Any ideas what I can do with this cement floor?

[JudyH]

25 years ago, we added on a family room. It is built on a cement slab. I do not know if a moisture barrier was added prior or after the cement was laid.
Hardwood flooring strips were glued to this slab. Since I had babies and puppies, I put a sheet of plastic down, then an area rug. Big mistake. I soon had mold growing under the plastic. We cleaned up the mold and the floor, put the rug down without the plastic, and over the years spills and accidents have stained the flooring. Plus, some water came in under a sliding glass door, and a few of the boards are loose.
I would now like to take up the wood. Some of it is still glued quite tight.
What should I put down? I would like something as maintainence free as possible. Ceramic tile is ok. Vinyl tile is ok. We are in MD, the room is heated and airconditioned.
What to do about a moisture barrier? My son just wanted to put laminate down, either over the existing wood, or take the wood up and put it down. I am still worried about moisture and mold.

I would greatly appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks

 

[mgeez]

Ceramic Tile, multiple, Large oriental style rugs over tile.

 

[davhu1]

Try vinyl planks. Looks like hardwood and waterproof. I finisherd half of my basement this past weekend. Got them at Home Depot. Cost $1.98/sqft. Its a floating floor with interlocking pieces held by adhesive strips. I read people have planks separate after time and on this type of flooring, primarily to to improper instalation. I rolled mine with a garden roller after laying the floor.

Here is a description. You can see a picture at the home depot website.

Trafficmaster Allure, Oak 6 In. x 36 In. Resilient Vinyl Plank Flooring (24 Sq. Ft. Per Case). They also come in cherry, maple, pine, and others finishes.

Easy GripStrip™ installation – Lays directly over your old floor; no floor prep or messy glue needed! Looks and feels like real wood… feel the knots! Completely waterproof. Perfect in high moisture areas… basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. Warm comfort and quiet under foot. Install an entire floor cleanly, easily in just a few hours. 25 year residential warranty.

Unique interlocking-edge design for simple installation
Simply lay overlapping GripStrip™ of one plank on adjacent plank and press together… No other adhesive required. Minimal trimming involved… Just score and snap!

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

I would talk to a basement refinisher. You've got the same considerations as a basement. My brother's basement was finished with a framed floor that was 2" above the concrete floor. I don't know how it was done, but it was done by a basement guy. He had gotten water a few times before doing the basement.

 

[JudyH]

A basement refinisher, ok. Davhu1, your floor sounds nice, but I don't want anything over the existing floor, and I worry that if I put your stuff over existing floor, it traps in moisture and the old floor molds and mildews.

 

[nightnurse613]

I didn't read this very carefully but we put an epoxy coating on our garage and a concrete like spread over out back patio. They added color to the concrete and made it look just like flagstone. They say they can make it look like whatever you want (but it's still concrete).