What is best flooring material to lay on an interior cement slab floor I agree with Ben, as usual. Even just a damp slab can put several quarts of moisture passingfrom the ground through the concrete into the air per day, and a wet basement slab in contact with wster at its base  can generate as much as 10 gallons a day of air moisture - which means that pretty much anything placed on it WILL get damp enough to mildew or mold. For a wet slab, a polished concrete or epoxy/polyurea surface is your best bet. Basically has to be done the same way as for a gymnasium shower floor or pool deck to work right. For a damp slab, assuming it NEVER actually gets wet either from high water table under it in wet season, or from surface flooding from foundation leakage, then you have several options: 1) As Ben says, Pergo and others make totally plastic flooring material in a variety of surfaces that can be put down on a smooth slab over a vapor barrier and totally inorganic plastic padding - looks like bubble wrap commonly.

Some people also use snap or interlock together rubber or foam flooring over a vapor barrier, particularly in rec rooms, which can be taken up easily in event of flood. 2) A vapor barrier under an inorganic pad as above, overlain with an open-weave backing synthetic fiber (nylon, rayon) carpet with NO natural materials in it, which has lots of breathing space in the weave can work. The key is a breathable carpet and decent airflow in the basement. 3) Any other type of flooring - laminate, vinyl, hardwood, etc will act to xxxx vapor evaporation, so risk mildew/mold under them. If you use a non-asphaltic adhesive (because of smell issues or allergies), then I would recommend full-adhesion waterproof mastic, not spot-adhered or glueless, so there are no air gaps under the sheet to accumualte moisture and mildew. 4) Of course, in new construction, if a full edge-bonded heavy duty plastic liner is put in the bedding sand layer UNDER the slab, that can turn a potentially wet or damp situation into a basically dry one, allowing almost any type of flooring to be used, though I NEVER recommend hardwood over below- or on-grade slabs.

Of course, in a basement, one should probably assume that at some point it will get at least partially flooded from foundstion leak or pipe failure, so polished or stained or coated concrete, tile, or removeable flooring is the most likely to survive that. 5) Another option, in pretty much either case if your ventilation system removes the vapor as fast as the concrete can supply it, is padless thick open-weave area rug with a "Miller Weave", "Open Back", "Berber" or "Rag Rug" construction - which have lots of air holes in the rug and backing to let the moisture through. Story highlightsCDC: Health risks from formaldehyde in some laminate wood flooring are 3 times higher than initially reportedReport looks at risks from formaldehyde in products made in China and previously sold at Lumber LiquidatorsThe report, issued by the National Center for Environmental Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, says the issues are specific to laminate wood flooring produced in China and sold by Lumber Liquidators, based in Toano, Virginia.

The company, which claims to be "the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in North America," said it stopped selling the products last year. Calculation error"The revised report concludes that irritation and breathing problems could occur in everyone exposed to formaldehyde in the tested laminate flooring, not just in sensitive groups. Cement Patio Furniture San DiegoThe report also increased the estimated lifetime cancer risk from breathing the highest levels of formaldehyde from the affected flooring all day, every day for two years. Used Dump Truck Tires For SaleThe lifetime cancer risk increased from the previous estimate of two to nine extra cases for every 100,000 people to between six and 30 extra cases per 100,000 people," the CDC and ATSDR said Tuesday.Lumber Liquidators stock plunges as CDC raises cancer risk of flooringHow it beganLast year CBS News aired a story by CNN's Anderson Cooper on "60 Minutes" that found formaldehyde levels in certain laminate products exceeded standards set by the California Air Resources Board. 3 Seater Sofa Cover Uk

Lumber Liquidators stock pummeled after '60 Minutes' probe In March 2015, Lumber Liquidators said it would continue to sell the products, but in a press release issued Tuesday the company said it stopped selling the products in question in May 2015. Lumber Liquidators combats 'confusion' about toxic laminateCompany pays millions to settle past claimsThe report was released on the same day the California Air Resources Board announced a settlement with Lumber Liquidators Inc. The board said the company, "failed to take reasonable prudent precautions to ensure those products met such limits designed to protect public health." Lumber Liquidators also committed to work with the board to develop a program that will "set a new standard for the industry and ensure that all products are tested appropriately and consistently on behalf of consumers and businesses," according to a company statement. What if you have these floors?See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter.Content by LendingTree Paid Partner Content

Technical Report Laminate Flooring [PDF - 2.2MB] ATSDR Well-Mixed Room Box Model [PDF - 149KB] Statement Regarding Changes in the CDC/ATSDR Formaldehyde in Laminate Flooring Report The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tested formaldehyde levels released from specific types of laminate flooring made in China between 2012 and 2014 and sold at Lumber Liquidators® stores in the United States. CPSC tested the same type of flooring that had some of the highest formaldehyde levels in tests conducted during a recent consumer investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) estimated (modeled) indoor formaldehyde levels that may be present in typical homes with this laminate flooring. In the model, we used near worst-case conditions so that our conclusions and recommendations would protect public health. CDC/ATSDR found that exposure to formaldehyde in the CPSC-tested laminate flooring sold at Lumber Liquidators® could cause irritation and breathing problems.

However, you can take steps to reduce formaldehyde levels in your home. Irritation and breathing problems can happen in anyone, but children, older adults, and people with asthma or other breathing problems are more likely to have these symptoms. If you installed this type of flooring in a home that already had elevated levels of formaldehyde from other products (like cabinets, furniture, or curtains), your chance of having those symptoms increases. Studies of workers who breathe in very high levels of formaldehyde over many years have shown a link to rare cancers. Formaldehyde exposure from the tested laminate flooring would be much lower and would last for less time than the exposures linked to those cancers. However, whenever you are exposed to a cancer-causing chemical, your cancer risk increases. We estimated the increased lifetime risk of cancer based on Installing flooring with the highest formaldehyde levels Breathing in formaldehyde at those levels in the house all day long for two years

Note: We chose a two-year time frame because several studies have shown that indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde from new building products usually decrease over time, particularly during the first two years. We estimated the cancer risk to be between 6 and 30 extra cases for every 100,000 people breathing in formaldehyde from this type of flooring all day, every day. To put these numbers into perspective, the American Cancer Society estimates that up to 50,000 of every 100,000 people may develop cancer from all causes over their lifetimes. The laminate flooring in my home was made in China between 2012 and 2014 and purchased at Lumber Liquidators®. The study only tested formaldehyde levels on a few types of floorboards. Not all laminate flooring releases high levels of formaldehyde. Also, studies have shown that after several years, formaldehyde released by products installed in the home may decrease to levels typically found in most homes. However, if your flooring is new or you have concerns about formaldehyde in your home, you can lower the amount by taking the following steps.

Reduce formaldehyde already in the home. Open windows for a few minutes every few days to let in fresh air — unless you have asthma triggered by outdoor air pollution or pollen or you’re concerned about safety. Install and use exhaust fans as much as possible. Keep the temperature and humidity inside your home at the lowest comfortable setting. Make your home smoke free. Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde, so don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home. Choose home products with low or no formaldehyde for future purchases. Furniture, wood cabinetry, or flooring made without urea-formaldehyde (UF) glues Pressed-wood products that meet ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) or no added formaldehyde (NAF) requirements Products labeled “No VOC/Low VOC” (volatile organic compound) Insulation that does not have UF foam Reduce formaldehyde from new products. Wash permanent-press clothing and curtains before using them. Let new products release formaldehyde outside of your living space before you install or use them inside, for example in a garage or on a patio.

If possible, keep them out of your living space until you can no longer smell a chemical odor. Note: Air filters generally don’t help lower levels of formaldehyde in your home. Overheating your home to “bake” out the formaldehyde also doesn’t work and may even raise formaldehyde levels. What if I have symptoms? First, follow the steps to lower the levels of formaldehyde in your home. If you still have symptoms only when you’re at home, see your doctor to find out what is causing those symptoms. Symptoms include breathing problems or irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat. If I have this type of flooring in my home, should I get my home tested for formaldehyde? You don’t need to consider getting your home tested unless You can still smell strong chemical odors You have symptoms like breathing problems and irritation only when you’re in your home. If you want to test your home, hire a qualified professional who has the training and equipment to test formaldehyde levels in your home.

Note that these tests can be expensive and don’t tell you which products are releasing the most formaldehyde in your home. There are some tests you can do yourself, but results from these home-testing kits can be different based on where you take the air samples and how long you do the testing. You might not be able to compare home testing results to the results of tests done by qualified professionals. When the results come in, you can talk with the professional about what to do next. Keep in mind that there are no standards for acceptable levels of formaldehyde in your home. Should I remove the laminate flooring in my home? If the flooring was installed several years ago, the levels of formaldehyde may have gone back to the levels usually found in homes — so there may be no reason to remove it. If you’re having symptoms of formaldehyde exposure that go away when you leave your house, professional air testing may be a good idea. When the results come in, you can talk with the professional about what to do next.

Note that removing flooring, in particular, new laminate flooring, may increase formaldehyde release. Consult a professional before taking any action to remove the flooring. Lumber Liquidators reported to CDC/ATSDR that laminate flooring from China has not been sold in any Lumber Liquidators retail outlet since May 2015. Contact Lumber Liquidators for more information on their products. Where can I get more information? You can contact CDC/ATSDR for updated information at 1-800-CDC-INFO. If you have questions or concerns about the products used in your home, contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772. For information from the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) on Children's Potential Exposures to Formaldehyde from Building Furnishings, visit Guidance for Parents and Families http://www.pehsu.net/Public_Formaldehyde_Exposures.html Guidance for Parents and Families Guidance for Health Professionals For more details on the laminate flooring testing report, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/laminateflooring/default.html