Best Basement Flooring Ideas

Elect for Easy Care with Vinyl

To get a tough, cost-effective basement floor covering, think about vinyl sheet floors. Cushion-backed vinyl sheet flooring glues readily to concrete subfloors and offers an additional measure of comfort over hard concrete slabs. The subfloor should be completely smooth and free of defects, however, and also so the imperfections will eventually show through the flooring.

Engineered Wood for Basement Floors

Get the look of genuine wood in the basement using an engineered-wood floor. Engineered wood includes two or more layers of wood laminated together, similar to plywood (but not to be confused with laminate floors). The surface is hardwood veneer and the lower layers are usually softwood. It's suitable for below-grade installations since it shrinks and expands less than solid wood flooring.

Play Up Concrete with Paint

If your concrete flooring is smooth, dry, and free of imperfections, then look at playing it up with paint. This is actually the least expensive completing option for basement flooring and is ideal for casual spaces. The keys to success with painting concrete are a completely dry subfloor and primer and floor paint specially formulated for concrete from Capablegroup Inc basement renovation in Toronto. If you're building new, install a vapor barrier and gravel beneath the concrete subfloor to ensure that it remains dry.

For the Look of Wood, Try Laminates

Because most types of hardwood are not suggested to get below-grade installation, consider laminate flooring instead. Laminates include a cosmetic image (for instance, natural wood grain) printed on paper or other fibrous material, treated using plastic or resin, and bonded to a rigid core like medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Laminates resist stains and moisture and can be installed over concrete or a plywood subfloor. The technology continues to improve, producing ever more realistic imitations of organic materials, so that you can get the look of real wood without the shrinking and warping.

Seal Concrete Against Moisture

for this fashionable urban look, leave the concrete in its natural state. Because concrete is quite porous, it is going to soak up anything that is spilled on it (believe petroleum spots on garage floors). To ensure it is moisture-resistant, seal it with a transparent sealer made to be used on concrete (check with a home improvement center).

Utilize Oversize Squares to Expand Space

Most vinyl tiles arrive in 12x12-inch squares, but to create the illusion of larger floor space, look for 16x16-inch squares. Carpet tiles come in larger sizes (18x18 and 19.7x19.7) so that you are able to attain an even bolder effect and enjoy the heat and texture of carpet as added benefits.

Paint Stripes on Concrete Basement Floors

For an affordable and trendy floor finish, paint concrete in a striped pattern. Employ wide stripes of light and dark gray first, then add narrow stripes of brighter colours. Use painter's tape to create the pattern. Prep the surface by cleaning it with TSP. Remove loose paint and oily stains and allow the surface dry thoroughly. Apply a primer and ground paint formulated for concrete.

Apply Vinyl Flooring

If you have a straight run of floor, installation of sheet vinyl should be somewhat straightforward. Sheet vinyl is a good choice for basement laundry rooms since it's water-resistant and easy to clean. A diamond pattern similar to this one helps provide the illusion of greater width to the long, narrow area.

Get the appearance of Parquet using Laminates

Solid-wood parquet isn't suitable for basement installation--it's too easily damaged by humidity--but you can find the look affordably with prefabricated or laminate parquet.