Flooring options for basements

If there is any part of the house that may stand out of normal rules of infrastructure, then that part of the home would be the basement. Especially when it comes to flooring for the basement. A basement is that one room that is settled literally at the bottom of the house. It is a room that has very less ventilation compared to the other spaces in your homes, simply because it is made that way. Weathers can get very harsh on the basements.

In the case of heavy rainfall, there is a high chance that the basements could get flooded and jeopardise the basement flooring and that is something no one would wish upon anyone, even their worst enemies! Even when the weather is dry, basement flooring might witness leeching of residual moisture in the form of vapour because it is closer to the ground. So along with appearance and comfort, it is important that you build a basement flooring that can tackle the issue of moisture efficiently. Again, there are a myriad of options available in the market for basement flooring, for you to make the most suited choice for your basements. Here are some of the finest choices of basement flooring that you could consider for your basements.

Paint:

This option is the least expensive because this one literally needs one material and you can even do it yourself! If you do not have the deep budgets to remodel your basement floor into something that could cost you a lot, then this is a good option to consider. This is the best choice if you just plan to use the space as a workshop or a workout room. One factor that is very important to bear in mind is that you need to choose a paint that is formulated for concrete floors. If this is your DIY project then carefully follow the instructions pertaining to surface preparation, application and drying time to the touch time to ensure that the efforts are not going down the drain.

Floor tiles:

If there is any flooring option that ticks off all the pointers to be a perfect choice for flooring for any space, it would be tiles. Tiles give you a finished surface, unlike concrete. It is an attractive finished surface and you can have whatever you want, thanks to the wide range of options available in the market today. There are innumerable types of floor tiles that the markets have to offer. The good thing about having tiles is that there is no additional treatment required compared to a concrete flooring. They are super easy to install, need less curing time and are durable. 

Epoxy:

Epoxy is another great choice to consider especially for your basement flooring. It is a seamless, robust and beautiful way to upgrade your basement floors from the standard floor paints. Epoxy flooring protects your basement from moisture and prevents leaks and spills from seeping into the floor. Basements are often victims to leakage and moisture because the air is trapped within due to poor ventilation and having epoxy flooring prevents the absorption that could cause structural damage. This also makes it easy to clean. Epoxy is resistant to germs and bacteria, which is great to eliminate mould and mildew that could be significant issues with basement flooring. 

Rubber sheets:

Rubber flooring is most commonly associated with gyms and fitness studios, garages and sometimes even pools. But if your basement is going to be home to heavy load bearing work or a play space for kids or a home gym, then you can consider using rubber flooring. Rubber flooring could not be an ideal choice of flooring for basements because it does not go well when it comes in contact with water or moisture. It is only a matter of time before the basement starts to smell foul. Depending upon the footwork that your basement will undergo, you can choose and decide accordingly. 

Engineered Wood Flooring:

Traditionally wood is derived from trees and it may not stand up to prolonged moisture as it will start to react and degrade over a period of time. Thus solid hardwood is a bad choice for basement flooring. But engineered wood flooring is different. It is a composite material formed by binding strands, particles, fibres, veneers or thin wood boards together with adhesives. This is why it is considered to be a more stable material over hardwood as it is processed and made to finish. It is definitely more good-looking and makes the basement look more attractive. It also has better sound absorption qualities.

Sheet Vinyl Flooring:

Sheet Vinyl is a very affordable choice of flooring for your basements. Buying a large roll of vinyl gets you a brand-new floor at a very cheap price. It has other advantages too: It is durable, easy to clean and available in a wide range of designs, giving you plenty of choices to pick from. The only limitations that come along with sheet vinyl are that they are large rolls that need to be manoeuvred through the basement and installed after careful cutting. And the other limitation is that the vinyl comes in a rough texture, which is why it is recommended to overlay it on a subfloor. 

Concrete Flooring:

With changing times, everyone is looking for spaces that have an upper hand over utility and functionality. Concrete has come into a lot more acceptance by homeowners. Concrete doesn’t need to be in its raw state. It can be painted to make it look different. It needs the least amount of materials to build a flooring. You do not need a subfloor and works very well with moisture. 

The basement is a tricky area when it comes to designing or re-modelling it. There is a very small window of error that you can have if things go awry because re-correcting those errors in a basement can get daunting. The safest choice for most homeowners in basement flooring is tiles and concrete as these deal with the moisture very well and keep the hygiene quotient of the basements maintained. Installing large floor tiles is beneficial if you have huge basements and opt for medium sized or small floor tiles for medium sized basements, or choose to go basic with concrete flooring, depending upon what suits your requirements.