How Do I Choose the Best Basement Flooring?

It's critical to use materials that will resist the wet atmosphere of a basement when finishing or remodeling it. With so many possibilities available, choosing the flooring for your new lower level might be tough. In this piece, we'll go over the best flooring for basements, as well as the various options accessible and feasible.

The most important feature of any material utilised in your completed basement should be water resistance. Your basement is not only humid, but it is also vulnerable to water occurrences like flooding and leakage. When something like this happens, disposing of all of your floorings would be a huge time and financial waste. Consider what would happen to your flooring if your sump pump overflowed, a pipe burst or your washing machine overflowed, all of which are fairly typical in basements.

6 Best Basement Flooring Options

1. Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring, also known as resilient flooring, is one of the best basement flooring options, alongside concrete and ceramic tile. Sheet vinyl flooring and tile/plank vinyl flooring are two different types of vinyl flooring.

Sheet vinyl flooring on your basement floor creates a nearly continuous, water-resistant surface, which is always a good thing when moisture is present. If water is left standing for an extended period of time, the many seams in tile vinyl flooring may allow moisture infiltration.

Pros

● Keeps water at bay

● Inexpensive, often pennies per square foot

● Ceramic tile or concrete are colder to the touch

Cons

● Often considered a cheap fix

● Needs a very clean surface for adhesion

● Installation of sheet vinyl is not a do-it-yourself project

● If the vinyl floor was installed using glue, it may be difficult to remove

2. Paint

The lowest-priced finished floor choice is paint. It is most DIY-friendly. If cost is a major consideration and you only intend to use your basement as a workshop or fitness room, the paint may be the best option.

The most crucial thing is to buy concrete floor paint and to follow the product's directions for surface prep, application, and drying time.

Pros

● Mitigate moisture

● Improves the room design

● Cost-effective

Cons

● Can be a time-consuming project

● Need specialised paint

● Can create noxious fumes

3. Engineered Wood Flooring

Wood isn't the best option for the flooring because it is derived from trees and is organic, it does not tolerate prolonged moisture well. As a result, solid hardwood is one of the poorest choices for basement flooring.Engineered wood flooring, on the other hand, is a completely other idea. Engineered wood flooring is dimensionally stable because the cross-hatched plywood substrate beneath the real wood veneer keeps its shape even when exposed to a little quantity of moisture.

Pros

● It can take a modest bit of moisture

● Basement flooring is one of the more appealing possibilities

● Excellent sound absorption qualities

Cons

● It must be installed on a subfloor of some sort

● Because it is nailed or stapled to the subfloor, it is more difficult to remove in the event of water damage.

● One of the more expensive options

4. Epoxy

This two-part coating is applied in the same way that paint is, but it produces a thicker layer that is usually smoother, more durable, and easier to clean. It is also used as an industrial flooring. Following the application of most epoxy methods, you can immediately put plastic flakes or fine sand to the surface.

The flakes contribute texture and colour while the sand adds texture. For workrooms and home gyms, this flooring treatment, like paint, is a good choice. Simply verify the manufacturer's instructions for any safety concerns. During the application and curing of some epoxies, harmful vapours may be produced, hence precautionary measures are to be taken.

Pros

● Excellent resistance to damage

● Economical flooring system

● Easy to customise

Cons

● Difficulty adhering to moist environments

● May be slippery

● Toxic vapours

5. Ceramic or Porcelain Tile Flooring

Tile is the best of the many available options in the hat when it comes to basement flooring solutions. It is classified as a completed surface, as opposed to a raw surface like concrete. Nonetheless, this is a polished surface that is attractive on its own; unlike concrete, it does not require any additional treatment.

Tiles made of ceramic or porcelain can be laid directly on a concrete slab. Radiant heating can be sandwiched between the concrete and the tile to warm the tile surface because tile on concrete can be cold.

Although ceramic tile can be put directly on the concrete slab, an uncoupling membrane is normally installed beforehand. The membrane allows the concrete slab to move and crack without affecting the tile floor above it. However, it will not protect the tile from all cracks. A large enough crack will pass through the membrane and cause damage to the tile.

Pros

● In the event of flooding, it dries out and is unaffected

● Small-space tile installation can be done by yourself

● Will never develop rot

Cons

● Requires the addition of radiant heating if the temperature is an issue

● Poor sound absorption qualities

● Installing big sections of tile can be difficult if your doing it yourself and may necessitate hiring a professional

6. Rubber tile or rubber sheets

This type of resilient flooring is commonly found in health clubs and gyms. It's also ideal for a playroom or laundry room, because of its durability, waterproofing, stain resistance, and ease of maintenance. Interlocking rubber tiles are simple to install and can be laid immediately on top of concrete or a subfloor.

Rubber sheet flooring works in the same way. Both materials come in a variety of textured designs and a limited colour palette. One downside that some people notice is a foul odour, however this usually fades away with time.

Pros

● Low maintenance

● Good slip resistance

● Moisture resistant

● Resistant to stain, mould, and mildew

Cons

● Damage from cleaning products

● Unpleasant odour