Viable Options for Basement Floors
- By Chris Copeland
- Published 11/12/2008
- Interior Design
- Unrated
Basements today have different functions. Years ago, basements are considered to be of use to large houses as storage areas. For some, it is a part of the house where you may choose to be your wine cellar. In the current scene, they are transformed into bedrooms, cold storage, or play area for the toddlers. For these different types of functions, it is very important that you pick the most appropriate type of basement flooring available to make use of.
Picking the right basement flooring idea is difficult enough just because you have to take into consideration the designs that will match the color or the material of your ceiling and walls. And through all these, you also have to think about the impending moisture that usually seeps into enclosed spaces. The installations should be strong enough to fight the weakening bonds of the adhesive used to attach the flooring to the base itself.
There are several basement flooring ideas you could choose from. But before you decide on what type to install, make sure that you have finished with the basement preparations first.
Preparing for basement flooring installation is a bit complicated. You have to stay focused on what needs to be done or else, your hard work will not pay off. Check first if your floor is suitable to be installed with your preferred material. To do this, tape sheets of impermeable plastic (like a trash bag) in a couple of areas in your basement floor concentrating on corners. Make sure that
the plastic is sealed in all four corners and leave it for at least a day. After 24 hours, check under the bags to see if moisture has accumulated. It is damp, there sure is moisture seeping in. It is one problem you need to resolve first before you proceed with your basement flooring preparation. You may seek out the help of a flooring specialist for best results. In some cases, it is necessary to install a vapor guard or a high density polyethylene sheet.
Now let us say that the basement is dry enough to start laying down the type of flooring you want. The choices vary from hardwood floor, carpet, laminate floor or linoleum, ceramic or porcelain tiles, engineered hardwood floor and cement. Carpets, hardwood floor and laminate floor are typically not recommended for basements because of variations in humidity. It actually encourages mold growth for these types of materials. Engineered floor is an excellent alternative to hardwood. It is constructed from three to five layers of different hardwood materials with either a hardwood or high density fiberboard core.
The actual easiest way to floorings is by painting or staining the cement that is already present in most basements. You will have variations and flexibility with color schemes and problems that will or may develop in the floor will remain visible, instead of pestering under layers of floors. Just throw a nice carpet rug to insulate the cold cement floor while you are at it. No matter what kind of basement flooring you choose, the most important thing to remember is to create as dry an environment as possible prior to installation.
Picking the right basement flooring idea is difficult enough just because you have to take into consideration the designs that will match the color or the material of your ceiling and walls. And through all these, you also have to think about the impending moisture that usually seeps into enclosed spaces. The installations should be strong enough to fight the weakening bonds of the adhesive used to attach the flooring to the base itself.
There are several basement flooring ideas you could choose from. But before you decide on what type to install, make sure that you have finished with the basement preparations first.
Preparing for basement flooring installation is a bit complicated. You have to stay focused on what needs to be done or else, your hard work will not pay off. Check first if your floor is suitable to be installed with your preferred material. To do this, tape sheets of impermeable plastic (like a trash bag) in a couple of areas in your basement floor concentrating on corners. Make sure that
Now let us say that the basement is dry enough to start laying down the type of flooring you want. The choices vary from hardwood floor, carpet, laminate floor or linoleum, ceramic or porcelain tiles, engineered hardwood floor and cement. Carpets, hardwood floor and laminate floor are typically not recommended for basements because of variations in humidity. It actually encourages mold growth for these types of materials. Engineered floor is an excellent alternative to hardwood. It is constructed from three to five layers of different hardwood materials with either a hardwood or high density fiberboard core.
The actual easiest way to floorings is by painting or staining the cement that is already present in most basements. You will have variations and flexibility with color schemes and problems that will or may develop in the floor will remain visible, instead of pestering under layers of floors. Just throw a nice carpet rug to insulate the cold cement floor while you are at it. No matter what kind of basement flooring you choose, the most important thing to remember is to create as dry an environment as possible prior to installation.
Chris Copeland
Chris writes a ton on what the best basement flooring might be for any given situation. You will find many different basement flooring options for anyone preparing to remodel their basement to reference on his site.
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