The Best Basement Remodel Flooring Options
The basement remodel is a hugely popular project undertaken by thousands of homeowners every year. A well finished basement can be turned into almost anything a homeowner can dream up from an extra guestroom suite to a full scale gaming and entertainment room.
With all the flooring options available, choosing a floor is already a difficult process. Choosing basement flooring is often even more difficult as it more often than not represents a moisture problem that may render some flooring options unavailable.
One of the biggest challenges faced when remodeling any basement is trying to ensure it is as moisture free as possible before the work actually begins. There is a very simple way you can check the moisture level of your current basement flooring yourself. Simply take a black trash bag, cut it several pieces and then attach them securely to various points on your current basement flooring. After 24 hours or so have passed check underneath each one, if you discover condensation then the simple fact is that you have a moisture issue that must be dealt with before any more work proceeds.
Once your basement can be deemed to be as dry as possible you can then begin exploring the different types of flooring material that might work well for your unique basement remodel. Here are the basic pros and cons of the most popular.
Engineered Hardwood – Engineered hardwood is actually specifically designed to withstand a lot more moisture than traditional solid hardwood so it would seem to be perfectly suited to basement use. Another advantage is that is usually quite a bit thinner than solid hardwood which means that there is room for an extra layer of insulation, something that is beneficial in most basements.
Laminate Floors – In a basement that is dry (or mainly dry) laminate flooring can be an easy way to get the sumptuous look of hardwood for far less. You do need to make sure that you consult with a professional flooring expert about the best laminate flooring for your unique space as some laminates do very badly in situations where there is even a small amount of moisture in the area.
Ceramic Tiling – Ceramic tiling works very well in the basement as long as the subfloor to which it is to be attached is dry enough to permanently hold the flooring adhesive. For this reason it is very important that the person installing the tile has made all the right subfloor preparations before the tile is laid.
Flooring Options you May Want To Avoid – Installing solid hardwood in a below grade installation is a risky prospect a lot of the time and may not be worth the rather considerable expense. If you want hardwood in your basement engineered really is the way to go. It looks great and is far more likely to wear well.
Using carpet in the basement can be a risky prospect as well. Even if you have a dry basement the humidity level will usually still be higher than that in the rest of the house which can lead to mildew,mold and of course ruined carpets. To add the beauty and warmth of carpeting to your overall decor why not use several area rugs instead?
To see a a wide selection of all these flooring options please visit http://aladdincarpet.com/
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