Basement Floor

If you want to make your basement more habitable, refinishing your basement floor is often a very good place to start. As most basements have drywall already installed but leave the concrete floor of the basement exposed, installing a more comfortable basement floor can drastically change the overall appearance of your basement.

When you go to install your basement floor, there are quite a few things that you will want to remember. First, the basement is the most likely floor in your home to experience leaks. Because of this, you will want to select a durable type of floor that will not be ruined upon exposure to water. Carpeting is often considered a bad choice for basements as water damage can ruin a carpet with only one leak. Waterproofed natural hardwood or ceramic tile are often preferred as these materials are resistant to water damage. You should avoid linoleum tile, as this type of tile is susceptible to water damage.

If you are interested in the beauty of hardwood but do not want to have to face the risk of wood rot, you may wish to consider synthetic hardwood floors. Made of durable plastics and resins, this type of basement flooring avoids the problems of natural flooring. In addition to this, the synthetic floors are cheaper and easier to install, which allow you to budget your project so that you can spend more money on important items like fixtures, paint and other enhancements for your basement.

Installing a new basement floor involves several steps. First, you must prepare the current floor. As the concrete must remain in place for the structural integrity of your home, you will need to put an overlay over the concrete. You will install your new basement floor on this overlay. Depending on the type of floor you choose, you may even just install the floor right over the concrete, as is the case with most forms of tile. Taking your time and learning exactly what you will need to do in order to install your floor can save you a great deal of hassle in the future. In addition to this, if you make certain your floor is properly installed, you will have less problems with your basement floor in the future. In most scenarios, you will want to avoid using the quickest and cheapest supplies and methods for your floor as they will not last the longest and require more work and investment in the future to maintain.