You are lucky enough to have a basement that you can finish and turn into an extra entertainment space, game room, living room or media room – you are going to want to purchase all new flooring. Flooring is one of those things in a room that can either make it or break it. Below, we will be talking about the best flooring options for a finished basement, as well as negatives and positives of each type of flooring, options and more.
Luxury Vinyl Tile
This isn’t your momma’s vinyl tile. Vinyl tiles have been around for a very very long time, that’s for sure, but these updated and upgraded vinyl tiles are very different than the ones you are used to. Some may even call them luxurious. Not only can these tiles “look” like different materials (at a fraction of the cost) like wood, ceramic, stone and tile, but the alternate options can all be installed without grout or with grout – whatever look you want. Vinyl tiles also come in all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. Do you want the old black and white square tiles? They have it. Do you want circular tiles? They are also available. How about grained cherry wood looking tiles in long planks? They have that as well. Vinyl is incredibly durable, it’s easy to maintain and it’s warm and comfy under your feet.
Engineered Hardwood or Solid Hardwood
The only wood you should be installing on your basement floors is either engineered wood or hardwood. Hardwood flooring just won’t do and it can end up causing relevant problems in the future if not installed properly. But if you are a DIY person, you can install these floors.
So keep reading the article and learn further details about the type of flooring that should be installed in the Basement. Most basements have a concrete subfloor that can get moist, is very cold and simply requires better wood flooring atop. Engineered wood also known as engineered hardwood can handle related troubles. Engineered wood has a multi-ply construction which allows it to be more durable than hardwood is. Engineered wood also won’t shrink (like regular hardwood would – then there are hardwood floor repairs and relevant costs) as well as expand, so you don’t have to worry about these issues in your basement with engineered wood. Engineered wood is quite similar to hardwood. Although both allow for beauty and style, have many of different wood types and stains to choose from and both are very long lasting wood materials. Engineered hardwood, however, is very easy to clean and is pre-finished.
Laminate Flooring For Basements
Two really awesome aspects of laminate flooring are the looks/style/color options and the fact that it’s incredibly durable. Laminate not only comes in wood, it can be made to look like a lot of other materials. Wood laminate, however, is a really popular option. It’s more than half the cost of hardwood and a fraction of the cost of engineered wood and yet it still looks and feels amazing.
Lock & fold is an ingenious installation design that makes any installation easy and fast. Laminate planks are also very easy to clean and they are moisture resistant. This is definitely one to consider for your basement (or any other room).
Linoleum
I know what you’re thinking. Linoleum, really? But, just give it a chance! First off, linoleum is remarkably versatile. It can go in any room, and yes even the basement.
Second, it comes in all sorts of colors and styles, as well as designs. It can’t be made to look like wood like a laminate floor can. But they still do come in a lot of color and pattern options. Also, because of its versatile options, you can mix and match to create your own designs. For example, a pretty gray blue design in the middle, surrounded by a thin beige line, then a tan frame around that, another beige line around that and then the outer floor can be that pretty gray blue color.
It’s interesting and it’s fun to create your own styles and patterns. That is because there are so many options available as they say – the sky’s the limit. This type of flooring is also gouge, scratch and stain resistant. If installed properly, it can last up to 40 years in a home.
Each of these options has its own benefits and prices of course. For example, basements with low traffic (which look like a hand scraped wood that is dark brown and good for a DIY experienced person) would get laminate. On the other hand; a homeowner that is doing a basement with high traffic and wishes to give it a look of stone or natural flooring in brown would be better off getting something like luxury vinyl.
Make sure that you go to a showroom for floors and really get to touch and feel the different options available and talk it over with a salesperson who can help you figure out the best option according to your needs.