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Summary: Proper flooring is very important in any household. The type of flooring to be used is an integral part while planning to redesign your basement. Firstly, it is vital to know whether the basement floor has a moisture barrier under the floor-slabs or not. In case, it does not have one below the floor surface and the basement has high moisture levels, a lot of moisture can seep through floor-slabs, hence affecting your basement flooring.
To verify the existence of moisture barriers beneath the basement flooring, you can tape down pieces of waste plastic bags on different areas of the floor and leave them like that for a day or two. Later, when you remove these plastic pieces, check for signs of moisture on the under-side of these pieces. If the plastic shows signs of wetness, it clearly indicates the absence of moisture barriers beneath the floor slabs. In this situation, your options for the type of flooring to be used are reduced greatly, as not all types of floorings are suited to moisture.
However, to handle such situations wisely and to widen your options in the types of floorings that can be used for your basement, you can consider the application of waterproof sealants to the walls and the floors of your basement. Another option is the installation of French drainage system, but it might cost you some money and would require some digging and additional material and items like the PVC pipes and gravel.
If you are sure about the presence of a moisture barrier beneath the floor-slabs, you have a wider variety of floorings to opt from.
Carpeting as an option for Basement Flooring
Though carpeting is not highly suggested, it is the most commonly used in basement renovations. The most popular amongst these is Berber carpeting. The major benefit of carpeting the floors is that they are moisture resistant and can be laid down even in on floors which do not have moisture barrier. For this purpose a cellulose underlining can be spread over the floor-slabs before the installation of the carpet padding.
As the carpets absorb sounds created by furnace operations and running water in the drainage system, it is a good method to reduce noises.
Benefits of Engineered Flooring as basement flooring
Engineered flooring had an underlining of foam towards it bottom and is one of the most suggested types of floorings. The foam underlining adjusts with the rough floor and helps in preventing unwanted noise. This type of flooring is capable of accommodating with moisture, as the underlining foam absorbs and dries the moisture without it seep through and reach the flooring layer.
Also based on the manufacturing process, the Engineered flooring is most suited for basement flooring. It comprises of different layers of wooden material which prevents it from warping or twisting. The uppermost level is generally wood coated and presents the look of a solid hardwood floor without being damaged by the moisture levels.
Laminated Flooring for your basement floors
Similar to engineered flooring, laminated floorings also have a wooden underlining layer and a photographic resin layer which is quite similar in looks to that of a vinyl or hardwood flooring. This type of flooring is most suited in basements which have low moisture levels, as the laminated flooring can decay if they absorb moisture from the ground.
Basement Flooring - Ceramic Tile Floors
A well suited option for your basement flooring is the Ceramic tiles, though they are cold in nature. Even in case of this type of flooring, low moisture levels have to be considered as it can reduce the lifespan of the tiles. Also owing to their rigid surface, plain and uneven flooring is required before the tiles are laid down. For this purpose, you can use a leveling grout or mortar. Also do not forget to fill the cracks in the basement floors as the Ceramic tiles have the tendency to crack from places where the floor is cracked.
Painted Basement Flooring
The cheapest solution to redesign your basement flooring is to paint it. It is particularly suggested if you have a low budget for remaking the basement flooring, and is ideal for basements which have a high moisture level or are located in place which are prone to frequent floods
You can consider using different mixture of colors or make attractive patterns to present it with a better look.
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