Concrete Finished Basement Flooring

Concrete basements are subterranean which means if building is pre 90 s there is probably not a moisture barrier.

Concrete finished basement flooring.

But if you re planning a basement remodeling aka basement finishing project you ll probably want a flooring upgrade to make the new living space more comfortable more attractive and easier to keep clean. An unfinished basement with its concrete floor and exposed joists may seem dreary and cold. Plain concrete slabs have served as the flooring material for basements garages patios and utility areas for many years but concrete is now also a viable material in home interiors where it can be polished etched or stained to serve as the finished flooring surface if you are used to thinking of concrete as a utilitarian surface suitable only for utilitarian surfaces the many virtues. Find waterproof options for flood zones and wet damp or uneven rooms.

While the flooring itself may be unaffected you ll need to make sure that you re not creating a haven for mold and mildew to grow underneath your basement flooring. Most basements have a poured concrete floor that s solid flat and durable. But that doesn t mean basements are trouble free. Laminate flooring planks and tiles snap together and float over the concrete floor on a foam pad.

Laminate flooring mimics the look of wood stone and ceramic tile. Homeadvisor s best basement flooring guide examines the best carpet and tiles concrete sealer and vinyl plank floor covering for your basement. A concrete basement slab is porous and prone to moisture and water vapor migrating up through the slab. Vinyl flooring also known as resilient flooring ranks with concrete and ceramic tile as one of the better basement flooring options vinyl flooring comes in both sheet or tile plank form and there is a subtle difference.

Sheet vinyl flooring. Sheet vinyl flooring creates a nearly seamless water impervious surface on your basement floor always a good thing where moisture might be involved. This can lead to delamination of work from hydro stactic pressure. It does require floor prep to smooth the floor otherwise the surface of the sub floor will telegraph through within 6 months.

Also usually sheet vinyl comes in 12 foot rolls and if your basement is wider than 12 ft you ll need to have a seam and buy extra vinyl to cover the area and make sure you order enough extra so that the can. This is a fancy durable moisture proof and informal floor that makes good sense for basements especially. But in reality it is an enormous blank canvas just waiting for your inspired ideas and artistic vision. Some varieties are treated to resist moisture and make good choices for basement applications.