Flooring your basement can add a lot of value to your home if you choose the right material. Additionally, it doesn't have to be pricey. Several affordable solutions look fantastic and last for many years. But which flooring options are most popular? Let’s take a look at some amazing flooring ideas for the basement including the pros and cons of each choice. But first, let's briefly go through the key considerations for remodeling your basement's floors.
Important Points To Notice Before Selecting Basement Flooring
Objective And Footfall
Before purchasing basement floor materials, first, you should decide its purpose. You can start by knowing what kind of footfall will be passing through your basement – heavy or light (determined by how much people use it). If you plan to run commercial services in your basement, a heavier floor would be more suitable for frequent traffic but may not serve domestic use. Likewise, if your family is looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a lighter flooring option may be more fitting.
Repair And Maintenance
Make sure the old concrete floor is in excellent shape before you begin putting in new floors in your basement. Before covering the floor with the new flooring material, you should ponder over fixing the floor if it is broken or has a harsh and lumpy surface.
Water Resistance
It is strongly advised to dry the area before laying new flooring if your basement floods during each period of torrential rain or are normally very humid. Moreover, you can also incorporate waterproof flooring in your basement (discussed in the following section) to cope with the flood after effects.
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Let's now discuss the most popular basement flooring options.
Best Flooring Ideas For Basement Cement Floor
Concrete Floor
When it comes to basements, concrete floors are often an excellent choice.
When properly installed, they can provide homeowners with a safe, durable surface that is resistant to mold growth and damage from water seepage.
They also happen to be cost-effective and easy to clean and maintain.
Additionally, compared to many other floor coverings that are readily available on the market, concrete is comparatively more resistant to dampness and water leaks.
Simply apply a layer of water-resistant varnish to the concrete floor's surface to complete the task.
There are a plethora of things you can do to hide the drab grey hue of your concrete surfaces if you are concerned about its looks.
For instance, staining the concrete in your basement can give it a little style.
Pros of Concrete Floor
Durable
Moisture resistant
Easy to clean
Relatively inexpensive
Cons of Concrete Floor
Can become very cold in winter and hot in summer
Can be slippery when wet.
Uneven surfaces are common if you don't install underlayment correctly
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Sheet Vinyl Flooring For Basement
Vinyl flooring is one of the most popular basement flooring options. It has a long life expectancy, resists scratches, tears, spills, and staining, requires no maintenance, and comes in many colors.
For those wishing to turn this area into a lounge area, office room, or children's playroom, it is also pleasant to the touch and a great alternative.
Additionally, this flooring surface is simple to maintain. To remove dust, simply sweep it with a brush or a microfiber cloth.
Additionally, vinyl flooring panels feature a variety of hues and patterns, giving homeowners the chance to select one that matches their home's overall design scheme.
Though vinyl sheets are water-resistant, the glue that bonds them to the floor is not.
Therefore, coating the flooring with a waterproof sealer can be a smart option.
Pros of Vinyl Flooring
Prevents water from leaking through the surface
Reasonably affordable
Installing vinyl basement flooring is simple
Cons of Vinyl Flooring
Requires a spotless subfloor to adhere
The basement might not gain any value
It could be challenging to remove the sheets
Epoxy Flooring
Basements are typically moist and dark spaces, so it is important to find the flooring that is waterproof, tough, easy to clean, and doesn't absorb water.
Polyurethane-based epoxy finishes are often used in commercial settings because they can offer the perfect solution for basements due to their 100% liquid impermeable properties.
Additionally, an epoxy coating is distinct from epoxy flooring. Epoxy coatings are light and have two to three coats of the substance.
Epoxy floors, on the other hand, feature multiple layers of epoxy coatings, rendering them a better option for locations with high traffic or those that are susceptible to dampness.
Therefore, this should be one of your top selections if you're seeking the best and most affordable basement flooring over concrete that improves the appearance of your room.
Pros of Epoxy Flooring
Due to its strong resistance to humidity and spots, it is simple to clean.
Low upkeep and simple to repair
Enables homeowners to test with various flooring colors and textures
Does not easily deteriorate and is resistant to congested areas
Cons of Epoxy Flooring
The installation procedure could take time
Possibly quite slippery if anti-slip chemicals are not present
Can result in flaking and fracturing if specific installation requirements are not satisfied
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Rubber Basement Flooring
You can opt for rubber basement flooring.
Rubber options are more expensive, but they provide a cushion, sound deadening, and temperature control that you won't find with other materials.
They also don't absorb water which is important if your basement floods from time to time.
These floors are easy to clean.
If you have allergies or asthma, this type of flooring might be best because it doesn't release any dust particles or harmful chemicals into the air.
Pros of rubber basement flooring:
Low-maintenance
Highly durable:
Hypoallergenic
Easy Installation
Cons of rubber basement flooring:
Not great for high-traffic areas though as rubber mats tend to curl up at the edges over time
Rubber is susceptible to fading and becoming drab with time.
Porcelain Or Ceramic Tile Flooring
It might be difficult to determine which tile is appropriate for each space in your home. Ceramic or porcelain tiles, however, are the greatest options when it comes to choosing basement floor tiles. They are beautiful and require no additional treatments.
White or red clay is used to make ceramic tiles, which are then burnt at a hot altitude in a kiln before being polished.
Conversely, porcelain tiles are manufactured with fine clay and heated during firing. They are therefore firmer and tougher to the touch. Their water consumption rate is likewise less than 0.5 percent.
Pros of tile flooring
Very resistive to water leaks and moisture
Strong against decay and fungus
More durable than average
Cons of tile flooring
It could be challenging to repair and uninstall
For balancing, concrete blocks can be needed.
Poor sound absorption performance
Final Thoughts
Here comes an end to our list of best flooring ideas for your basement. Today's market offers a wide variety of basement flooring solutions. Though some of these choices could be more aesthetically pleasing than others, always remember to consider your finances and lifestyle needs before choosing a material.
Continue to visit our blog for more intriguing home decor inspirations.
