The 4 Best Flooring Options For A Finished Basement
Trying to finish your basement? Basements can be complex to finish, as they are often prone to water issues. With the right basement waterproofing, however, you can install virtually any type of flooring. Here are a few options and the preparations you would need to make.
1. Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl comes in a variety of appearances, from realistic wood planks to stone tile. An advantage of this type of flooring is that it's completely waterproofed; even if your basement does flood, it will be fine. Luxury vinyl doesn't improve your property value the way natural stone or hardwood might, but it does last a long time.
2. Carpet Squares
Carpet squares or carpet tiles are large format tiles that can be placed anywhere. These heavy tiles are constructed so they won't shift around, making them feel like a permanent installation. An advantage to carpet squares is that they can be picked up and washed if they get wet or dirty. They're also easy to install; it just takes a box cutter to cut them to size. Carpet squares can be a little expensive, but many options come with their own padding.
3. Polished Concrete
If maintenance and appearance are your primary concerns, polished concrete can be a simple choice. Polished concrete can be tinted and stained. It's easy to clean and resistant to many types of wear and damage.
The downsides of polished concrete are that it's cold and that it tends to transmit sound. If you want a quieter basement, a polished concrete surface is only going to make it echo more.
4. Cork or Bamboo
If you're interested in some natural materials, you might want to consider either cork or bamboo flooring. With an underlayment to protect them, both of these are extremely water-resistant options. They are also sustainable.
Cork comes from tree bark, while bamboo is actually a grass rather than a wood. Cork has the advantage of being soft and sound-dampening, while bamboo gives a hardwood appearance and feel to high moisture or high humidity environments.
So what floors should you avoid? Even a waterproofed basement probably shouldn't have hardwood or tile in it. Both of these can be impacted by humidity and temperature changes, eventually warping the hardwood or cracking the tiles. Regardless of the material you choose, your first step should be making sure your basement is fully waterproofed and will not flood.
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