Skip to Section
Basement Flooring Options and Ideas
Basement flooring is something that you should always consider when remodeling your basement. You must use the suitable material for whatever purpose your basement would be. The best choice for basement flooring for your basement will heavily depend on your needs and the structure of your desired basement. If you plan to use your basement as a laundry area, you better make sure that your flooring is correct to avoid any molds in your basement or any possible basement problems. Moisture-resistant flooring for the basement is something you might also consider when deciding as damp basements can ruin your basement floor. When in doubt, you can always hire a professional basement contractor to do the job for you.
There are many basement flooring options that you can use. Here are 5 basement flooring options that you can choose from.
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring Pros
Laminate is an excellent material for basement flooring. It is cost-efficient, durable, and comes in various designs and colors. There are many basement flooring ideas that you can create, as this is usually the top pick among architects and designers. Laminate flooring basements are usually wood base which is moisture resistant.
Laminate flooring Cons
The laminate flooring can easily be damaged with scratches and stains. It can get dented if the furniture is dragged across the basement flooring. Laminate flooring is usually covered with a clear coat that helps prevent any damages from scratching or stains. Certain laminates are only designed for basements, so make sure to pick the basement flooring friendly.
Engineered Floor
Engineered Floor Pros
Engineered flooring is made of up to three to five layers of distinctive hardwood materials that are layered together to avoid dampness from entering the wood. This can be a much superior choice to hardwood which can effectively be distorted with minimal dampness. Engineered flooring, too, comes in different wood species, so you’ll still discover the color of wood you’re searching for and keep the stylish basement remodeling that you want to achieve.
Engineered Floor Cons
Despite the style and excellent moisture resistance, the engineered floor should be highly maintained to keep its luster and shine. It is also essential to look for a supplier that would provide you high-quality flooring. Some engineered flooring materials look great but are weak and fragile. If your basement flooring has exposure to natural light, your engineered floor may fade quickly as it is sensitive to UV rays. However, you can use rugs or curtains to prevent any exposure to UV rays.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic Tile Pros
Ceramic tile is another excellent option for basement flooring. There are plenty of designs, patterns, and colors to choose from. It can be installed directly onto a cement floor (assuming your current basement floor theme is cement). Ceramic tiles are also resistant to scratches, which is an excellent feature if you decide to make your remodeled basement into a recreational room. Ceramic tile floors are also water-resistant as there is a protective layer on top of the tiles. It is also easy to clean as dust or dirt does not easily stick to the ceramic tile floors.
Ceramic Tile Cons
With ceramic tiles, it can be very tedious to install as there could be many pieces to tile up. Another thing with ceramic tiles is that they are complex and quickly get cold underfoot. It would not be easy to walk on, especially in Winter.
Painting or Staining
Painting or Staining Pros
Painting or staining your cement is one of the cost-efficient ways to do your basement flooring. You can choose from a range of colors and create designs to match your basement wall. Whenever you want to remodel your basement, you can easily do so as painting or staining your cement does not need any hardcore renovation. Painted concrete slabs are trending these days showing a minimalist design.
Painting or Staining Cons
Painting your basement floor can take a lot of time, especially with drying up and coating layers. It may take days to finish and may even postpone other basement renovations. The cement floor must also be free of moisture, grease, and bumps to ensure that the finished flooring will look as projected. Since you will only be painting the cement, the flooring would be hard to walk on. It is best to consider hiring a professional when doing this basement flooring option.
Carpet
Carpet Tiles Pros
Carpets tiles are ideal for basement flooring if you plan to remodel your basement as a home theater or a music room as it absorbs sound quality better. Carpet tiles are also soft and would be comfortable to walk on. This can also be an inexpensive option. There are a variety of styles with lots of colors to choose from.
Carpet Cons
The thing about carpets is that it takes a lot of time to dry up if it gets wet. It is very high maintenance and could cause molds if it is not well taken care of. Carpet basement flooring may not be suitable for damp basements as it may cost you more money to maintain it.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl Flooring Pros
There are many kinds of vinyl flooring, such as vinyl planks or sheet vinyl. They are easy to install and are uniquely beautiful. The price range of a vinyl sheet costs around $2- $5 per square foot. Vinyl plank flooring is water-resistant. A wide variety of designs is available, from regular vinyl tile to luxury vinyl planks.
Vinyl Flooring Cons
Vinyl planks or vinyl sheets may be easy to install but removing them can be challenging. There are some vinyl plank flooring that is not durable enough. They can easily get dented, especially when shards or heavy objects are on top of them.
Best Flooring for Basements: Common Questions
What is the best flooring for damp or flooded basements?
Choosing the best basement flooring for damp or flooded basements is essential as if the wrong type of flooring is installed, it can cause molds and mildew. Ensure that your basement flooring can surpass unexpected minor flooding from heavy rains. The best basement flooring for damp or flooded basements would be ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles are water-resistant and relatively easy to maintain since dust and dirt do not stick easily. They also come in various designs and colors to make your basement remodeling design come true.
What is the best flooring to put over concrete floors?
Ideally, laminated flooring is the best basement flooring option because it can easily cover up concrete slabs. Besides the elegant designs, they are layered for optimal durability to avoid the possibility of moisture and decay. They are stable, durable, and protective, making them ideal to be put over concrete floors.
What is the best best basement subfloor?
The basement subfloor is the material that is placed under your basement floor. Wood panels like plywoods are the most common or probably the best basement subfloor as it can absorb moisture and has a natural porous effect. This helps prevent dampness on your basement flooring, providing additional insulation between excellent concrete and your warm basement. A subfloor is quite tricky to install. A professional would know what basement subfloor would be suitable for your basement flooring.
What is the best flooring for basement family room?
The basement family rooms are typically designed for recreational purposes. The ideal flooring would be engineered flooring or ceramic tiles. The engineered flooring and ceramic tiles are both water-resistant. If there’s a family pet particularly dogs and cats, it is ideal to choose ceramic tiles so that there would not be any scratches on the basement flooring.
What is the best flooring for finished basement?
For finished basements, it would heavily depend on your basement’s theme. However, if the basement is finished but no flooring is still installed, it is best to paint or stain your cement flooring. In this way, there won’t be any heavy renovation, and you can easily match the basement’s current finish.
What is the best flooring for unfinished basements?
For unfinished basement spaces, it is best to use engineered flooring. About three to five layers of hardwood materials would ensure no moisture would enter the basement flooring. Wood flooring can also quickly adapt to any basement remodeling ideas and can last long.
What is the best overall basement flooring?
The best basement flooring idea would heavily depend on your needs. If you are to remodel your basement and be very particular with the design and details, it is best to choose a ceramic tile to achieve the basement remodeling plans you have. If you want something durable and long-lasting, opting for laminate flooring or engineered flooring is the best. They can keep the moisture out and can last very long. If you want something cheap and easy to replace, painting over your cement flooring is the best.
Tips on how to choose a durable basement floor
Choose a moisture resistant flooring
The first thing to always consider when choosing the best basement flooring is resistance to water. We know for a fact that basements are prone to molds and could rot when exposed to too much moisture. It is best to choose water resistance to avoid possible damages.
Consider the basement’s purpose
Suppose you want to remodel your basement into a movie theater, a gym area, an office space, or a laundry area. In that case, you must make sure that the basement flooring option is appropriate to the use of the basement. It wouldn’t be wise to use carpet flooring to do the laundry in the basement.
Install a vapor barrier
Vapor barriers help prevent water vapor from diffusing into the floor especially, in winter. However, you must be careful in installing vapor barriers as they may cause more damage than good. A basement remodeling contractor can help you install a vapor barrier correctly to achieve your desired basement flooring.
How a basement remodeling contractor can help you on your basement flooring needs
DIY basement floors are fun to do. However, there is a lot to consider when installing. Water damage, flooding, and mold in basements are quite a handful to deal with when it arises. It could affect not only your remodeled basement but also your health. This could be a fulfilling project, but there are many basement flooring materials that you should take note of. However, a basement remodeling contractor can do the job for you and make sure that everything is safe and secure. A professional installation of different types of flooring, subfloors, or even a wall carpet installation can be done.
