Basement Flooring – Do’s and Don’ts

With so many flooring options available to homeowners today, selecting a basement floor can be an overwhelming part of your basement redo. While many different materials are available such as carpet, tile, laminate, engineered wood and others, they are not all appropriate options for basements. The two most important options to consider when buying basement floors is how well flooring will hold up to foot traffic and moisture. The flooring material you select will have a great impact on the look, feel and overall warmth of your basement.

Carpet

Wall to wall carpeting will be the warmest option. Both the carpet and the pad will act as an insulator from the cold concrete underneath. I personally prefer Shaw’s new Life Happens carpet. The waterproof carpet backing prevents liquids from soaking into the carpet padding. This is a perfect choice for homes with children and pets.

Laminate/Engineered Flooring

Laminate and engineered flooring are a beautiful choice for basement floors. The material and installation can be more expensive than carpet but usually less expensive than tile. Both materials are installed over a thin pad which provides some insulation. While these flooring types will not be as cold as tile, they will not be as warm as carpet. You can however add warmth by placing area rugs in appropriate places.

Ceramic and Vinyl Tile

Ceramic and Vinyl Tile are the most durable choices for a basement floor. If water damage occurs it will not damage ceramic or vinyl flooring. These choices are more expensive than carpet or laminate flooring but they are more durable and withstand humidity changes and water. I would not recommend installing vinyl sheet flooring in a basement. If water damage occurs and seeps underneath the vinyl sheet flooring it will raise the floor, making it impossible to make a seamless patch.

Hardwood

I DO NOT recommend hardwood floors in a basement for two reasons.

1. The humidity changes to much and can cause serious damage to hardwood floors.
2. You would need to install a subfloor to anchor the hardwood to. Subfloor installation raises your install costs considerably.

Before selecting basement flooring, schedule a FREE estimate with Flowers Flooring. One of our trained estimators can help you make flooring recommendations that will be a great fit for your family and your lifestyle. Call today to schedule your FREE estimate – (704) 445-7750 / www.flowersflooring.com