DRICORE® Subfloor R+
All the benefits of DRICORE Subfloors but with twice the insulating strength, so floors feel even warmer!
Features & Benefits
- Air Gap Technology helps protect against moisture, mold, mildew and small water leaks
- Makes finished floors up to 10°C/19°F warmer (R-value 2.7)
- Eases strain and impact from walking on hard concrete
- Helps promote healthy indoor air quality
- Strong enough to support up to 3,153 lbs. per sq. ft.
- Protects most finished flooring types
- Tongue and groove design makes installation fast and easy
- Limited 25 year warranty
Product Overview
DRICORE Subfloor R+ contains all the benefits of the DRICORE Subfloor panel, but with 2x the insulating strength. Designed with a layer of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), DRICORE Subfloor R+ delivers an R-value of 2.7. The secondary layer of oriented strand board (OSB), provides a solid foundation that can support any type of finished floor and furniture.
Basement Science Behind DRICORE® Subfloors
Features and Benefits
Air Gap Technology
DRICORE® has been designed with Air Gap Technology that encourages air flow to help protect against moisture emitted from concrete floors, as well as small water leaks.
10°C/19°F Warmer
DRICORE® Subfloor panels elevate your finished floors to create a thermal break from the cold concrete floors. Stay comfortable with floors that feel warmer all year round.
Soft
Concrete floors are hard and unforgiving on your body over time. DRICORE® Subfloors help soften finished floors for a greater level of comfort.
Easy to Install
Tongue and groove design makes the installation fast and easy. A 500sq. ft. room can be completed in an afternoon!
Air Quality
Raised subfloor panel design creates positive airflow beneath finished floors to help protect against mold and mildew growth.
Protects Finished Floors
Compatible with most types of finished flooring, can be used with Laminate, Engineered Hardwood, Carpet, Vinyl, Tile, and Stone Plastic Composite.
Strong
Strong enough to support gym equipment, and large furniture, DRICORE® Subfloors are rated to support up to 3,153 lbs. per sq. ft.
Limited 25 Year Warranty
Backed by a 25 year limited warranty, be confident when you choose DRICORE® Subfloors.
Install Instructions
How To Install DRICORE® SUBFLOOR
Accessories and Tools
DRICORE® Leveling Kit – 24 Pack
For sloping or uneven sections of your concrete foundation, DRICORE® leveling shims nest underneath DRICORE® subfloor panels to quickly adjust the height by up to 1/4”.
Tools Required
- Hammer
- Tapping block (piece of 2″x4″ lumber)
- Saw
- Pencil
- Level
- ¼” spacer (example: wood strip)
- Tape measure
- Pry bar or crowbar (optional)
Which Subfloor Is Right For You
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| Floor Temperature | Up to 6°C/10°F Warmer | Up to 7°C/14°F Warmer | Up to 10°C/19°F Warmer | Up to 10°C/19°F Warmer |
| R-Value | 0.9¹ | 1.4 | 2.7 | 4.1 |
| Weight Supported (per sq. ft.) | 6,600 lbs. (2,994 kg) | 6,642 lbs. (3,012 kg) | 3,153 lbs. (1,430 kg) | 3,650 lbs. (1,659 kg) |
| Air Flow | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Top | HDPE | OSB | OSB | EPS Foam |
| Bottom | PET | High Density Plastic | EPS Foam | EPS Foam |
| Size | 39.2″ x 25.6′ (99.5 cm x 780 cm) | 23.25″ x 23.25″ x 0.75″ (59 cm x 59 cm x 1.9 cm) | 23.25″ x 23.25″ x 1″ (59 cm x 59 cm x 2.5 cm) | 47.25″ x 23.25″ x 1″ (120 cm x 59 cm x 2.5 cm) |
| Height | 0.28″ (0.7 cm) | 0.75″ (1.9 cm) | 1″ (2.5 cm) | 1″ (2.5 cm) |
| Finished Flooring Options | Free-floating Engineered Hardwood, Laminate and Vinyl Plank (LVT/LVP) Flooring² | Laminate, Engineered Hardwood, Carpet, Vinyl, Tile, Stone Plastic Composite | Laminate, Engineered Hardwood, Carpet, Vinyl, Tile, Stone Plastic Composite | Laminate, Engineered Hardwood, Luxury-Vinyl³ (LVT/LVP) ≥5mm, Stone Plastic Composite |
| Warranty | 25 Year | 25 Year | 25 Year | 25 Year |
*Tested by an independent lab. ¹Based on modified ASTM C518-17 testing with LVT. The test result was 0.879 and has been rounded up to 0.9 for reference. ²For use with laminate and vinyl plank (LVT/LVP) flooring with a click-lock system (5 mm core or greater) and free-floating engineered hardwood flooring (12 mm core or greater). ³ LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) that is equal to or greater than 5 mm in thickness and has a clock-lock edge profile.
Ensure the concrete subfloor is properly levelled before installation. Always check with manufacturer for below grade installation of hardwood.DRICORE® Subfloor R+ and DRICORE® Insul-Armor® are only available online and in-store at select stores.
Project Calculator
Enter Square Footage
Formula
Length × Width = Square Footage
Square Footage ÷ 3.3 = Recommended Panels
Note: Actual panel dimensions are 23.25” × 23.25”
* This calculation includes an allowance for
obstacles and off-cuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. For uneven floor variances greater than 1/4″, we recommend first using a concrete self-patching compound or a similar liquid concrete patching product. For floor variances less than 1/4”, we recommend DRICORE® leveling shims.
To check for floor height variances, take a 4ft level or longer straight edge and place over the concrete surface where the installation is to take place. Raise the straight edge or level to the level line and measure the height difference between the concrete floor surface and straight edge with a measuring tape. Mark the spots on the concrete floor where liquid leveling is required and fill in as necessary.
DRICORE® Subfloor R+ is a simple do-it-yourself solution to help you create a warm, dry, comfortable basement that is fast and easy to install. Designed with a layer of extruded polystyrene foam (EPS), DRICORE® R+ delivers an R-value of 3.0.The secondary layer of oriented strand board (OSB), provides a solid foundation that can support any type of finished floor and furniture.
DRICORE® Subfloor R+ has all the benefits of DRICORE® Subfloors but with more than twice the insulation so floors feel even warmer! DRICORE® Subfloor R+ has are R-value of 3.0 vs. DRICORE® Subfloors which has a R-value of 1.4.
The DRICORE® Subfloor R+ panels come in a 1″ x 23.25″ x 23.25″ format. This size was created to provide a convenient, lightweight solution that is easy to handle and maneuver when loading into basements.
The DRICORE® Subfloor R+ panels are only 1″ in thickness, less than half of the height of a conventional subfloor.
DRICORE® Subfloor can support 6,642 pounds per square foot and DRICORE® Subfloor R+ can support 3,153 pounds per square foot as tested by an independent lab, so heavy furniture and equipment like pool tables, weight sets, and pianos are not a problem.
There are several options available for increasing airflow under DRICORE® panels. You can increase the occurrence of air flow under DRICORE® panels by cutting 3″ x 10″, or 4″ x 10″, air register vent openings every 10ft around the perimeter walls of the room to allow air to escape.
Add your favorite finished floor – think engineered hardwood, laminate, carpet, vinyl or ceramic tile.
Yes. When installing DRICORE® Subfloor & Subfloor R+ panels up to shower stalls or bathtubs, run a flexible caulking to seal the gap between the finished floor and the tub/shower unit in this area to prevent excessive moisture from seeping between the finished floor and DRICORE® Subfloor & Subfloor R+ panels. Continue to leave the 1/4″ spacing around the remaining perimeter edges as specified in our installation instructions.
While DRICORE® Subfloor & Subfloor R+ panels can carry the weight of tubs and/or shower stalls, it is recommended to install these fixtures directly over the concrete surface as to prevent exposure to leaks from plumbing or cracks in seams or fixtures to the surface of DRICORE® Subfloor.
See the finished flooring section for details on finished flooring installations.
DRICORE® Subfloor & Subfloor R+ can be installed in basements, slab-on-grade homes, garages, workshops, storage rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms and above ground concrete floors.
Most basement floors, even in new homes, are damp. Concrete is a porous substance and requires air circulation. As temperatures in the basement fluctuate, it creates the perfect environment for moisture to accumulate between the underpad and concrete. This is where mold can begin to germinate which can lead to poor indoor air quality. A subfloor ensures there is an air gap between the finished floor and the concrete to help protect against moisture, mold and mildew.
No. Gluing the panel edges is not recommended. The panels are intended to expand and contract with the seasonal temperatures of the basement. A vapour barrier over the concrete surface is not recommended. The built-in high-density polyethylene membrane is the moisture barrier on the underside of the panel, which allows incidental moisture to dry easily.
Yes, the easy-to-handle, 3/4″ x 23.5″ x 23.5″ panels are configured with a tapered tongue and groove edge making panel assembly fast and easy. Panels cut quickly with a circular saw, jigsaw, or hand saw.
The length of installation time will vary by the room size and complexity of room layout. An average 400 square foot basement should take 4 hours.
Yes, the panels cut quickly with a circular saw, jigsaw, or hand saw.
Sometimes wood variances occur, in this situation manually insert the tongue into the groove by lifting the boards slightly and inserting.
A conventional subfloor includes 2×4 sleepers, vapour barrier, 1″-2″ rigid insulation, 15/32″ plywood, and a lot of fastening. The combined height is between 2-1/4″ and 5-1/4″ compared to 1″ for a DRICORE® Subfloor R+ panel.
Color and texture variances are natural and not an indication of quality. Variances can be driven by several factors including; the type of trees, the geographical location of the trees and the growing conditions.
DRICORE® Subfloor & Subfloor R+ has an integrate high density polyethylene membrane bonded to the underside of the panel which provides an excellent moisture barrier. DRICORE® Subfloor has also been designed with Air Gap technology that encourages constant air flow and evaporation of surface moisture emitted from your basement concrete floor.
Yes, all DRICORE® Subfloor panels feature a 25 year limited warranty.