Above Grade Vs Below Grade Flooring

In summary hardwood flooring that is installed at grade or above with moisture barriers in place will perform the best.

Above grade vs below grade flooring.

Above grade and below grade are defined as distinct areas and the appraiser will report and value them separately on the sales comparison grid. Exceptions to above grade vs. Due to indoor humidity the level at what you install your flooring is crucial to having your floors stay in good condition. Above grade floors are not susceptible to ground moisture which can make them easier to prepare during installation than below grade and on grade flooring.

Installation grades tell you on what level your hardwood floors should be installed. This is because these levels are highly susceptible to moisture issues. Fannie mae however does allow for some exceptions to this rule. Only finished above grade areas should be used in calculating and reporting above grade room count and gla.

Solid hardwood flooring is more susceptible to moisture issues because solid wood and water don t mix. All floor coverings that are deemed perfect for basements ceramic tile porcelain tile all forms of vinyl flooring and natural stone can be used above grade. The people who created the grading system nofma do not consider quality to be a factor that differs throughout the different grades although many installers and contractors would beg to differ. Levels that are above ground level can have solid engineered or floating hardwood flooring.

Below grade flooring should be engineered wood because it is better able to resist high humidity levels. As you can see both ansi and fannie mae are consistent in their requirement that gla is entirely above grade. Above grade on grade and below grade. The above grade finished square footage of a house is the sum of finished areas on levels that are entirely above grade.

Levels that are beneath the ground level even partially can only have engineered or floating hardwood flooring. Nevertheless an indoor humidity level between 35 50 is still recommended for good floor care. Concrete is the only below grade flooring that does not work upstairs due to weight limitations.