Basement Update Ideas: Upgrading Basement Flooring

Basement Update Ideas: Upgrading Basement Flooring

For many of us, the basement provides us with a huge opportunity to add much-needed living space to our home. Whether it’s in the form of a playroom, a home gym, a craft space, a man-cave, or an in-law suite — a warm and inviting basement is a luxurious bonus space to take advantage of. 

The challenge with rooms that are below grade (underground) is that they are subject to environmental concerns like moisture and humidity. This is why it’s so important to choose your floor covering carefully.

Best Types of Flooring for Basements

Luxury Vinyl Flooring In Basements

Luxury vinyl flooring is a fantastic option for any room in the house — especially the basement! This 100% waterproof flooring is designed to realistically mimic the look of wood, stone, or ceramic tile, without any of the maintenance. It is extremely hard-wearing, scratch resistant, and can be installed as a “floating floor.”

Carpet For Basements

Carpet can be a great choice in a basement with low moisture levels. It’s warm, soft, and cushioned, making it ideal for covering cold cement floors. In addition, carpet is one of the most flexible floor covering materials, so even if your floor is not perfectly level, carpet can be installed over it. 

However, even if your basement is usually dry, it’s still a good idea to go with a synthetic fiber carpet. Basements are naturally at least a little damp simply because they are underground. Synthetic fibers release moisture more easily than natural fibers and help to avoid the risk of mold or mildew occurring in or under the carpet.

Engineered Hardwood For Basements

We all love the look of solid hardwood — but unfortunately, they’re a total no-go for basements. Luckily, there’s engineered hardwood! As opposed to a solid piece of hardwood, which will warp when exposed to moisture, engineered wood planks are composed of multiple layers of wood that are glued, pressed, heated, and then covered with a thin veneer of wood on top. This process combined with a moisture barrier and underlayment makes engineered hardwood a stylish and durable option for your basement.   

Whether you're finishing your basement for the first time, or simply want a basement refresh — we offer plenty of basement flooring options in a range of performance levels and styles. 

Come see one of our Flooring Experts today.