No, you shouldn't use epoxy paint directly on DRICORE® panels. They aren't solid concrete, so epoxy won't bond properly and will likely peel.

The ventilation system of your home recycles air causing pressure changes throughout the house. These pressure changes force air under baseboards, cracks, expansion gaps, cavities of studs, leaks from ducting etc… Do not seal or block the 1/4″ gap in a way that prevents air from filtering underneath panels. When installing trim, it is best to raise the trim slightly above the finished flooring material, by approximately 1/8″, to help encourage airflow. For basement conditions, proper ventilation and a dehumidifier is recommended to control temperature and humidity levels.

Yes. Install DRICORE® Subfloor panels as recommended in our instruction sheets. For garage installations, panels must end a minimum 1ft from the garage door opening. Anchor panels with Tapcon type concrete fasteners at the leading edge, install a 3/4″ transition strip to protect the edges of the panels, and anchor perimeter wall edge panels to the concrete floor every second panel.

Not for most installations, but it is required in some installations. Below is a list of conditions that require fastening:

If a power carpet stretcher will be used to install carpeting: prevent panel uplift when stretching carpet by fastening DRICORE® Subfloor panels to the concrete floor with Tapcon type concrete fasteners at perimeter edges every four feet plus one in the panel in the centre of the room.

If using DRICORE® Subfloor panels for a garage or workshop where the panels will be left exposed, fasten every second panel along the perimeter wall edges to the concrete floor to prevent lateral movement or shifting with heavy equipment or use. Keep in mind that DRICORE® Subfloor panels are not manufactured to be a finished floor nor left exposed to exterior weather elements.

If installing walls on top of DRICORE® Subfloor: use two fasteners for each 8 foot base plate, through the panels and into the concrete floor to fasten base plates.

If installing tile on the DRICORE® Subfloor panels.

No, but if you have a drain or access to clean-outs, access should be maintained, not restricted. Be sure to check with your local authority for building code recommendations before covering any basement floor drain or clean-out access.

It is not a requirement to install a basement drain prior to installing DRICORE® Subfloor. If you install DRICORE®Subfloor panels over the drain access, cut an access opening in the panel that rests over top of the drain and install a decorative floor drain cover over top of your finished flooring.

There are several options available for increasing airflow under DRICORE® panels. You can increase the occurrence of air flow under DRICORE® panels by cutting 33 x 103, or 43 x 103, air register vent openings every 10ft around the perimeter walls of the room to allow air to escape.

Transition strips for bridging floor height variations can be found in the flooring or lumber department of your local home improvement centre. Use a combination of 1″ flat moulding stock and quarter round mouldings as a transition.

It is recommended to install radiant floor heating systems on top of the DRICORE® Subfloor panels for optimal performance. The insulating properties of DRICORE® Subfloor will slightly reduce the effectiveness of a radiant floor heating system that is installed underneath DRICORE® Subfloor panels.

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.

Add your favorite finished floor  think engineered hardwood, laminate, carpet, vinyl or ceramic tile.

DRICORE® Subfloor Membrane has an R-value of 1.4, which helps make finished floors feel warmer above cold concrete floors.

Use only the number of shims required to level the panel and eliminate movement. Ensure the panel remains fully supported and stable. Do not stack more than 4 shims on top of each other.

Nailing into the OSB layer alone may not provide adequate holding power and can restrict the floating design of the DRICORE system. Follow the flooring manufacturers installation instructions.

No. DRICORE subfloor panels are designed to be installed directly on concrete and include a built-in moisture management system.

Address the source of the water first. Once resolved, allow the area to dry thoroughly. In cases of significant flooding, panels may need to be removed for inspection and drying. If the OSB has been wet for an extended period of time, the affected panels should be replaced, as swollen OSB will not return to its original thickness once it has absorbed moisture.

DRICORE panels are designed so the top surface remains flush, even when thicknesses vary between generations. When joining an older panel to a newer panel, align the top surfaces and shim the thinner panel as needed. For differences less than 1/163, a single shim at the midpoint of the thinner panel is typically sufficient. For larger differences, additional shims may be required to create a smooth transition.

Over the years, DRICORE has made small product improvements that may result in minor thickness differences between older and newer panels. These changes were introduced gradually to minimize noticeable transitions, and the top surface of the panels remains aligned for a smooth finished floor.

No. Self-leveling compounds are not designed for use over DRICORE panels. The concrete should be leveled before installing DRICORE.

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, all DRICORE® Subfloor panels feature a 25 year limited warranty.

DRICORE® Subfloor is a simple do-it-yourself solution to help you create a warm, dry, comfortable basement that is fast and easy to install. DRICORE® Subfloor is designed with a high density plastic membrane containing a patented air gap pattern to ensure moisture emitted from concrete floors can naturally evaporate. The secondary layer of oriented strand board (OSB) provides a solid foundation that can support any type of finished floor and furniture.

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.

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.

Sometimes wood variances occur, in this situation manually insert the tongue into the groove by lifting the boards slightly and inserting.

The DRICORE® Subfloor panels are only 3/4″ in thickness, less than half of the height of a conventional subfloor.

The DRICORE® Subfloor panels come in a 3/4″ 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.

Yes, the panels cut quickly with a circular saw, jigsaw, or hand saw.

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. 

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.

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. 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 & Subfloor R+ can be installed in basements, slab-on-grade homes, garages, workshops, storage rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms and above ground concrete floors.

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.

Stud walls can be set right on top of your new DRICORE® Subfloor. Install your 2’ X 4’ walls directly on top of the DRICORE® Subfloor panels, measuring for a snug fit between the panels and ceiling. Once the walls are framed and in position, simply screw the bottom plates of the 2’ X 4’ wall to the DRICORE® Subfloor panels, using 2″ wood screws.

To finish the anchoring process, we suggest pinning the bottom plate to the concrete floor either using 3″ concrete nails or self-tapping concrete fasteners. Only minimal fastening to the concrete is required. For example, on an 8-foot length of the wall, you would require only two fastening points (one at both ends). Again, only minimal fastening to concrete is required. Too many fastening points breaking through the polyethylene moisture barrier may defeat the moisture resistant benefit of the DRICORE® Subfloor system.

When you install your subfloor over an unfinished basement, with the intention of framing your inside walls on top, you have to install the subfloor panels with a 13 perimeter gap to the foundation wall.

NOTE: If you are planning to use metal studs in place of wood, the base track for the studs should be affixed to the DRICORE® Subfloor panels with wood screws. Metal stud baseplates should be anchored to panels every 2 feet when installing over DRICORE® Subfloor panels. As above, two fasteners should penetrate the panel and go into concrete, securing the wall into place.

No problem. It is recommended when installing drywall to leave a 1/4″ gap between the concrete floor and the base of the drywall to avoid moisture contamination. Install 1/4″ spacers between the drywall and the DRICORE® Subfloor panels before panel installation.

Any surface treatments such as paints, stains, varnishes, and polyurethanes must be tested first for compatibility.

To apply, brush or roll on one coat of a high quality primer prior to painting, or 2-3 coats of polyurethane or varnish to the surface of DRICORE® Subfloor panels. Ventilate well during this process.