Basement flooring is one of the first crucial steps to take when remodeling your basement. Basement flooring when done well can save you a lot of money and from headaches later. Be sure to remember the pointers below so can have your dream basement.
Water is Enemy
Water in whatever form - be it from underground moisture or drainage issues - is a bane to basements. Before doing any remodeling, have your basement drainage system checked thoroughly and fixed by a plumber. You'd not want it to have a well created basement only to understand that water starts to creep in. Sometimes water slippage can come from the exterior drainage outside the house.
Due to the damp nature of most basements, moisture is really a usual headache. Moisture can cause stains to tile floor, mildews and molds to carpet floor and damage to plywood and hardwood floor. At any rate, moisture can weaken the bond of the adhesive utilized to stick whatever flooring material you have. Thus, before totally performing any remodeling, do precautionary tests on the wetness of the floor.
Test the Floor
One way to test the wetness or the moisture level of the floor is to use a waterproof material that is about 4 inches-by-4 inches in size. Place flat the waterproof material, preferably the type of flooring that you have in mind to use, on the basement floor. Seal it in such a way that no air gets in. Put it in several corners of the floor walls and one in the center area of the floor. Leave it for at least a day and then check if there is any moisture coming in.
If you notice any form of moisture, then you have to determine and fix the floor problem first before proceeding with remodeling. It also means that your floor is naturally damp. At this point, it is ideal if you ask the opinion and suggestion of a basement flooring professional. You can probably make do by changing the type of flooring material to be used or install a vapor barrier.
Flooring Supplies
There is no such thing as perfect flooring material. It is always a case-to-case basis. It also depends on the desired look and really feel that you want for your basement. Whilst that being stated, here are some typical flooring options and their usual attributes:
1. Wooden Subfloor - It's cheap but is prone to rotting when there's no vaporizing barrier installed.
2. Carpet - It is very easy to install but is prone to mildew and molds.
3. Painting the Subfloor - You can do it yourself if you know how to paint walls. But you may have to keep re-painting after a couple of months.
4. Stained Basement Floor - This gives you room to be very creative with numerous styles and colors available. But you may have to spend a little more compared to, say, using a wooden material.
5. Tiled Floor - This also allows you more room for creativity and is really a viable option for wet basements. But this material would not help a lot in lessening the coldness of the floor so you may need to use rugs.
Another essential consideration with regards to basement flooring is if who's performing the flooring function: you or a hired expert? If it's you, keep in mind that tiles and stained basement floor might take more effort to haul and install. The latter supplies also need specialized skills and equipments.
Water is Enemy
Water in whatever form - be it from underground moisture or drainage issues - is a bane to basements. Before doing any remodeling, have your basement drainage system checked thoroughly and fixed by a plumber. You'd not want it to have a well created basement only to understand that water starts to creep in. Sometimes water slippage can come from the exterior drainage outside the house.
Due to the damp nature of most basements, moisture is really a usual headache. Moisture can cause stains to tile floor, mildews and molds to carpet floor and damage to plywood and hardwood floor. At any rate, moisture can weaken the bond of the adhesive utilized to stick whatever flooring material you have. Thus, before totally performing any remodeling, do precautionary tests on the wetness of the floor.
Test the Floor
One way to test the wetness or the moisture level of the floor is to use a waterproof material that is about 4 inches-by-4 inches in size. Place flat the waterproof material, preferably the type of flooring that you have in mind to use, on the basement floor. Seal it in such a way that no air gets in. Put it in several corners of the floor walls and one in the center area of the floor. Leave it for at least a day and then check if there is any moisture coming in.
If you notice any form of moisture, then you have to determine and fix the floor problem first before proceeding with remodeling. It also means that your floor is naturally damp. At this point, it is ideal if you ask the opinion and suggestion of a basement flooring professional. You can probably make do by changing the type of flooring material to be used or install a vapor barrier.
Flooring Supplies
There is no such thing as perfect flooring material. It is always a case-to-case basis. It also depends on the desired look and really feel that you want for your basement. Whilst that being stated, here are some typical flooring options and their usual attributes:
1. Wooden Subfloor - It's cheap but is prone to rotting when there's no vaporizing barrier installed.
2. Carpet - It is very easy to install but is prone to mildew and molds.
3. Painting the Subfloor - You can do it yourself if you know how to paint walls. But you may have to keep re-painting after a couple of months.
4. Stained Basement Floor - This gives you room to be very creative with numerous styles and colors available. But you may have to spend a little more compared to, say, using a wooden material.
5. Tiled Floor - This also allows you more room for creativity and is really a viable option for wet basements. But this material would not help a lot in lessening the coldness of the floor so you may need to use rugs.
Another essential consideration with regards to basement flooring is if who's performing the flooring function: you or a hired expert? If it's you, keep in mind that tiles and stained basement floor might take more effort to haul and install. The latter supplies also need specialized skills and equipments.
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