When installing insulated panels and plywood as a basement sub floor for carpet, do I nail it to the concrete?

Do I nail it to the concrete or just let it float?When installing insulated panels and plywood as a basement sub floor for carpet, do I nail it to the concrete?
I hope you haven't bought any plywood yet.





Never, ever, ever use plywood on a basement floor. Ever.





Here's what to do:





1. Install a vapor barrier on the basement floor. This will keep moisture and humidity from rising upwards, where it traps under the plywood and carpeting and rots, grows mold, and mildews.





2. STILL do not install plywood. Although you've helped fight humidity, you can still have a groundwater leak (if not now, a few years down the road), and if your washing machine hoses burst, or your water heater, toilet, pipes, water storage tank, sinks, tubs, or any other plumbing breaks in the home, the water is going to go into the basement, where the floor will get soaked and rot. grow mold, and mildew. Check out this article: http://www.basementsystems.com/basement-鈥?/a> those tiles make a good subfloor, or maybe you could seal the floor with this: http://www.concretesealerandblanket.org/鈥?/a>





3. Whatever sub floor you use, make sure it's plastic and has no wood or organic materials. Install the floor- don't adhere or attach it to the floor. You shouldn't need to, and the adhesives can be pushed off by efflorescence in the concrete.





4. Consider carefully which carpet you use in your basement. If it's organic, it can rot and grow mold too.





Good luck with your basement! Let me know if you have any other questions!When installing insulated panels and plywood as a basement sub floor for carpet, do I nail it to the concrete?
You will need to put down a vapor/moisture barrier first. 6-mil polyethelyne is good. make sure there are no gaps at all. Use construction adhesive to glue it to the edges of the existing floor.


Next, Lay the insulated panels so that there is no gap in them at all. A little carpet tape will hold tham to the poly. Now lay Pressure treated 3/4 plywood making sure that there are no gaps in the room, but leave a 1/8 gap at the edges.


Let all of this set for at least a week to make sure it is going to stay where you put it. Lay carpeting that states that it can be used in a basement area. (there are differences) Use standard carped padding and securring strips. I don't know the name of the strips but they go around the perimeter of the floor and are about1 to 1 1/2 inches from the wall.


Ya got children? Is it gonna be for a 'party' area? Think of using a dark color for the carpet.
I would just let it float. Once you break into the concrete floor you are opening a hole for bugs, moisture and dirt to get in.
a quicker, easier method would be adhesive. i.e. PowerGrab, liquid nails etc. Stagger your seams. Good luck