Cheap Basement Flooring

Basements are often characterized by moisture and dampness. The humidity in a basement provides conducive environment for mold and mildew growth. As a result, the interiors of a basement need to be carefully chosen. You cannot follow the same principle of choosing interiors in basement, as the rest of the house. Basement flooring in particular has to be chosen with utmost care and consideration. It is something you will change very frequently as compared to the flooring in rest of the house. Hence, it would make sense to do away with expensive flooring choices and invest in cheaper basement flooring options.

Cheap Basement Flooring Ideas

Before we talk about the best basement flooring options, we ought to consider the most important factor that influences the choice of flooring, i.e moisture. Even though you might be residing in a dry region with scanty rainfall, it is common to find some amount of moisture seeping into your basement. The concept of dry, moisture free basement does not exist, at least in the US. To find out the degree of moisture in your basement, you can take a simple test. Cover a 1 x 1 ft area of your basement floor with plastic and seal it with a masking tape from all sides. Open the masking tape after 24 hrs and inspect the state of the plastic. Is it dripping with moisture or there is only slight amount of dampness? Now depending upon the degree of moisture in your basement you need to look for a flooring option to suit your needs.

Painting
Painting is the cheapest flooring option if you have a reasonably dry basement. You can try concrete or epoxy paints to pattern paint your basement flooring. You can also use simple latex basement floor paint. If you have bare cement underneath, it is recommended that you first etch it and only then paint it. You can create various styles and patterns imitating natural stone or granite by using sponge paint techniques.

Loose Layered Carpet
Again, this option is only for dry basements. Carpets, if installed in damp basements will hold in a lot of moisture and become a house for mold, mildew and dust mites. However, the main advantage of installing a carpet is that it is very cheap and is soft to walk upon. Moreover, it creates a warm and cozy atmosphere in the basement. A loose layered carpet won't attract as much dust mites as a thick carpet.

Stained Concrete
Stained concrete is the best basement flooring option for damp and moist basements. This option is very easy to work upon and does not need any special tools. You can find several designs and patterns in stained concrete flooring. Besides, there are several application techniques to achieve the desired look. The only problem with concrete flooring is that it is too hard and cold. Moreover, they are high on maintenance as they need frequent resealing.

Tiles
There are numerous options when you decide to go for tiled basement flooring. From ceramic to cheap 'peel and stick' vinyl tiles, you have a huge choice regarding the material of the tiles. Ceramic tiles are ideal for basement since they restrict the growth of mold and mildew and can withstand rough use. Besides they are very easy to clean and do not demand frequent maintenance.

Rubber Flooring
Rubber is yet another flooring material that is considered as one of the best for basement flooring. Rubber is soft and shock absorbent, hence preferred by many home owners for kids' playrooms. Besides, it is also mold and mildew resistant.

Before you proceed with the flooring, ensure there is proper basement waterproofing. Hope the ideas mentioned above helped you with the selection of your basement flooring.