Installing Floors In Basements

Since basements floors are below ground and usually rest atop a concrete slab moisture is a primary concern.

Installing floors in basements.

Basement floors are notorious for becoming damp. Basement flooring 101 a surprising number of materials are suitable for basement flooring. Even in the event of something as catastrophic as a water heater flooding the entire basement these floors would dry out to their original condition. Tile is available in many different sizes and styles and the price range is equally broad.

Sadly moisture will ruin a floor unless necessary precautions are taken. Most properly installed types of flooring can stand up to damp conditions and high humidity. Concrete is the safest basement flooring. Installing solid hardwood flooring in a basement that is below grade generally voids the warranty so if you really want the look of hardwood there choose engineered over solid planks.

Second to that would be ceramic or porcelain tile sheet vinyl flooring or plank luxury vinyl tile. Installing a tile floor in all or part of your basement lets you have some fun with design while still quickly covering up existing concrete floors. Engineered hardwood flooring is design in perpendicular layers so that there is less expansion and contraction. If you do take those precautions you may end up installing multiple flooring options and spending thousands of dollars.

Use option a to keep your floor dry if you have damp floors. Exceptions are solid hardwood flooring and laminate flooring made. If your basement floors are concrete or they have become uneven it s time to contact a local basement. Install dimpled polyethylene to create an air space between the concrete and the finished floor sealing off dampness and giving moisture a chance to dissipate.

Prevent damp basement floors from ruining carpet and other finished flooring. Almost any kind of flooring is okay to install in a below grade basement. While you can t install solid hardwood floors in the basement or below grade you can install engineered hardwood floors.