A basement can feel like a blank canvas. A basement can also feel like the final frontier for a families project. Even if you took the time to finish the walls and ran the wiring in the basement, you may still find yourself standing in the middle of the basement looking at the concrete floor and wondering what type of flooring would best suit such a room.
There are many reason to consider different types of flooring for your basement. Not only does the basement floor have to stand up to moisture from the ground beneath the foundation, the floor must stand up to the wear and tear from the residents of your home. It also must be able to handle the humidity from your local climates.
Choosing the wrong flooring for your basement will not only lead to having to rip it up after five years of use, but choosing the perfect flooring will turn your basement into the warmest room in your home. Luckily, the options for basement flooring has expanded in the past few decades. No longer are homeowners who are setting up a basement to offer a unique space for their homes limited to either selecting gray paint for the basement or purchasing a carpet to cover the basement floors.
Each of the flooring options available for basements will solve specific problems for homeowners and will possess a unique personality when the flooring materials is installed in the basement. These different flooring options will allow you to consider the various factors that will impact the type of flooring you select for your basement. Basement flooring options include concrete flooring, vinyl plank flooring, ceramic and porcelain tile flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, carpet, rubber flooring, epoxy coatings, cork flooring, luxury vinyl flooring, and stone-look flooring options.
Each of these flooring options includes benefit that will be useful to the basement and drawbacks that may prevent a homeowner from selecting that type of flooring.
Top Basement Flooring Options To Consider
1. Concrete Flooring
Basement flooring made of concrete is one of the most common types of flooring for basements. You can allow concrete flooring to maintain its raw look, or you can seal it to even out the texture of the concrete and allow for various tints to be added to the basement floors.
Concrete is a popular flooring choice because it resists spills, does not off-gas chemicals, and is generally less costly than other basement flooring options when the foundation has already poured the concrete for that basement. The one drawback to using concrete floor in a basement is that concrete is very hard. Dropping glassware on the basement floors will likely result in broken glass, and standing on the concrete will tire the leg over time.
These issues can generally be avoided by using area rugs in areas that are used the most in the basement.
2. Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl plank flooring is one of the most popular flooring choice for basements for several reasons. Modern vinyl plank flooring is thicker than sheet vinyl and does not use glue to join planks together over the concrete floors; instead, the planks feature locking mechanism.
Many vinyl planks also include underlayment that softens the sound that is created when someone walks on the basement floors. Additionally, the printed layers allow vinyl plank flooring to mimic the look of weathered wood flooring. Another benefit of vinyl plank flooring for basements is that it is waterproof.
Water spills from appliance in the basement will not ruin vinyl plank flooring. A DIYer who has experience with flooring projects can typically install vinyl plank flooring quick. Vinyl plank flooring does have a drawback, though.
The cheaper version of vinyl plank flooring will swell if the area is exposed to water for several days. For this reason, purchasing a more expensive, thicker plank flooring is a better choice for a basement.
3. Ceramic and Porcelain Tile
Basement tile options are ceramic or porcelain floor and wall tiles.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are made of stone and fired in a kiln to extreme temperatures until they are nearly indestructible. Because of this durability, ceramic and porcelain tiles are the best flooring choices for a basement bathroom or mudroom. The concrete floors in the basement will remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter if heated from below.
Additionally, ceramic and porcelain tiles come in a variety of designs. However, ceramic and porcelain tiles have a disadvantage in that some homeowners will eventually have to deal with the grout that adheres the tiles together. The grout can accumulate dirt in the grout lines.
Additionally, some grout will discolor over time if it is not properly sealed. The floor will also feel harder beneath the feet than vinyl plank flooring. However, if you are looking for a floor that will not be ruined by water, ceramic and porcelain tile is the best choice.
4. Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring is another flooring type that offers many benefits to individuals who are choosing to use hardwood flooring in their basements. Engineered hardwood flooring offers the beauty of real hardwood floors but does not develop the warping that can occur with solid hardwood flooring in damp environment. Engineered hardwood flooring features a thin layer of real hardwood on a plywood floorboard that resists the movement of the wood.
The hardwood can be sanded and refinished a few times during the life of the house. Additionally, there are floating versions of engineered hardwood that simply snap together over a barrier that resists moisture. These flooring options can be installed directly onto concrete basement floors.
The main downsides to engineered hardwood floors are the cost and the fact that the hardwood still does not like being submerged in water for long period of time. A flood will ruin the hardwood flooring for your basement, but leaks that is dealt with quickly will probably not cause any major damage.
5. Carpet
Basement carpet choices offer both warmth for the feet and warmth in the acoustics for the basement. Carpet features synthetic fibers that will generally resist mold and mildew. Many basement carpets has an antimicrobial backing that provides carpet warmth and dampness resistance. Carpet also has a soft surface that many people find inviting for their homes.
Carpet choices for basements should be a low-pile floor to avoid crumbs on the carpet. With proper maintenance and ventilation, carpet can last a long time in the basement. However, carpet will be more difficult to care for than concrete or hardwood floors. Carpet will not be as worry-free if the basement also becomes damp.
6. Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring options for basements are typically made from recycled tires. People have used rubber flooring in basements as an alternative flooring material in gyms and workshops.
Modern rubber flooring features interlocking floor tiles that feature flecked colors that hide the dirt that accumulates in basements over time. The cushioning properties of rubber flooring will absorb the impact of children falling on the basement floors. Rubber flooring will dampen the sound that is made in the basement.
Additionally, rubber flooring will stand up to furniture that is wheeled in the basement. You can also clean rubber flooring with a wet mop. The slight rubber flooring smell will dissipate in a few weeks, and most people will not notice the smell in their basement.
7. Epoxy Coatings
Basement epoxy flooring options are not typically considered flooring in the same way that other types of flooring are. However, the epoxy floor coats the concrete floors in a basement. Epoxy flooring features an impervious coating on the concrete; the coating can be clear or colored with flakes that is used to create the appearance of a garage floor.
Additionally, there are epoxy coatings that use metallic pigments for a different finish. The epoxy coating is impervious to oil, chemicals, and water. It can take the wear of tires, tools, and muddy boots.
Most homeowners hire professionals to apply epoxy flooring to their basements. While it is considered a more high-end flooring option, epoxy will cost less per square foot than other luxury basement tiles.
8. Cork Flooring
Cork flooring options are made from cork oak trees. The cork floorboards are pressed into tiles that feature a resilient floor. Cork is softer than hardwood but firmer than carpet. Cork is an outstanding insulator against cold temperatures.
It is also an insulator against sound in the basement. Additionally, cork contains suberin, which is a waxy substance that repels water and mold growth on the cork floor. Cork features warm tones that add warmth to basements and will not tire the legs after standing on the basement floors for long periods of time.
Additionally, you can finish the cork with polyurethane to make it easy to mop up spilled liquids. However, if too much furniture is placed in the basement on the cork floors, the cork may take on dents. For this reason, using felt floor pads under each item of furniture will prevent any dents.
9. Luxury Vinyl and Stone Look Options
Luxury vinyl flooring features tiles that have stone-look flooring options. These flooring types are of less weight than ceramic or porcelain tile and cost less. They can be laid directly on the basement concreate floors.
The pattern in the stone-look flooring will not show scratches on the flooring that may show on vinyl plank flooring. Additionally, the luxury stone floor will stay comfortable during the year and does not need to be sealed. For those looking for the look of stone but want to avoid the hardness of stone or maintenance of grout in the tiles, luxury vinyl floors are a good option that will keep the entire family happy in their basement.
No flooring is perfect for every basement in every home. Some homes have damp basements that need flooring alternatives. Some basements will be used as media rooms and need to be warm and quiet.
Others need a floor that will be visually appealing for the holidays. When you consider the various types of basement flooring, the perfect flooring for your basement will become apparent when you list the various uses the basement will have, the moisture it will encounter, and the level of abuse the basement floor will take. Walk through your empty basement one more time with these considerations in mind.
The perfect basement flooring will likely become apparent. Once you step back and look at your basement with your preferred flooring material for the basement, your concrete floor will have transformed from a problem into the beginning of something wonderful in your basement.
