How To Install Basement Flooring

Laminate basement flooring precautions.

How to install basement flooring.

Exceptions are solid hardwood flooring and laminate flooring made. Fortunately tiling a basement floor isn t much different from any other floor in the house. Choose the right materials. Use this guide to learn more about how to build your budget and get the new flooring you desire for your home.

Sadly moisture will ruin a floor unless necessary precautions are taken. Almost any kind of flooring is okay to install in a below grade basement. You can also use our flooring calculator to estimate the square footage of laminate needed. Most traditional laminates are made with a waterproof surface layer a decorative layer and then fiberboard backing this backing is what is susceptible to moisture and if it comes in contact with liquids it can warp twist rot and start to grow mold and mildew.

Vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring are easy to install thanks to interlocking joints. Measure the width of the room by the length to get the square footage of the room then add 10 more to account for any waste or mistakes. Basement flooring 101 a surprising number of materials are suitable for basement flooring. For most homeowners understanding the cost to install vinyl flooring whether it s vinyl plank or vinyl sheet is essential.

This is a fancy durable moisture proof and informal floor that makes good sense for basements especially. Basement floors are notorious for becoming damp. This basic tutorial will help you evaluate your basement s challenges and weigh each material s pros and. While you can t install solid hardwood floors in the basement or below grade you can install engineered hardwood floors.

On average installation cost ranges from 2 6 sq ft. So tile is not a cheap flooring option unless you are doing the work yourself. This basement flooring option offers great value for the money. If the basement slab has large cracks especially cracks that move it s a good idea to install an uncoupling membrane under the tile.

If you do take those precautions you may end up installing multiple flooring options and spending thousands of dollars. Engineered hardwood flooring is design in perpendicular layers so that there is less expansion and contraction. Most properly installed types of flooring can stand up to damp conditions and high humidity. When it comes to choosing basement flooring there s good news.

What s more you can get these materials in an amazing variety of styles. Always install basement carpet on top of a vapor impervious subfloor this will raise the temperature of the floor in winter make your carpet more pleasant to walk on and most importantly prevent humid air from cozying up to the concrete and triggering mold growth. This flooring can be made to look like different wood species or to resemble ceramic tile.