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If you use the right foam adhesive, and enough of it and weight each sheet in place while it is curing, you do not need any tapcons, IMO
A question
While greatly inspired and motivated by Andy's article to insulate and finish the walls and floors in our basement, I started running into details that are not addressed in the article (FHB #169).
The stairs down to the basement lands where there is a door into the utility/laundry room to the left.
Open to the right is the family room, with additional bedroom/bath/kitchen area in a walled off section of the basement.
How is the utility room floor handled, especially with two floor drains, one near the boiler and a second one near the door into the utility/laundry room?
It would be nice to also insulate and finish the walls, but if the floor is to be also finished, how are the floor drains handled?
The boiler area on one end of the utility room on the corner of outside walls would be enclosed and vented for combustion supply air (through the outside wall), so that area of the floor could be left unfinished with the floor drain.
Also, as I continue covering the floors, what are some options at the basement door to the outside?
With the slight elevation in floor height, I suppose a new threshold and slightly shorter door would be needed? The door is long overdue for replacement anyway.
Andy's Article
I had the same questions. Also, is my stair case now out of code?, How do you handle transitions? What about the area around the furnance and hot water heater?. What about drains?
I am shamelessly Rez Bumping my question...
And at the same time, perhaps suggesting to FH editors this may be a helpful followup subject to Andy's very helpful article on basement renovation.
Happy happy new year.
I noticed Andy post a message here a few days ago... maybe your message will catch his eye.
Cal asked Andy if he'd seen your question over in the "Carpentry Skills Test, for potential employees?" thread. You could head over there to see Andy's response.
I do not finish the floor in the boiler/utility area of basements. In New England, we heat with fuel oil, and if that were to get into the foam and plywood - yuck. Plus, the code requires 3 ft. clearance to combustables, or whatever the appliance manufacturer states, so that pretty much takes care of a wood/foam floor. As to other floor drains, water would still find its way under the foam to the drain. But those drains shouldn't ever see water anyway, or you have no business finishing that basement.
Yes, your stairs would be out of compliance. Some inspectors will okay that, others not. Here's a cool thing from the IRC though. If there's a landing, and a step or a couple of steps down from it to the basement, you only need to change out the bottom flight. The code says that riser heights have to be consistent within a flight of stairs. It also says that a flight of stairs ends at a landing. In short, the risers can differ on either side of a landing.
As to the exterior door, consider an outswing, or raising the threshold. That might get you into the first floor framing, however. There's no one answer to this question.
Hope that helps,
A
Thank-you!
Andy -
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
And thanks to the folks who alerted you about the questions.
Your explanation for not finishing the utility room floor makes perfect sense, although we have a natural gas boiler.
I suppose the walls could be finished, but there won't be the sealed joint between the wall and unfinished floor?
Or would you seal the wall insulation along the floor?
Will have to deal with the slight drop by the thickness of the built up floor layers when entering the utility room.
The stairs, in my case, may require some reconfiguring as it is a straight shot down from the top landing.
Might even offer an excuse to introduce an intermediate landing and change direction 90 degrees.
Plenty of contemplating over the exterior door dilemma, which could result in interesting options.
Been wanting to build an airlock structure ouside the door.
Thank you again!
Alan
Alan, I would just run the wall plate to the slab in this area, and seal there.
As to your stairs, well, Taunton has a really good book out on building them, or so I hear. <G>