What floor to put in the garden level of brownstone? (1st floor/basement)

We are renting out our garden floor. Please advise what type of floor is suggested to put on the floor. We were thinking porcelain tile but now changing our mind since floor would be too cold. Maybe oak floor, engineered or laminate ? Please advise

homebuyer

in Brownstoner Renovation 11 years and 11 months ago

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janeinteriorsnyc | 11 years and 11 months ago

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I think tile floors work really well outside of the kitchen and bathroom area in warm climates. In colder climates, they really are unpleasantly cold. There are many new duplexes in Brooklyn with tile floors on the lower level and my clients who have purchased them really don’t like them. I think the sturdiest thing you can do that will wear well for many years is an oak floor. It fits with the brownstone and will make the space more inviting than tile. www.janeinteriorsnyc.com

homebuyer | 11 years and 11 months ago

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What is your outlook on laminate floor? Also can we place the laminate floor on top of the existing tiles?

greenmountain | 11 years and 11 months ago

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It will not feel as cold. But how much depends on the substrate. If your tile and membrane is set on a concrete slab, over earth, it will feel colder than if you have a plywood sub floor over a cellar. The tile feels cold, even if it is the same temperature as the air around it, because it is dense and draws heat out of your body. If it is set on concrete, it will feel colder because you are contacting a thicker dense floor, but the membrane also has air channels built in. It will do other things well too in your garden level space. Don’t expect miracles. Tile is fragile and unforgiving if your prep and installation is wrong. But, the engineering is effective and the track record is long. Search on Schluter Ditra.

homebuyer | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Will the membrane decrease the coldness of the tile?

greenmountain | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Regarding your sheet rock question: I haven’t seen a lot of problems, when I took apart the walls of basement apartments, which could have been avoided had the contractor only used a vapor barrier. I am interested in what other people say. But, I hate sheet rock. It is so fragile and ugly, compared to original plaster walls. The original plaster didn’t have a vapor barrier, so why should sheet rock? I suppose if the brownstone next to your walls is occupied, the moisture level on both sides will be about the same. Do you have a cellar under your basement apartment? Cellar or not, I am more clear on the floor. On most substrate, as long as the tiles are 2 x 2 or larger, set the porcelain on Ditra uncoupling membrane and follow the directions exactly. All of your concerns will be accounted for.