What is a basement to you? A storage area? A homemade gym? The scary place where the spiders live? Or is it the undeveloped area of your home that, if finished, could help you improve both your return on investment and your standard of living?

Right now, we’re seeing a trend in home transformations. We’ve spent a lot of time at home over the last couple of years, we might as well make our living spaces comfortable and versatile. And the basement is usually a huge, untapped zone! So, now that you are converting that area into a den, playroom, office, or guest room, what kind of flooring should you use? Our Best Flooring Series has addressed the best flooring for your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and mountain cabin, today we will focus on the best flooring for your basement!

What Goes Into Our Picks?

When considering the best flooring options for basements, we looked at three factors: comfort, water resistance, and durability. Unfinished basements are cold and humid, with hard, cement floors. To make that comfortable, you’ll need something that is soft and warm. Next, the nature of the basement lends to leaks and floods, so you need something that can withstand moisture. And of course, this mixed-use space will need to be able to survive all types of traffic, storage, and accidents.

According to our more than a decade of experience in Loveland & Fort Collins flooring at Graham’s Flooring & Design, as well as a little research, we’ve come up with a shortlist of our favorite floor covering options for your basement!

Carpet

If you’re looking to entertain friends and family in your basement, why not make it as welcoming as possible? The goal is to create a space that people can’t wait to get to. Carpeting makes a room warmer and softer, which is an asset in an area that is not known to be very warm or soft! An elegant, fluffy carpet will add cozy comfort to your previously chilly basement. 

Additionally, the sound-dampening properties of carpet will help to diminish the loud noises from say, the surround sound of your entertainment room or the electric guitar riffs bouncing around your at-home music studio.

Carpeting is also one of the more affordable floor covering options. With a quality carpet and conscientious care, your basement carpeting could last 10 to 20 years!

Carpet definitely succeeds in the comfort category, and it can be quite durable if taken care of well. However, carpet is not at all water-resistant. Make sure that you quickly tend to any leaks, spills, or other types of moisture to prolong the life of your carpet and avoid mildew and mold.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

Luxury Vinyl Tile is a terrific choice for a basement. First of all, the pattern and color options when it comes to LVT are vast and pleasing. Then, vinyl is created to be waterproof and can withstand moisture and even major flooding, which is a definite plus in one of the more water-prone areas of the house. Lastly, LVT is more flexible than other options. Because it is thinner and less rigid, it can adhere to the uneven floor of a basement with ease.

At Graham’s Flooring & Design, we recommend floating tile instead of glue down because it will be easier on the feet! Glue down tile can create a harder surface to stand and walk on. When trying to make a space inviting, comfort wins out.

LVT isn’t going to be as comfortable as carpeting, but it is much warmer and softer than flooring options like ceramic tile or epoxy. It is, however, both waterproof and highly durable! 

Laminate

Another popular and fitting option for basement flooring is laminate. Laminate is water-resistant, easy to install, and comes with a lower price tag than many other floor covering options while maintaining high quality. Additionally, its properties are resistant to mold and moisture. According to Consumerreports.org, “It performs extremely well against foot traffic, stains, and sunlight.” And it is easy to repair and replace.

Laminate has become one of the most sought-after flooring products over the last several years. This is mostly due to the cost and ease of care, but also due to its appeal. There are so many color and design options, all of which give your room an essence of class and cleanliness. When dealing with a space that can be dark and dank, this light and tidy flooring can really brighten things up!

Laminate is similar to LVT in that it isn’t as cozy as carpet. In fact, it isn’t as cozy as LVT either because it tends to be a little stiffer. Yet, it has more warmth than say, ceramic or porcelain tile or concrete. It is also water-resistant and incredibly easy to care for. 

What’s the Flooring for Your Basement?

Choosing the right flooring for each area of the house makes a difference; whether it gives you a soothing experience or is more practical for the traditional wear and tear of the area. Not to mention, floor coverings suited to the type of room will last longer, giving you more for your money!

All of the different flooring options available out there can get a little overwhelming. If you are thinking about converting your basement, spend some time considering what type of space you’d like to create. Then, consult an expert to avoid costly pitfalls. You don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on something that’s going to need to be replaced because of mold, mildew, or damage.

What Can Graham’s Flooring & Design Do To Help?

If you are thinking of remodeling your basement, Graham’s, your Loveland and Fort Collins flooring experts, would love to give you a free consultation today! We will work with you to find the ideal materials for your specific needs and wants.

Enjoy the professional, knowledgable, and stress-free Graham’s experience, by contacting us today. Northern Colorado carpet, tile, and laminate are all available, and from design to installation, we make flooring fun! 

For more on all things Fort Collins and Loveland flooring, check out our blogs How to Maintain Your Carpet & Extend Its Life and How to Determine Which Floor Covering is Best for You.

Reference

https://www.consumerreports.org/flooring/best-flooring-for-high-traffic-area-a2992906171/