Get Your Basement Flooring Right

If you are refinishing a basement, one of the major decisions you will have to make is what kind of basement flooring to use.

Before you make your final decision, there are a few questions you should answer.

Is your basement going to be a high traffic area? If it is, consider using basement flooring that is easy to clean. Vinyl flooring will fit this requirement perfectly. And vinyl tiles are easy to install yourself which will save you money.

Is there a lot of moisture in your area? Remember basements are known for being breeding grounds for mold. That's why it's best to avoid wood flooring down there. You can use a wood pattern, faux wood, but avoid using real wood. Faux wood flooring will be more difficult to clean, but if you basement will be used as a sitting area or for doing laundry, this can be a good choice.

What will you be using the basement for? Many people use their basements as hobby centers, perhaps as a wood shop. If this is the case, concrete flooring is probably your best choice. It's easy to clean and almost impossible to damage. Since most basements already have concrete floors, by simply keeping this "as is" you'll save a significant amount of money on your basement flooring. Concrete is also a good choice if your basement will be used as a storage area. Remember though you are not limited to just one type of floor. If the basement has walls, you can use concrete for the storage area and vinyl tiles for the rest.

One thing we don't recommend is ceramic flooring. There are several reasons for this. Considering the fact that many basements are at least a little damp, ceramic tiles will be slick. The last thing you want is for someone to slip and get seriously hurt. Ceramic tiles are also more difficult to clean, and they will break easily if something heavy is dropped on them.

If you're still uncertain what type of basement flooring you want to use, go to any home improvement center and ask questions. You want a tile that will stand up to moisture, equipment damage, and anything else that could conceivably happen, as well as a tile that is easy to keep looking good. No matter what you will be using your basement floor, whether it's watching movies, entertaining, or simply working on your hobby, getting the basement flooring right will help you enjoy your room more.