Newington showroom • Serving Connecticut
Verified flooring case study • West Hartford, CT • Completed July 2026
Replace layered basement flooring while working with the existing concrete slope
Residential Project · Residential Home
The problem
This 1940s-era West Hartford basement had two floors stacked on top of each other: carpet over an older layer of VCT tile. Before the VCT could be disturbed, the removal plan required a negative asbestos test, since older resilient flooring can contain asbestos and age alone cannot rule it out. The concrete slab beneath had its own challenge: it sloped substantially and consistently from one side of the basement to the other.
Rather than making the entire basement level — a different and much larger undertaking — preparation focused on flattening localized surface variation along the slab's existing pitch. That distinction matters for rigid flooring: a consistently sloped slab can still be a suitable installation surface when the bumps and dips within it are corrected, even while the overall slope remains.
With the layered flooring removed and the slab prepared, a plastic moisture barrier was installed beneath the floating rigid floor, followed by approximately 354 square feet of Karndean Rigid Art Select Hickory Nutmeg. Where large gaps remained beneath portions of the existing baseboard, threshold and end-cap finishing completed the edges.
Project overview
This July 2026 West Hartford project replaced layered carpet and VCT in an approximately 354-square-foot basement with Karndean Rigid Art Select Hickory Nutmeg. The concrete slab in the 1940s-era home sloped substantially and consistently from one side to the other, so preparation focused on flattening localized variation along that existing pitch—not making the floor level. A plastic moisture barrier was installed beneath the floating rigid floor. Because 12-by-12-inch VCT was present under the carpet, the removal plan required a negative asbestos test before that layer could be disturbed. The finishing plan also accounted for large gaps beneath portions of the existing baseboard with threshold and end-cap details.
Project facts
Project photography
Each image and caption identifies the portion of the verified project that is actually shown.
Scope of work
The slab needed to be flatter, but it was not made level.
Common questions
The removal plan for this project required a negative asbestos test before the 12-by-12-inch VCT layer under the carpet could be disturbed. Older resilient flooring can contain asbestos, and age alone cannot rule it out — so testing is what determines whether flooring crews can remove it or whether a qualified abatement professional must handle that layer.
Leveling makes the entire surface flat to one plane, which across a whole basement can be a major undertaking. Flattening corrects localized bumps and dips so they are consistent enough for the flooring to perform, while the overall slope stays as it is. Here, preparation flattened localized surface variation along the slab's existing pitch — the basement was not made level.
A moisture barrier sits between the concrete and the floating floor to manage the moisture vapor that concrete can release upward, which protects the floor system built above it. It is one part of the flooring system — it does not repair active leaks, drainage problems, or foundation seepage, which have to be addressed before new flooring goes in.
With gaps beneath portions of the existing baseboard after the new floor went in, threshold and end-cap finishing was planned to bridge those openings cleanly. These trim details close the edges where the new floor profile no longer meets the old baseboard line.
Products and planning
Use these resources to compare the materials, preparation, and installation services involved in this project.
Flooring Advice
Focused answers for the questions that need more room than a buyer's guide.
Care and maintenance · 6 min read
Learn what can scratch, dent, stain, fade, separate, or otherwise damage Luxury Vinyl—and how to protect the exact floor you choose.
Read the guideInstallation planning · 6 min read
Learn when Luxury Vinyl uses attached padding, separate underlayment, a moisture layer, adhesive, or no added layer—and why the product instructions decide.
Read the guideColor and design · 6 min read
Compare Luxury Vinyl visuals by full-board variation, repeated prints, texture, bevels, sheen, plank or tile scale, layout, lighting, and nearby finishes.
Read the guideRooms and moisture · 8 min read
Compare waterproof hardwood, Luxury Vinyl, laminate, tile, and other water-resistant flooring claims without confusing the floor with a watertight room.
Read the guidePlan a project like this West Hartford installation
Share the location, rooms, existing floors, materials you are considering, known preparation needs, and timing. Floors Now will review the details and follow up about the most practical next step.