Basement Flooring Systems

If you are lucky enough to live in a house having a basement, you will need good basement flooring to keep it dry and match the rest of your décor. The biggest challenge that most home owners have is to ensure that the basement is not damp and cold. Since the basement is underground, the flooring choices that work in your living room and bedroom might not work here. The cold and excess moisture can seep in through the concrete floor and you might end up with a basement flooring system that is wrinkled, moldy with warped hardwood or loosening floor tiles. So before you consider installing a basement flooring system, you need to first find out if your basement has excess moisture.

The best solution for a damp basement is to install a floating subfloor. It is basically a waterproof corrugated base with a plywood top that acts as a bridge between the concrete base and the finished upper surface. It is assembled by hand and is not permanently affixed to the concrete. A basement subfloor not only keeps the cold and dampness out by providing adequate insulation, but it also controls sound by muffling the noise made by walking. It provides a comfortable walking surface by giving a cushioned feeling.

Flooring Systems for Basements

There are many materials that you can consider while selecting basement flooring systems, depending on the budget and the function of the flooring. If you are looking for cheap basement flooring ideas that will let you remodel your basement without breaking the bank, then the best materials to opt for are laminate flooring, and vinyl flooring.

If price is not a constraint and all you are looking for is luxury and good looks then you can go with tiles be it ceramic tile flooring, marble tile flooring or porcelain tile flooring. For a pleasant Mediterranean effect that is highly desirable in a warm climate you can choose from terracotta or glazed quarry tiles. Floor tiles are pretty simple to install and if you are handy with tools you can do it yourself. If your cement floor of the basement is leveled, then you can simply lay your tiles. Just make sure that the floor is free from dust, dirt and paint. The only downside of installing tiles as basement flooring, is that the tiles can be quite cold. A good solution for this problem would be to install radiant floor heating that would make the whole basement flooring system a bit expensive but quite comfortable in the long run.

If you like the look of hardwood flooring but also need some durability then the next best basement flooring option is to choose laminate flooring. If you are going to install a laminate floor in the basement, you have to make doubly sure that there is absolutely no hint of moisture in the basement. Installing a good subfloor is absolutely essential before installing a laminate flooring in the basement.

Another basement flooring that you can use is carpeting. Using carpet as a flooring system for the basement requires that you have a good subfloor installed otherwise the carpet will soak up all the moisture. This will cause mildew problems and the carpet will ultimately rot. Instead of carpeting the basement with huge rolls of bulky carpet, you can choose carpet tiles which are very easy to lay and comes with many designs and textures. If you are looking for eco friendly basement flooring, then your best option is to choose from cork flooring and bamboo flooring.

As you can see, there are many options available for basement flooring to choose from. Once you have chosen a flooring for your basement, make sure that it can withstand wear and tear, looks good and is safe.