Welcome to the first part of a three-part blog series on basement options. As remodeling experts, we know that there are many decisions that go into refinishing or remodeling a basement. Some of those decisions will be based solely on the needs and wants of the homeowner; whereas other decisions may need to be made quickly based on an immediate situation. (These dilemmas are precisely why we offer our uniqueTruYouDesign™ process.)
For today's post, we're going to discuss some of the options homeowners have for basement flooring. Floors can sometimes be overlooked in the excitement of planning out your new finished basement, but choosing the right type of floor is vital to your enjoyment of the investment you're making.
Basement Flooring Ideas
There are lots of choices for home flooring; however, because your basement is below-grade (meaning below the ground level), your options are limited.
• Carpet's Okay…Maybe.
Carpet is warm and cozy and seems to be the logical floor covering for a cool basement. But there is debate within the home improvement/building community as to the acceptability of carpet here. If you know you have a dry basement, and you don't get moisture vapor that comes through your concrete slab subfloor, carpet may be a suitable choice. But if you have had a water problem in the past, you must consider the hassle and implications of a perpetually damp or wet carpet-these conditions are an invitation for mold and mildew.
• Use Sub-Flooring Specifically Designed For Basements.
There are a number of products designed specifically as sub-flooring for basements. These products form a barrier to any moisture that might permeate the concrete slab underneath. Their special design provides an air space between the concrete and the sub-floor which allows any moisture to dry.
These sub-flooring products fall into a couple of categories: membranes (basically a rubberized mat), and OSB-topped plastic tiles (OSB stands for Oriented Strand Board, an engineered wood product). Both forms use a dimpled structure that "lifts" the sub-floor off the slab, keeping the flooring on top isolated from the concrete and any moisture.
• Use All-In-One Floor/Sub-Floor Tiles.
These products combine a finished floor surface on top of plastic sub-floor tiles. The top surface looks like wood or tile or even carpeting.!
• Go With Stamped/Colored Concrete.
Why mess with materials and sub-floors made from organic materials that can ultimately harbor mold? Use stamped and/or colored concrete as your floor. The design possibilities are plentiful and you don't have to worry about moisture problems associated with carpet or wood.
• Warm It Up With Radiant In-Floor Heat.
Combine the previous idea (a decorative concrete floor) with in-floor radiant heat for a comfortable and attractive design. The best time to do this is before the floor is poured, so it is best in either in a new home or an addition to an existing home. However there are products that can be retrofitted to existing basements where the system is installed under the top floor covering. With any retrofit, however, the same "right choices" should be made relative to the kind of flooring you use.
• One more thing…
Be sure to check the warranty of the product you intend to use. The fine print might reveal that the product is not covered when used in below-grade installations (i.e. basements).
Check back for Part 2 of this three-part series on Basement Options, where we'll discuss the ceiling choices homeowners have! In the meantime, don't forget you can always contact us at MDV Remodeling for afree estimateon any remodeling work you are considering for your home.
*header image courtesy ofWikimedia Commons