I agree with Ben, as usual. First, test your slab - put a sheet of plastic over it, at least 3 feet square, taped down to the slab all around - leave for 3 days. If the slab darkens with moisture, or there is any condensation drops on the underside of the plastic, you have a damp slab. If you have visible moisture or moisture discoloration at any time during the course of the seasons with exposed concrete slab, then you have a wet slab. 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. Any other surfacing you put over it is likely to mold. Ceramic tile with waterproofing additives in the mortar mix can work if the surface is properly prepared for good bonding, and you use "plastic" thinset and grout rather than cement based grout.

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. Does not guarantee mold will not form between the vapor barrier and the concrete. IF you use a snap flooring version, can be taken up if it gets saturated and dried, then put back in. Not so with glued or nailed versions. 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.

I have used open-weave backing short-pile 100% nylon carpet from Armstrong in my basement for about 30 years, with vapor-barrier floor paint but no plastic sheet vapor barrier or padding and never a mildew problem, even though the plastic sheet test did show a minor amount of condensation. Second Hand Furniture Stores Cincinnati OhThe 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. Aarons Used Furniture For SaleYou can put down a sealer on the concrete and a vapor barrier and frequently get satisfactory service in a low moisture slab - generally only ones that are at or above surrounding ground level, but you always have the risk of mildew, and if ever flooded are pretty much trash. Las Vegas Pool Weather In March

If you use a sheet product, use plastic, not organic - so vinyl, not linoleum, for instance. I have successfully done asphaltic based vinyl tiles and vinyl sheet using asphalt adhesive - the 1970's method - on damp flooring without trouble, but you have to make sure the concrete is VERY well sealed first with multiple penetrating coats of sealant placed on ground concrete surface so there is open voids for the sealant to penetrate, then let sit a week or more untouched and unwalked on before putting down the asphaltic-bonded tiles or sheet. The key is to make sure the concrete is less permeable to moisture than the overlying material. 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. Then if getting damp or floods, just roll up and take out to garage and drape over some elevated 2x4's across sawhorses to dry out. Again, start with good concrete sealing first - preferably deep sealant with compatible epoxy surface coat to minimize water transmission.We have some great playroom ideas for you!

The playroom is a very important place, not only because kids spend lots of time there, but because they learn so much through play. Therefore, the perfect playroom is a warm, welcoming space that sparks imagination. Practically speaking, the perfect playroom is also low-maintenance. i.e., easy to clean and clean-up. We think it also should be easy on grown-up eyes (after all, it is part of your home!). It doesn’t need to be elaborate, but it should be well-planned and provisioned. With all that in mind, here are some of our favorite playroom ideas. Since the goal is to encourage exploration, childproof it by removing anything you wouldn’t want your child getting into. Shield electrical outlets with outlet covers. Cover sharp edges and corners with safety cushioning. If your play space is in the basement, you might want to cover the support poles with foam padding.For example, overhead lighting may be preferable to free-standing lamps. Cover the walls with washable paint.

If you’re going to use carpet, make sure it’s super stain-resistant. Choose comfortable, child-size playroom furniture. And since kids love to play on the floor, provide at least some soft flooring. Make sure the lighting is good and the temperature comfortable. The easiest way is to provide a place for everything. Include toy boxes,  bins, bookshelves, and other playroom storage solutions to keep toys and books where they belong. Encourage your child to build neat habit by choosing accessible, kid-friendly organizers. This includes the playroom walls. You can add shelving to maximize storage, or use it for displaying artwork. Or, better yet, turn one wall into an art canvas, by covering it with chalkboard or dry erase art panels. When it comes to playroom decorating, neutral tones offer the greatest longevity (and are also most pleasing for adult sensibilities). Remember, kids tastes are continually evolving. So unless you love redecorating, save the licensed characters for decorative accents, since you’ll be switching them out on a regular basis.

Your playroom is a great learning space and might include: An arts & crafts center, complete with easel or art table and lots of supplies for drawing, painting, and crafts. A music corner, with child-friendly instruments, so kids can not only listen to music but create their own. Construction-based toys like blocks and other building sets that encourage kids to visualize and create. Games and play sets that encourage group play and cooperative skills. A great table and chair set for socializing, snacking, games, and even art projects. An imagination station, like a play kitchen, pretend workshop, or dress-up center to encourage creative role-play. A reading nook, where kids can kick back and develop a love of books. (One great way to encourage reading is a forward-facing bookshelf that displays books face front.) Finally, invite your child to help with your planning. It will not only give him a great sense of pride, but will ensure that your playroom is a very popular place.