I've seen rubber trap moisture underneath, especially if the subfloor isn't perfectly level or there's limited airflow. Cork is breathable, but once you sandwich it with rubber, you're potentially creating a moisture barrier. If your friend's studio had decent climate control or ventilation, they might've avoided issues long-term. But in spaces prone to humidity swings or basements, I'd be cautious—seen some nasty mold situations develop under rubber mats firsthand.
Maybe consider something like a vapor barrier or moisture-resistant underlayment beneath the cork-rubber combo? Could help mitigate any potential moisture buildup. Curious if anyone's tried that route and noticed a difference over time...
I've inspected plenty of floors with moisture issues, and honestly, vapor barriers do help—sometimes. Seen them save a floor or two, but they're not foolproof. If your subfloor isn't perfectly dry to begin with, you might just trap moisture underneath anyway. Personally, I'd prefer addressing ventilation and humidity control first. Had a client who tried the cork-rubber combo with a barrier in their basement gym... still had mold issues after a couple years. Just something to keep in mind.
Interesting points here, but now I'm kinda worried about my own basement setup, haha. We just moved into our first home last year, and the basement was already finished with laminate flooring. Looks great, but I've noticed it feels a bit damp down there sometimes, especially after heavy rain. I haven't seen any mold yet (fingers crossed), but now you've got me thinking maybe I should've paid more attention to what's underneath.
I did put a dehumidifier down there, and it seems to help a bit, but maybe that's just masking the real issue? Honestly, I never even thought about ventilation or humidity control beyond that little machine humming away in the corner. Maybe I need to step up my game and look into better airflow or something.
Speaking of vapor barriers though—my neighbor swears by them. He redid his basement last summer and used some fancy underlayment with built-in moisture protection. Says it's been dry as a bone ever since. But then again, he also spent like half his renovation budget on waterproofing the foundation from outside... so maybe that's the real secret sauce?
Now I'm curious—do you guys think it's worth ripping up part of the floor just to check what's going on underneath? Or is that overkill if there's no visible mold or damage yet? I'd rather not find myself dealing with a mold apocalypse in two years because I ignored early signs...
Yeah, I'd probably hold off on ripping up the floor just yet if there's no visible mold or damage. But have you checked your gutters and downspouts lately? Sometimes dampness after rain is more about drainage issues outside than what's underneath the flooring... learned that one the hard way.
Totally agree about checking gutters first—had a similar issue last spring. Thought I was facing a pricey flooring replacement, but turns out the downspout extension had shifted, sending water straight toward the foundation. Quick fix, saved me a bundle... worth double-checking before spending big bucks.
