminate or engineered hardwood. Just wondering about
coldness of that type of floor over the traditional polybead +
strapping. Everyone says to put carpet in the basement and I probably
will for one of my rooms but I hate the look of it and would prefer
laminate or eng. hardwood.
Oh ya, did you Tapcon the OSB down into the concrete as per their
installation instructions?
Again, thx a lot for this.
Borrall Wonnell
> Thx Rex for the info. I'm really leaning towards the Platon due to
> simplicity and cost (for me, 1/2 the cost of Dricore).
>
> Do you have any flooring put over your subfloors? I'm thinking about
> a high quality laminate or engineered hardwood. Just wondering about
> coldness of that type of floor over the traditional polybead +
> strapping. Everyone says to put carpet in the basement and I probably
> will for one of my rooms but I hate the look of it and would prefer
> laminate or eng. hardwood.
> Oh ya, did you Tapcon the OSB down into the concrete as per their
> installation instructions?
>
If you're concerned about heat loss, you could always sandwich a thin
layer (maybe 1/2") of rigid XPS styrofoam (blue or pink) between your
Platon membrane and OSB. Kent sells a similar 2'x2' product
(Barricade) with T&G OSB on one side and 1/2" XPS styrofoam on the
other, so I don't see why such a DIY 'sandwich' wouldn't work.
This way you get the benefits of Platon (air gap, water channel) +
some additional insulation (R3) with a minimal height penalty.
Presumably it is strong enough without any strapping, but I'm not 100%
sure.
If you're really concerned about height, you can shave inches using
Ceiling Link, a suspension grid without the suspension. Attaches
directly to ceiling joists and has built-in levelling capabiliity (no
need for furring in most applications):
A friend installed this on his own with good results. The catch is
that you have to order it online (no local retailers).
zeetwoeight
Never heard of ceillink before but it looks like a great alternative
to save a bit of head room.
SO now I throw this out as food for thought - the Platon website
states that you can lay laminate directly on top of it without any
need for a 5/8 subfloor. So that gives me the impression that this
stuff is really rigid with very little flex. So if that's the case,
what about the following: platon floor > 1/2" polybead > 1/4" osb
subfloor. Or would the 1/4" OSB flex too much on top of the
polybead. Keep in mind however that the OSB could be tapcon'd to the
concrete floor. Would a laminate/engineered hardwood floor on top of
that flex too much I wonder?
Borrall Wonnell
> SO now I throw this out as food for thought - the Platon website
> states that you can lay laminate directly on top of it without any
> need for a 5/8 subfloor. So that gives me the impression that this
> stuff is really rigid with very little flex.
Platon is a thin (24 mil) HDPE membrane, so flex/compression is
irrelevant. As long as the concrete is sound and level you wouldn't
have a problem.
> what about the following: platon floor > 1/2" polybead > 1/4" osb
> subfloor. Or would the 1/4" OSB flex too much on top of the
> polybead. Keep in mind however that the OSB could be tapcon'd to the
> concrete floor. Would a laminate/engineered hardwood floor on top of
> that flex too much I wonder?- Hide quoted text -
>
Don't do it!!
First of all, polybead (the white stuff, aka expanded polystyrene) is
not suitable for supporting a floor...you will get lots of flex unless
you run sleepers. Not only that, but polybead has a low R-value
compared to high density extruded polystyrene.
Second, 1/4" OSB is not suitable if you're building a subfloor...you'd
be better off only laying the Platon membrane. 1/4" OSB/ply will not
adequately support loads (flex).
Third, when building a subfloor it is important that you use tongue-
and-groove materials. I don't even know if T&G is available for 1/4"
materials. Use 5/8" T&G like everyone else.
stan
High density foam versus:
Is it not possible for polybead (AFIK that's the 'white' stuff) to be
prone to soaking up moisture/water?
Seem to recall picking up a piece of 'styrofoam', that had been left
outside, with water dripping 'out' of it!
Is high density (pink or blue?) closed cell?
Borrall Wonnell
> Seem to recall picking up a piece of 'styrofoam', that had been left
> outside, with water dripping 'out' of it!
>
Expanded polystyrene (also known as polybead, EPS, white styrofoam,
etc.) will 'soak up' moisture. Not a great idea for most basements,
and the compressive strength is not generally adequate to support a
subfloor.
Extruded polystyrene (also known as XPS, high-density, pink/blue,
Styrofoam SM) is generally closed-cell and will resist mositure.
The real question is whether or not XPS (pink/blue) is 'strong enough'
to support an OSB subfloor. Platon claims a compressive strength of
6000 lbs/sqft (about 40 PSI). Dow makes Styrofoam with a range of
compressive strengths: 15, 30, 40, 60, and 100 PSI. So the answer is
a qualified 'yes'...as long as you buy the correct product.