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Flooring Options

A grey, cement floor comes standard. As you develop the plans for your new living space, a big issue will be what to do with the floor. There are numerous options available based on a number of factors:

  1. Budget
    • Weigh the expense of various flooring options against the desire to have other elements included in the project.
  2. Condition of existing cement floor.
    • Flat and smooth or rough and uneven? The existing floor surface may impact your choices. Having to level a very uneven floor to accommodate ceramic tile, for instance, can add to the cost.
  3. Intended use of the space.
    • A playroom for the kids might call for commercial vinyl tile to allow for arts & crafts messes and to make certain toys easier to use. Warmth and comfort can be provided through the use of some strategically placed throw rugs.
    • An in-law apartment will likely include the same variety of flooring found in other areas of your home: tile in the kitchen and bath; hardwood in the living room; carpet in the bedroom.
  4.  Presence of water at various times of year.
    • If your basement is subject to light seepage from time to time, you may be concerned about installing flooring. The use of a product like DriCore® panels as a subfloor can permit the use of most flooring materials (except ceramic tile).

Options (Roughly ordered by cost)

  • Do nothing- Just leave the floor unfinished

  • Paint- A polyurethane deck paint can provide an attractive, durable floor that's low maintenance and low cost.

  • Vinyl composition tile (aka: commercial tile)-  Most of the basements we've finished have used this for the flooring. It stands up well to rough usage and can survive most incidents involving water entering the room. An expanded selection of colors and styles offer many choices that are anything but "commercial" in appearance.

  • Carpet- Depending on the dampness conditions present, wall-to-wall carpet can be installed in any basement not subject to flooding. In drier basements, the carpet can be installed over a good-quality synthetic pad and vapor barrier. In basements prone to moisture or light seepage, a subfloor material such as that produced by DriCore® can be laid down first. This product allows air to circulate freely beneath the finished floor preventing mold.

  • Wood flooring- If the look of hardwood flooring is the best fit for your dream basement, you're in luck because the newer generations of laminate wood flooring can withstand the challenging environment found in most basements. Installation parameters are similar to those of wall-to-wall carpet: a very dry basement can have the flooring installed directly on the cement (using the appropriate underlayment and vapor barrier, of course), while a slightly damp basement will require the use of DriCore® as a subfloor.

  • Ceramic tile- Ceramic tile can be an ideal option for many basement projects. Unless the existing cement is extremely wavy, there is usually little preparation needed to install ceramic or stone in a basement. It will withstand even severe flooding events.

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How wet is wet?

In thinking about flooring in a basement project, the question of moisture becomes quite an imperative. Virtually all basements are prone to some degree of moisture infiltration. It's just a question of what steps are needed to mitigate the effect.

  • Even a "dry" basement will have some moisture infiltration because cement is not as solid as it is often given credit for. Cement has pores and air spaces that allow moisture to pass through quite easily.
  • Seepage occurs when small settling cracks, also quite common (even "normal") in foundations, allow ground water to find it's way into the basement. Small amounts can be ignored as long as your flooring choices take the seepage into account. More severe seepage may require a sump pump to help control the flow.
  • Flooding, whether, occasional, seasonal or near-constant adds another level of concern and usually requires more stringent controls before finishing the basement can be contemplated. Controls may be as simple as checking the effectiveness (or even presence) of gutters and downspouts; or it may require installation of an external or internal drainage system. We can provide guidance and advice on these options.
  • Ambient moisture, present in nearly all basements, can be easily remedied through the proper installation of a dehumidifier. We offer professional installation that can permit worry-free operation.