Are you frustrated by the lack of space in your home? You’re not a lone in this fact which is why you need to convert your basement if you have one that is. Converting your basement needs to have a lot of thought spent on it because it’s not like other rooms in your home. There are special conditions down in your basement that need to be factored in such as damp which can be a problem if you’re not careful. Because of the damp problems a number of people face you shouldn’t just put any type of flooring into your basement. If you don’t think about this topic properly then you could go about it all the wrong way and end up regretting it. Spend the time now to peruse all your options so that you find a basement floor that will last for a long time and not need to be replaced any time soon.
If you have alredy read a bit about basement flooring then you will understand that concrete is amongst the most popular choices. You might recoil in horror at the thought of concrete in your lovely home but you should know that there is concrete and there is concrete. Not all concrete flooring is equal and you will find that the concrete that is used on industrial sites are very poor quality. They simply don’t care at all whether the floor looks good. It’s just there to serve a purpose and that purpose is to be cheap and durable. In the home however you can spend that bit more time and money in having a really great concrete floor. Actually there are techniques that can be used to make your concrete look nothing like concrete. What I mean by this is that it will look more like marble and have people gasp in amazement. You will need to look at acid etching if you want a truly spectacular concrete basement floor. However you should know that concrete isn’t exactly eco-frindly and there are a lot of people who are very much against the use of concrete at all. Some people say the limecrete is better but the problem is that often contractors have had no prior experience with this. This makes it a slightly more risky option therefore.
Hardwood is a truly beautiful flooring material that has that ageless elegance to it. Whatever fashions come and go, people will always love hardwood. There are so many different types of wood that people can use for flooring such as oak, redwood, cherry and beech. Although it makes a wonderful flooring choice in other rooms of your home such as a bedroom or living room, there are some potential problems down in the basement. Because of the moisture often experienced in a basement, problems with the wood warping is very much possible. If you are prepared to take such risks then you will want to ensure that you have put a lot of effort into the waterproofing by using such products as a vapour guard which you lay underneath the floorboards. What is required to do is just put some high density polyethylene sheeting with dimples that are 3/8″. Doing this allows air to be trapped between your concrete and the sheeting which stops moisture from going into your wooden floor.
However instead choosing real hardwood floors, you could choose engineered floors instead. They look just as good as solid wood flooring but they are actually made from multiple layers of hardwood and has a fibreboard core. Due to the layering, warping doesn’t cause so much of a problem. Another great adnantage of using engineered flooring is that it is thinner which allows for more space to put insulation. So basically it give you both good looks and practical benefits.
Some people find that hard floors like wood or concrete don’t really give the warm and inviting look they are after. This is why carpets are probably the most common type of flooring in the home. However there are problems with using it in the basement just like there are often problems with using it in a kitchen or bathroom. Moisture which is in the basement doesn’t really work very wel with carpeting. If you do have any more moisture than you should or one of your pipes has a burst or leak, you will find that your carpets can easily be ruined. Hard flooring is always the best option and these can include concrete, tile, rubber, engineered hardwood and marble. Although you could use a rug which will help “soften” the floor a bit.
When it comes to ceramic tile then is a very easy flooring choice to look after and any spills of water can just be moped up really quickly. However some ceramic tiles can be very porous so you should ensure that you are buying ceramic tiles that are suitable for basements. You might find that you need to seal the tiles to ensure that they don’t absorb moisture.
Rubber flooring isn’t always the most obvious of flooring types but it’s very cheap and great for basements. Whatever use you have for a basement, rubber flooring can work wonders. It’s amongst the most durable fo flooring materials and doesn’t absorb moisture so mold won’t be a problem that you’ll experience. Other qualities of rubber flooring include the sound ad heat insulation properties. One use that some people put their basement to is to turn it into a home gym. You will find that rubber is ideal for such pruposes because quite often you might drop some gym equipment onto your floor and the rubber will take this abuse but some other type of flooring might not do so well.
Before you think about any type of basement floor though you should always make sure that any problems you currently have with moisture are dealt with promptly. Look for cracks in the floors and walls. Check to see if the plumbing is sound. Look for any signs of damp patches and mold. If everything is as it should be then you can go ahead with installing your floor. Mold might not seem that big a deal but there are certain types that are very hazardous and will affect your health.