Flooring for a basement (7 Best Suggested Types)

You should pick materials that can handle the dampness of a basement when you decide to renovate or rebuild it. There are many different flooring types, making it tough to decide which one to put in your new basement.

Flooring for a basement, the product’s ability to repel water is crucial, as it would be for any material used in a completed basement. Your basement is not just damp, but it is also highly vulnerable to water damage from things like leaks and floods. You wouldn’t want to spend much time and money replacing your flooring just because something terrible happened.

The best flooring options for basements are those that are waterproof or moisture-resistant. Vinyl is a popular choice because it is completely waterproof and can be installed over concrete easily. Other suitable options include engineered wood, rubber, porcelain or ceramic tiles, and marine-grade carpet. Epoxy, paint, and sheet vinyl are also good choices.

Video: How to Choose Flooring for Your Basement

Flooring Ideas that might catch your interest Engineered Hardwood Flooring and Vinyl Plank Flooring

What type of flooring is ideal for basements?

It’s crucial to pick materials that will resist the wet environment of a basement when opting to finish or rebuild the finest flooring for your basement. With so many possibilities available, choosing a floor for your new lower level might take a lot of work. This essay will discuss the finest laminate flooring for basements, specifically for the humidity in Michigan, and other options.

Flooring for a basement

Water resistance should be the product’s most important feature, as with any material used in your finished basement. Besides being reasonably humid, your basement is particularly vulnerable to water-related events like flooding and leaks. After such an incident, you want to keep all your floorings a secret because that would be very time- and money-consuming. 

However, if your sump pump, washing machine, or pipe bursts are standard in basements, consider what will happen to your flooring.

The Best Basement Flooring Options

Most basements feature a sturdy, flat, and long-lasting floor made of poured concrete. However, suppose you’re considering rebuilding your basement (also known as completing it). In that case, you’ll undoubtedly want to improve the flooring to make the new living area more cozy, appealing, and convenient to keep clean.

The good thing is that you have a wide range of choices for basement flooring to take into account. Even better: Most materials for luxury vinyl plank basement flooring ideas are suitable for do-it-yourselfers. But it’s important to remember that the situation in the basement is different from the one upstairs. Therefore, these variables affect your flooring options and the quality of the installation.

First, repair the concrete.

Correct any issues with the old concrete hardwood floor, regardless of the style of basement flooring you select. For example, is the concrete’s surface uneven or rough in some places? Do any gaps big enough to let a penny through? Exists displacement, in which a portion of the floor has cracked and moved upward or downward? When it rains, does water enter the basement? Before installing new basement cork flooring, who should fix this kind of damage?

Options for a basement subfloor

If the basement’s original poured concrete floor is in good shape, several flooring materials—including paint, epoxy, tile, and rubber flooring, for instance—can be laid directly over it. However, a cold floor will occur from this straightforward installation.

In a room utilized as a workshop or exercise room, an excellent floor might be tolerable. You could choose to have a subfloor placed over the concrete if your renovated basement will be utilized as a family room, home theater, or children’s playroom. Who will provide more warmth underfoot thanks to a correctly fitted subfloor, which will produce a flat, insulated foundation for your chosen completed floor?

The Top 7 Basement Flooring Choices

The costs below are for supplies only; they do not include expert installation.

1. Paint 

The finished floor choice that costs the least can also be installed easily. The paint can be your best option if low cost is a top priority and if you only want to use your basement as a workshop or exercise room.

The most crucial thing in this situation is to pick a paint designed for concrete floors and closely adhere to the directions on the can for surface preparation, application, and drying time.

2. Epoxy

This two-part coating can be applied similarly to paint, but it produces a thicker layer that’s typically smoother, more durable, and simpler to maintain (DIY kits cost around $120 apiece). With most epoxy flooring treatments, you can immediately spread plastic flakes or fine sand over the surface.

While the flakes give both texture and color, the sand adds texture. This flooring treatment, like paint, can be an excellent option for offices and home gyms. Always look for any safety concerns in the manufacturer’s instructions. Some epoxies might release harmful vapors while being applied and cured.

3. Tile 

You can experiment with design by laying tile in all or part of your basement while rapidly covering up any concrete flooring already there.

Tile is available in various shapes, sizes, and pricing ranges. A tile floor can be surprisingly economical if you browse around and perform the installation yourself. But if you choose a more expensive material, this is different. Make sure your concrete floor is in good condition before installing any tiles. Before installing tile, any cracks or uneven surfaces will need to be corrected. Before installing your tile, lay down a basement subfloor if you want a floor that is not cold to the touch.

4. Rubber tiles or sheets

This resilient flooring is undoubtedly something you’ve seen in gyms and health clubs. Because it is sturdy, waterproof, stain-resistant, and simple to maintain, it is also a fantastic option for a playroom or laundry room. Rubber interlocking tiles can be laid directly over concrete or flooring and are simple for homeowners to install.

Rubber sheet flooring is similar. Both materials come in a small number of colors and varied textural designs. An unfavorable odor is one downside that some people experience. However, this usually goes away with time.

5. Vinyl planks or tiles are inexpensive for basement flooring

Interlocking joints make vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring simple to install. Additionally, these materials come in a staggering array of styles.

Who can create this flooring to mimic ceramic tile or various wood species? The majority of varieties can be set up over concrete or a subfloor. Putting vinyl tiles or planks is more straightforward than laying sheet vinyl, and any broken floor can be quickly fixed by simply replacing one or two damaged tiles.

6. Sheet vinyl

You may install a new floor for a meager cost by purchasing a large vinyl roll. There are further benefits to sheet vinyl: Thanks to its robustness, ease of cleaning, and availability in a wide range of designs and patterns, you have many options.

But before choosing this course of action, consider how you’ll get that large roll into the basement, trim it to size, and precisely fit it between walls. Installation can be complex; you’re right.

Another drawback of sheet vinyl is that it will likely show through any imperfections in the basement’s concrete floor. The most admirable appearance (and a warmer completed floor) can be achieved by installing this flooring over a subfloor.

7. Engineered wood flooring

 There’s good news if you want a luxuriously finished basement area with natural wood flooring’s appearance and feel. Some varieties of engineered wood flooring will perform just well in basements; however, solid wood flooring isn’t recommended.

This type of flooring contains a thin layer of natural wood (several different species are available) connected to additional wood plies or composite boards, similar to plywood composition. Engineered wood flooring appropriate for basements is produced in planks with interlocking edges and has a rugged, factory-applied finish.

The majority of types are 12″ thick or less. Lacking this type of flooring over a subfloor is preferable, even though some manufacturers sell engineered wood flooring that may lay down over a concrete floor.

Ideas, prices, and options for basement flooring

We have good news for you if you’re looking for basement flooring: Most above-grade flooring categories are now suitable for basement conditions, thanks to technological advancements, so you don’t need to worry about picking the perfect design. If you still need to waterproof your basement, do it now to appreciate better the unique issues posed by basement moisture. 

The ability to handle moisture is the most critical factor in basement flooring. Consider the room’s intended usage next. Comfort is essential in living spaces and playrooms, while durability and ease of cleaning require a floor in a work or utility environment. The ease of installation, price, guarantee, sustainability, and the floor’s contribution to good indoor air quality are additional elements to consider (in other words, having low- or no-VOC emissions).

Basement Flooring Materials: Pros and Cons Carpet for Your Basement

Another choice made by many homeowners for finished basements is carpet. It has a cozier, warmer feel even if it lacks vinyl’s waterproof and mold-proof qualities. To keep them warm and comfortable to the touch, carpeting is frequently chosen for the main living area, the stairway, and the bedrooms.

If the carpet is dried off soon after a little water accident, it will likely prevent mold or mildew from growing. The carpeting may frequently be removed and dried.

Another more affordable choice for the basement is carpet. Again, there is a carpet style to fit any budget, thanks to various options and designs.

FAQS

What kind of flooring is ideal for a basement?

Although you can use various flooring materials in a basement, ceramic or porcelain tile, sheet vinyl flooring, or even painting the floor are some of the best choices.

When is a basement subfloor necessary?

A subfloor can help insulate the basement and shield the flooring from dampness. Therefore, it is best to have a subfloor when utilizing carpet, laminate, and cork flooring in the basement.

Will sealing the floor of a basement reduce moisture?

It will be easier to deal with the wetness and dampness in the basement if a waterproof sealer is applied to the concrete floor.