Flooring Styles

Vinyl Flooring Can Be A Good Choice For The Basement

Fitting basement flooring is something that needs to be given a lot of care and consideration, since there are often problems that don't exist in other locations such as damp problems and moisture and if these are not sorted out you can end up with moisture damage in the future. Many people want to use carpet in the basement, and this can be a viable flooring for the basement as long as moisture problems are not present and the room is dry. Other basement flooring types include vinyl basement flooring laminate, ceramic tiles and durable engineered hardwood. By taking time to look at the flooring options you can make an informed decision and get it right.

Some of the stronger basement flooring options should be considered along with vinyl, including a popular choice these days, an engineered floor. This consists of various hardwood layers (up to five layers) with fiberboard. This is extremely resilient to damp and humidity, problems which are all too common and can be laid over a concrete floor.

A choice to refloor the basement is laminate flooring, a flooring style which is a floating type. Installing a vapor barrier in the basement is always a good idea. A floor underlayment makes an ideal moisture barrier, while underfloor insulation will keep the basement floor warm, particularly in winter and can be a great choice for renovations.

If basement insulation is something important, cork flooring will feel naturally warm and can be hard wearing and scuff resistant. A subfloor should be fixed to sleepers or battens a few inches above the subfloor. Remember too that cork flooring will provide sound insulation.

A good floor for a basement is a ceramic tile floor. Ceramic tiles can be fixed onto a cement floor. Underneath a rubber floor, using rubber tiles, can make a great insulated floor, with the advantage that they are a natural material that is very hardwearing and durable. Vinyl can have similar qualities, though not as warm to the touch as rubber. Another option is to use bamboo. Like wood laminate flooring, this can be laid in strips or tiles, and has a variety of designs and colors, ranging from light woods to dark, especially if stained with darker varnishes such as walnut and oak.

Take a look at Style Tile tiles which can be used for an exercise room, a basement or patio. The tiles can be cut with a knife or saw and come in Tire Tread pattern, Coin patterns, and also a vented, drain-style flooring. Another type worth considering is TileFlex raised flooring, a cushioned flooring which can be used in basements and kitchens, as well as recreational rooms, utility rooms and porches. This is a snap-together modular flooring, and can be used as residential flooring or commercial flooring.

The thing to bear in mind is whether or not the basement is damp. If there are moisture problems these need to be corrected. Most water problems have simple solutions and can be fixed at little cost. The Home Waterproofer's manual shows you how to save thousands of dollars on waterproofing your home. After the water problems are addressed, the type of basement flooring style can be fitted. The amount of heat and sound insulation required will be a deciding factor in flooring selection. Suppliers of wooden flooring include Kronotex and Dupont, with prices depending on the style chosen.

Installing a basement floor is probably not a job for a DIYer unless you are very skilled, in which case a professional basement flooring contractor should be sought. To ensure the fitting and installation is done to a high standard. It also pays to get several estimates for the costs of fitting a basement floor to ensure you get the best deal. For price checking look at some online flooring suppliers, and do a good amount of research before choosing.