Finding the best flooring for your basement can have many homeowners weighing their options out. Whether you’re looking at luxury vinyl flooring or something more durable like tile flooring, there is no shortage of beautiful options to help enhance your space. But choosing basement flooring isn’t like choosing flooring for the rest of your home.
Since basements have direct contact with the ground, they are cooler than the rest of the house. This makes them prone to humidity, leaks, and condensation. Because of this, the flooring needs to be a combination of functionality and style. In this article, we’ll go over the most practical and ideal flooring options for installing in your basement that don’t compromise on beauty or aesthetics.
The Best Flooring to Install on Concrete Basement Subfloors
Vinyl Flooring
One of the best types of flooring for basements is vinyl flooring. There are many different types of vinyl flooring. The most popular are ones that mimic other materials such as hardwood, stone and modern tile patterns. An advantage of vinyl flooring is that it combines stylish options with functionality. Since vinyl flooring is made of synthetic materials, it is durable and waterproof, which is ideal in basements.
Another bonus of vinyl flooring is that it can be easily installed directly onto subflooring. Vinyl flooring combines luxurious style with function, durability, and variety.
Pros of Vinyl Flooring:
- Water-proof
- Great in high-traffic areas
- Many options in style, texture, and colour
- Easy to install
- Mould-proof
Carpet Flooring
A nostalgic and classic option known for adding warmth and coziness to a basement is carpet. Even though carpet flooring cannot offer the same waterproof and mould-resistant properties as vinyl flooring, it does offer a warm, homey feel to the basement.
Carpet offers a cushiony and sound-absorption effect to a basement, which makes it a go-to choice for homes with children. There are endless possibilities when it comes to selecting a pattern, texture, and colour that suits your interior design needs. There have been advancements in how carpets are manufactured to offer more options regarding what it’s made of, how they wear, and their stain resistance.
Pros of Carpet Flooring:
- Warm, soft, and comforting feel
- Sound-dampening effect
- Affordable option
- Variety in style, texture, and colour
- Stain-resistant options available
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is a great option for basement flooring. It offers water and stain-resistance properties. There is no shortage of choices when it comes to tile, there is plenty of diversity in size, shape, and colour capable of fitting any design. Ceramic tile can be installed directly onto a concrete subfloor, but some cautions must be considered.
Since ceramic tiles can adhere directly to the concrete, it can get very cold, especially in a home’s basement. Fortunately, this is an opportunity to install in-floor heating. This may be a little bit of a splurge, but the potential benefits and comfort of heated floors may be worth the increase in budget.
Pros of Ceramic Tile:
- Ideal in moisture-prone environments like basements
- Water-resistant
- Highly durable and good in high-traffic areas
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Large variety in sizes, shapes and colours suitable to any design
What Flooring Options Aren’t Recommended for Basements
When it comes to basements, not all flooring options are ideal. This can be a hard pill to swallow especially if you have your heart set on hardwood floors or even laminate flooring. The general rule for basements is that the less wood, the better. Basements can be very humid and a water-prone environment. This is not ideal for wood floorings.
When placed in a basement, wood-based flooring can begin to warp, discolour, or twist. The basement foundation will have moisture seeping through, which creates condensation under the floor, which can impact and damage the wood. Hardwood and laminate flooring can be costly and time-consuming to replace and install.
It’s best to consult a flooring specialist if you consider installing laminate flooring or hardwood floors in your basement.
Get a Free Consultation With the Best Flooring Specialists in Calgary
Selecting the best flooring for your basement means thinking about many factors, it can feel overwhelming to navigate through on your own. But that’s where Floor Trendz enters the equation. Our team of professionals has over 30 years of experience in the flooring industry and can work with you to execute your vision for your home.
Our showroom offers the largest selection of flooring options in Calgary. With services ranging from interior design consultations to installation, the flooring experts at Floor Trendz will ensure you’re standing on solid ground for years to come. Come drop by our showroom or book a free in-home design consultation to explore our exciting options and materials today.