Flooring for summer house

[Jimlad78]

Hi all. I'm in the process of converting a single stable into a summer house/Mancave. It sits upon a concrete hard standing which is quite badly cracked. I'm looking for advice on how to improve the look/finish of the floor. How should I go abt achieving this?

Will I be able to just underlay and place laminate flooring? Do I need to use self levelling compound first? (How can i stop from also cracking if so?) Or do i need to install some kind of frame (plastic or wood?)

Also can i lay/fit ply or osb boards straight onto the broken concrete? If so how do i fix?

Some tips would be greatly received

Thanks in advance

 

[JohnD]

the concrete floor is probably impregnated with urine (so are the lower parts of the walls) so lay a plastic DPM, lapped up the walls, and put your new floor on that. A floating floor on rigid insulation slabs wouls also reduce heat loss.

If it is badly cracked, dig it out and lay new. levelling or screed will crack on a cracked base.

I don't mind the smell but you will get a form of efflorescence and it may attract damp.

 

[Jimlad78]

Thanks for the tip but not sure horse urine is a problem. It's been 12 months since it last had a horse in it.....but regardless I can put in the dpm so thanks.

With regards to what I put on top of the dpm......do I need to place batons/frame prior to adding insulation?