A Wood Floor That Can Survive Anywhere

Creating extra living space in your house doesn't necessarily mean building an addition. Many basements are viable options for conversion to livable space. To make a subterranean room feel even more homey, you can install a wood floor-which isn't such a crazy idea if you use the method Charles Peterson outlines in this article. Peterson, a wood-flooring expert, recommends a system built in layers: first, the concrete slab; second, a layer of 15-mil polyethylene vapor retarder; third, two layers of 1/2-in. or 5/8-in. exposure-1 plywood; and finally, the finish flooring. This article includes a sidebar about choosing the best engineered flooring for a basement or slab project.