Basement flooring is a highly important aspect for homeowners who wish to utilize their basement to the fullest. Besides, good basement flooring also enhances the overall beauty of the basement space.

Making the right floor choice for the basement is tricky as one has to consider about the probability of moisture looming through the floors. The options that are available in the market for a basement flooring redo are porcelain tiles, ceramics, laminate and hardwood floor. In this article we will share our thoughts to help you take an informed decision.

Selecting appropriate basement flooring becomes difficult especially if the basement problem appears complicated. For all basements, the biggest issue is unwanted moisture. Seeping below concrete, moisture weakens the adhesive bond used for tiles or floors to make the hardwood floors warp and buckle and also make the carpets get an elusive and stinky smell due to mold growth.

Another reason why it is a daunting task to select basement flooring is the humid environment of basement rooms and their high susceptibility to flooding from outdoor seepage and leakage pipes. Most options related to basement flooring include some sort of trade-off. The best way to start, however, is by knowing the options. Assuming that your basement is dry (either after having the moisture issues treated or naturally), you can start considering flooring based options. Below are some of the choices:-

 Wood – One of the least viable of all the choices, wood flooring tends to rot, warp and buckle under highly moist conditions observed in most basements.

 Carpet – Though carpet is inexpensive, it is more prone to mildew and mold issues – especially if flooding or leaks are a problem. However, padding carpet with anti-microbial lining may mitigate some issues related to moisture.

 Tile - Tile is water resistant and decorative option, which could get directly installed to the concrete floor in good condition and is consistently dry. In other instances, a water resistant sub-floor will be advisable.

 Laminates – Laminate based flooring would give the elegant look of wood with high moisture resistance. Since laminates are floating floors, they never get directly attached to the sub-floor. However, if you face any problems related to the lamination flooring , the repairs could be cumbersome.

 Concrete – If you have a concrete floor ready, you can take the full advantage as concrete doesn’t get stained or painted. A polished concrete floor gives the plush look. Properly constructed concrete basement does not crack or leak water.

BASEMENT MOISTURE

Having discussed all the possible basement floor options to combat moisture related problems one would agree that wood floors can never be the ideal choice. Mold growth cases related to moisture is more common to wood floors. The risk will persist even if extra care to seal the wood floor with carpet or using a hardwood to the basement is decided on.  It is best to avoid wood flooring for basements with excessive moisture related problems.

However, if you are insistent about wood floors then you may consider engineered floor as an option. Engineered floors are the outcome of using three to five layers of different hardwood materials with a high density fiberboard core. This flooring is known to have a higher resiliency to humidity.

A decision on finishing the basement floor can be taken based on the utility of the room, personal taste and the budget on hand.

ADVANTAGES OF A SUB-FLOOR

The most comfortable options for flooring include sub-floor installations. . A sub-floor keeps the vinyl, linoleum, tile or whichever flooring you select away from any direct contact with cold concrete. Adequate insulation provided by the sub-floor makes the walking surface warm and comfortable. It would also dry up the finished floor and, in the event of any plumbing leak; the sub-floor would permit the finished floor to dry. Any sort of flooring could be installed on the sub-floor – wood, bamboo, tile, linoleum, carpet, etc.

RADIANT HEAT SYSTEM USAGE FOR FLOORING BASEMENTS

Basement floors are generally known for cold and damp attributes that are unbearable to the bare foot. Radiant heating systems are installed to distribute consistent warm temperature that is absorbed by the basement surrounding. When compared to a forced air systems, this technology guarantees a cleaner room without stirring up dust or allergens. According to studies conducted in houses with radiant heating, dust mite occurrence has decreased by 80%.  With this technology becoming popular more choices in terms of energy efficiency, environmental considerations and simplicity are available to the purchaser.

If you have any basement moisture based problem, it is better to resolve the issue, before installing any type of floor treatment, including carpet. To resolve moisture based problems, work with a licensed contractor.

If you are a resident of Pennsylvania suffering from basement problems, call us at 800-771-3244 or visit us at http://www.keystonebasementsystems.com/about-us.html.

You may also contact Aaron Stull -IAQA expert on the official IAQ site: - Email Member

“Keystone Basement Systems, Inc. is a foundation repair company. KBS is not, however, a engineering firm and should not be considered as such.”

Tags: Construction, Informative, Overview, Tips

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 9:41 am and is filed under Advice, Basic Information, Consultants, Remedial measures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.