ᐅ Cost Savings in the Basement – Affordable Tiles or Sealed Screed (Which One)?
Created on: 29 Jan 2014 13:09
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fragender-129 Jan 2014 13:09Hello,
since my girlfriend wants to spend a bit more on the hardwood flooring upstairs, I need to find out where we can save money elsewhere. One obvious place to cut costs is the flooring in the basement—specifically in the storage room (unheated) and in my planned workshop/office combination (planned with underfloor heating to keep it from getting too cold).
The initial plan was to use anhydrite screed, or anhydrite heated screed laid on insulation boards, with inexpensive tiles on top. Both rooms could also work well with cheaper flooring options—if the savings are significant enough. However, since apparently the screed would need to be sealed differently or possibly a different type of screed used if we skip the tiles, it’s not really clear whether we can save that much after all...
As a construction layman, my question is: what are the more affordable alternatives, and what level of cost savings can be expected compared to inexpensive tiles (material cost below 9.00 Fr. per m²)?
since my girlfriend wants to spend a bit more on the hardwood flooring upstairs, I need to find out where we can save money elsewhere. One obvious place to cut costs is the flooring in the basement—specifically in the storage room (unheated) and in my planned workshop/office combination (planned with underfloor heating to keep it from getting too cold).
The initial plan was to use anhydrite screed, or anhydrite heated screed laid on insulation boards, with inexpensive tiles on top. Both rooms could also work well with cheaper flooring options—if the savings are significant enough. However, since apparently the screed would need to be sealed differently or possibly a different type of screed used if we skip the tiles, it’s not really clear whether we can save that much after all...
As a construction layman, my question is: what are the more affordable alternatives, and what level of cost savings can be expected compared to inexpensive tiles (material cost below 9.00 Fr. per m²)?
C
Chris_23-129 Jan 2014 13:14Who installs the tiles in the basement? That’s where your potential savings lie.
I received quotes ranging from 25 to 50 CHF/m² (about 2.30 to 4.65 USD/ft²) from different tilers. Additional costs often included adhesive, baseboards, and silicone sealant.
The difference between cement screed and anhydrite screed for me was only 0.75 CHF/m² (about 0.07 USD/ft²), so there’s not much to save there. Personally, I would still opt for cement screed in the basement. In my opinion, a proper screed sealing won’t be much cheaper than an inexpensive porcelain tile (of course, this depends on the installation cost). With a ready-mixed screed, there are naturally stricter flatness requirements, which can increase the installation price (or require subsequent leveling).
If you want to save money: Why not install a click flooring yourself (laminate, cork, parquet, vinyl…)? There are quite a few nice options available, some even suitable for underfloor heating (though they might need to be installed a bit more tightly).
I received quotes ranging from 25 to 50 CHF/m² (about 2.30 to 4.65 USD/ft²) from different tilers. Additional costs often included adhesive, baseboards, and silicone sealant.
The difference between cement screed and anhydrite screed for me was only 0.75 CHF/m² (about 0.07 USD/ft²), so there’s not much to save there. Personally, I would still opt for cement screed in the basement. In my opinion, a proper screed sealing won’t be much cheaper than an inexpensive porcelain tile (of course, this depends on the installation cost). With a ready-mixed screed, there are naturally stricter flatness requirements, which can increase the installation price (or require subsequent leveling).
If you want to save money: Why not install a click flooring yourself (laminate, cork, parquet, vinyl…)? There are quite a few nice options available, some even suitable for underfloor heating (though they might need to be installed a bit more tightly).
Hi, as Chris_23 already mentioned, use a proper cement screed, and then lay the tiles on top of it. If the screed is installed correctly and the surface is truly level, you can save a lot by tiling yourself.
It’s really not as difficult as it seems. You apply the tile adhesive with a notched trowel and then place the tiles—you can also use tile spacers for the joints. 🙂
The only part I usually don’t enjoy is grouting the tiles, as you have to work quickly and avoid letting the grout dry before finishing.
It’s really not as difficult as it seems. You apply the tile adhesive with a notched trowel and then place the tiles—you can also use tile spacers for the joints. 🙂
The only part I usually don’t enjoy is grouting the tiles, as you have to work quickly and avoid letting the grout dry before finishing.
Louis schrieb:
I would avoid tiles, and prefer cork or laminate instead. Well, is cork or laminate really suitable for a basement?
R
Richard-116 Feb 2014 09:20I don’t think it’s a good idea to install cork or laminate flooring in the basement. We have a screed floor, and that is sufficient.
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