Do they really need to break my floor?
Dear Contractors.com,
I’m planning to put in a basement apartment in my home. I've had a contractor here and he told me that to install the bathroom and kitchen, he will have to break the concrete floor and dig trenches to lay the plumbing. I don't like the idea of him cracking the floor. Will this cause water damage in the future? Should I have a subfloor put in?
– M.B., Centreville, VA
“When building a bathroom in an unfinished basement, in 90% of cases the contractor will need to break the concrete floor in order to connect to the main drain,” says Danny Hue, owner of Zanteck Custom Design.
The good news is, you may be able to limit the amount of the basement floor that needs to be broken by doing some research at the county records office and pulling up the original drainage plans – which will indicate where the main drainage line for your home is located. If you have your own septic system, you can find the plumbing plan for your home at the health department.
“It is important to know where the main drainage pipe is located at the planning stage of the project, in order to comply with local building codes,” advises Hue, based on his 10 years of experience in the residential construction industry. “In Virginia, for example, a bathroom must be at least two feet away from a gas heater, electric heater or water pump, so your floor plan needs to take that into account.”
But there’s no need to worry. After the plumbing is connected, the trench will be covered up and sealed with concrete cement, and there’s no way for water to leak in.
Finally, if you’re going to install hardwood flooring or carpeting, it is a good idea to install a plywood subfloor to prevent moisture from seeping up onto the surface. It is also more energy-efficient, and keeps the floor warmer in winter. For laminate flooring, a subfloor is essential to prevent twisting and buckling. But keep in mind that installing a subfloor will cost between $1500 and $2000, or more if it is larger than 1000 square feet.
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