Explore Flooring Options for Your Basement

Finding the best basement flooring is always daunting, and considering the trade-offs, it might as well give you headaches. Basements are conspicuously damp, dark, and can get wet from time to time. With that in mind, it is important to choose flooring options that will keep the basement dry and as flat as possible.

Since most basement floors are at the lowest level of your house, it is important to renovate any areas susceptible to water infiltration or flooding. Considering these options may cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the level of damage.

It is also important to check the level of your basement floor and make adjustments accordingly. Fix any noticeable slopes or unevenness that might affect the new floor’s aesthetic appeal. Fill up minor cracks preferably with a cement-based elastomeric sealant.

Once you are satisfied that the floors are smooth and patched up, there are several flooring options available for your basement.

Vinyl floors can be easily confused with hardwood especially when the patterns resemble it. In fact, major supermarkets, coffee shops, and other retail stores use vinyl plank flooringthat look quite like natural hardwood.

Vinyl is completely made of a flexible type of plastic having similar properties as other forms of plastic like density, high resistance to moisture and strength. Considering these properties, vinyl tiles would be a great option for your basement. If you are converting your basement into a living area, then vinyl flooring can add appealing aesthetics to your basement.

• They are easy to install and remove, especially if a flood occurs
• Appealing and realistic designs
• Highly durable depending on the wear layers you choose

• Vinyl can look very awkward if you decide to place them on a bumpy floor
• Some vinyl options fetch a higher price tag than others do, although installation is significantly not as expensive

Most homeowners spend less on basement flooring and one of the popular options they go for is carpet installation. So if you are budget-conscious about your basement flooring then this is your best bet. Carpets are quite flexible and can fit into any kind of sub-floor surface- smooth or bumpy. Carpets are also best for hiding imperfections on the sub-surface.

Other forms of carpeting like carpet tiles make it easy to handle your basement’s flooring concerns. A carpet tile is simply a square piece of carpet, usually 2’ x 2’ in size. In case of a milk spill, all you have to do is remove the affected part and wash it up or replace it with a new tile! Of course, carpeting is not entirely safe if your basement is prone to flooding. Plus, they wear and tear faster than any other form of flooring.

• Low costs
• Easy to install and remove in case of spillage
• Easier to replace than normal tiles

• Not so good in humid areas (beware bugs, mold, or mildew may develop easily)
• Gets dirty easily and may be harder to clean
• Faster replacement due to wear and tear

Rubber flooring is resurfacing as a popular option in most new homes especially those converting their basement space to home gym use. Due to the rubber’s strength and high shock-absorbing properties, rubber floors can be a good surface for vigorous exercises and lifting heavy weights. Rubber flooring can also be used to block impact sound.

Of course, rubber flooring is not explicit to home gyms only- you can install them in TV rooms, man caves, or family rooms. Rubber floors are also waterproof and thicker than most flooring types.

• Easy to install
• Best option for gyms
• Softer material on your feet

• They are dense and online purchase may include hefty shipping prices
• Most rubber floorings are black and may make your basement look a bit darker

We all have to agree that hardwood flooring may not be the best option for low-grade flooring. However, with technological advancements in the flooring realm, engineered wood floors were designed to give the same appeal as hardwood but with a more stable substrate. This way the floor could withstand fluctuations in temperature and moisture without cracking or warping. Engineered hardwood flooring may be a great solution for basements but you need to be more careful during installation, if you decide to do it yourself. Bolstering the planks into a rough surface may not be as effective and with time, your floor may start to have bumped parts.

• Adds to the overall value of your home
• Have a high-end look
• Warmer than tiles during cold weather

• A little pricey
• Requires additional floor preparation
• Not entirely waterproof
• Hard to refinish

If you fancy a commercial, industry-like type of flooring option then you might want to consider stained concrete flooring.

Stained concrete flooring gives you the freedom to choose the color, texture, and depth of your flooring with minimum restrictions. You can also seal the concrete flooring with an epoxy sealing paint and your floor will be waterproof! Using stained concrete is also a minimalist idea since most installation materials are already in place as the foundation of your home.

• Cost effective since few materials are needed
• Installation is straightforward
• Design relies on your creativity (artistic look is possible)
• Can give a modern look

• Concrete floors get cold
• Concrete floors may not be appealing to those who don’t like an industrial type of flooring
• You can’t heat stained concrete floors

We have covered a few of the available options for your basement flooringneeds. Even though we strive to give the best options, this list is not the complete list and does not cover everything, since the flooring options available are just too many! We, therefore, recommend you to spend some time researching before you come up with the perfect choice for your basement floor. If you feel stuck and would like further information or to get assistance finding the ideal floor option for your basement, please don’t hesitate to contact us.