“Design is coming to grips with one’s lifestyle, one’s real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show but to nourish one’s well being” — Albert Hadley

The basement is a part of the home, completely or partly below the ground level. In the past few decades, basements were the middle child of the family, forgotten and ignored. These were usually used for storage and keeping old worn-out furniture. But with the increase in smart ways to utilize spaces in the home, the basement has become an important part. Basement can be used for many purposes. One can use the basement for countless fun and unique purposes, for example, as a home bar, wine cellar, home theatre, library, extra storage, medication room, and gym. If you have a basement you have to use it properly. Because it is underground, maintenance of the basement can get ignored and difficult, the same is the case of basement flooring. We take care of it because we have to not because we want to. So, let’s turn the attention towards this side of the road and get your basement flooring set up perfectly. Understanding the importance of a basement, I have listed and explained some of the steps that can get you a perfectly floored basement with easy-to-follow guidelines.

Some super useful and easy steps to get yourself a floored and comfortable basement

Start with the hard concrete

While building a house, the main concern is the bottom-most layer of bricks and concrete being the starting point. Basement concrete is usually just left as in, unbothered and effortless. This concrete layer can be uneven and that’s where you want to make a start while taking care of the floor of your basement. Get that concrete leveled up so you can move forward to the next phase of subflooring.

Moving on to the Subflooring

The subfloor is the layer of material between the bottom concrete and outer floor that is made of tiles, lamination, carpet, and whatnot. The subfloor is not visible. What is the Purpose? Well, you can place your out floor covering directly onto the concrete but the floor can get cold plus the moisture from underground can affect the outer floor. so that’s why subflooring is important. It creates a barrier and protects the floor from moisture and keeps the warmth. The most common material used for subflooring is Plywood-made wooden boards or strand boards. These are common because wood is an insulator of heat and electricity. However, wood can absorb moisture, and to deal with that, laminating the boards would take care of unwanted moisture reaching up to the flooring.

Choose the topmost flooring option

After settling down on the subflooring, the next step is to consider the type of flooring you want for the basement. It’s simple really. Some of the pointers would help you understand what you need to look for and what qualities should be on your floor. Some of the qualities that I think matter are as follows:

Moisture Repellent

Although the role of the subfloor for repelling moisture cannot be ignored, there still can be droplets of water and moisture in the surroundings because of the weather and general humidity in the underground. So, it’s important to choose the material that repels water rather than absorbing it.

Warmth

Wooden boards as subfloor options are no doubt insulating the cold from the ground but they are not enough alone and so the flooring material should be chosen carefully to keep the floor warm in the winters and be comfortable to sit bearly on the floor. You can keep the furniture and comforters and whatnots on the floor but I find it soothing sitting on the bare floor with bare feet and just thinking about life as it is.

Durability

The more durable the material is, the more perfect and long-lasting it would be so let’s choose a more durable material for your flooring so there can be just one time you have to install a basement floor and not again and again to waste money and time.

Comfort level

Comfort level of the flooring matters for so many reasons. The furniture placed can leave marks if the material cannot withstand mechanical pressure. Having a movie night with friends sitting on the floor has its charm and you can’t do that if you don’t have a comfortable floor to sit on. Basements aren’t usually small in size and do not have a proper place to keep the furniture so the floor is used for sitting and many other purposes more often so it needs to be comfortable enough. You can further enhance the appeal of your basement using some amazing decorative items to make it more wholesome.

Material options for Installing basement floor.

Paint

Paint is the safest and cheapest bet when it comes to covering your basement floor. If you don’t use your basement a lot like a Wine Cellar or storage place, you can simply use paint to cover the floors of the basement. It is a super easy and useful hack, using high-quality paint would be better to save the overall cost.

Epoxy

Epoxy resin is thicker than paint and spreads better. It is easier to clean and maintain and can be a perfect idea for basement flooring. You can also do designing and textural enhancements by adding some fine sand or flakes over the surface and letting it dry. The sand and flakes are smart and easy tricks to decorate your basement floor with minimal effort and money. 

Tile

You can get your creativity going on when working with tiles. They are affordable and easy to install and with proper knowledge you can do it by yourself. Tiles are smooth and would add a perfect decorative element to your basement. It is the best option in case you use your basement often. Using a tile would be perfect with subflooring under them because tiles can get cold.

Rubber sheet

Rubber sheets can be seen in gyms and health clubs and are soft to touch and super comfortable to work on. These are a great option for basement flooring if you’re using them as a home gym or mediation area. But that’s not all, you can use rubber sheet flooring for basement hangouts and movie night without needing furniture. But, this flooring can get marked and cut by using heavy and sharp-edged furniture so that’s something to watch.

Vinyl tiles or planks

These are a bit more expensive than simple tiles but are super easy to install with joints that interlock together well. These would look cool and chic in your basement and can easily withstand the furniture burden and sharp edges.

Wood flooring

Wood flooring can be expensive but is worth it in terms of appeal and appearance. So, if you want to splurge your money on your basement and treat it well, you can use wood flooring for that purpose. Wood is also an insulator so it would work well with the subflooring to keep the floor warm. Engineered wood flooring is another type of flooring in which the wood is mixed with other layers of soft material to make it able to adjust better over the floor.

Vinyl sheet

It is another type of flooring where you can buy a whole sheet made of vinyl to cover the room. The process is simple, just roll the sheet out to spread across the surface. But, it might be difficult to work around the corners and edges if your basement has an uneven surface or has many corners and stuff.

Carpet for the floor

Carpets can also be a good idea if you use the floor often. The simple comfortable carpet might be just what you need. Using a subfloor below the carpet is wise because direct contact of the carpet with the floor can be harmful. Carpets can be subject to moisture, cold, and not be insulated properly. But all in all, carpet is a comfortable and easy choice for flooring in the basement. Aside from all kinds of flooring options, you can further make your basement attractive by adding some super refreshing and low maintenance green plants.

The Price Range for each kind of Basement Flooring

● Paint is the most economical way out of all kinds of flooring options. It only costs under 1$ per square foot.
● Epoxy is the coating that ranks 2nd after paint and costs around 120$ per DIY epoxy kit
● Tiles vary in price from simple light ones to extravagant ones. The average cost is about 0.50 to 25$ per square foot.
● Rubber sheets are comfortable and are pretty decent for their price in terms of softness and comfort. It can cost you up to $3 to $8 Per Square foot.
● Vinyl planks with interlocking joints are easy to install and cost you around $2 to $7 per square foot.
● A simple rollout sheet of vinyl can be easy to install and use. It can cost you around $0.75 to $4. Which is more than reasonable given the ease of installation using it.
● Wood flooring with its expensive finish and perfect appeal can cost you around $4 to $7 per square foot.

Some important questions about flooring the basement

Which can be the easiest and cheapest way to finish a floor?

Painting over your concrete floor is the best way to save money and get your basement floor covered. It doesn’t need any special tools and professionals, but can just do it with your friends or partner and turn it into an easy DIY project. A simple water-resistant paint would be a perfect and easy solution for your basement flooring.

Is there anything to be put on a concrete basement floor?

You need to cover your basement concrete surface with a subfloor to insulate the floor properly. It is important when you store your clothes and furniture, the excess moisture in the concrete from the soil can damage your precious items. So, to avoid that you need to cover the floor with the appropriate subfloor. The most common among all is Plywood.

Our Recommendation

Which option is better for basement flooring, vinyl sheets, or laminating it?

The vinyl sheet would protect the underlying floor from spills and moisture and protect it from other extremities. While laminating is better if you want to get a more expensive and realistic look. It will get you a polished and enhanced finish but you have to see your preferences.

What are the downsides of using a vinyl plank for basement flooring?

Vinyl planks can be easy to install but not as easy to walk on, can be a bit drab as compared to wooden flooring but that’s just the money factor. The more expensive the material is, the more luxurious it would look and feel. It can be limiting in terms of refinishing.

Which flooring is suggested the best for a damp environment?

Epoxy resin flooring with a concrete base can be a perfect solution to a damp basement and to protect the items and furniture and everything kept in there. Epoxy is water-resistant and protects against ground moisture that can be harmful to the stuff if you use your basement for storing stuff.

Experts Advice

If you have a basement in your home then you have to make use of it in the best way possible. Get the best base, protective subflooring, and suitable flooring to match and take care of your basement needs. If you are not using your basement then you are wasting your money, it can be a cool hideout for just yourself, a place for jamming sessions with friends, or just a super useful storage space. Happy Flooring!