Thinkin of finishing your basement? Read this!
Finishing a basement can add square footage and value to your home. There are many options for flooring, but when it comes to a basement, some options are better than others. Whether you are doing the work on your own or hiring a professional, each of the options below have pros and cons. Keep reading to find the one that is best for your home in Locust Grove.
Carpet
Carpet is a popular choice because it helps to warm up the cold basement concrete and it is relatively inexpensive. However, you cannot just put carpet and an underlayment directly on top of the floor. Have you ever been in a basement where it smells a little musty? Carpet can contribute to the musty basement smell when it is not installed properly. Why? When carpet is installed directly over top of a concrete floor it traps tiny water droplets of humid air in the carpet that cools and releases water droplets throughout the carpet that cause the smell. When you decide to put carpet in the basement of your home in Locust Grove, you need to first seal the concrete floor with a waterproof sealant. If the carpet in the basement ever gets wet, then make sure you make an effort to get it dry immediately. When not addressed, mold can start to grow under the carpet or underlayment.
Luxury Vinyl Planks
Luxury vinyl planks are durable and can handle small uneven areas in the concrete floor. Luxury vinyl planks come in lots of styles and colors that can match the rest of your flooring in your home in Locust Grove. They even make loose lay planks that sit next to each other instead of clicking together. This can be beneficial in the basement where a leak from the level above or in the basement can be cleaned up and the planks can be lifted out to let the area thoroughly dry before replacing.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile works well in a basement but it can feel cold. If you turn to the professionals to install the tile at your home in Locust Grove and you plan on spending a lot of time in the basement, then you may want to consider installing electric heat cables to keep the floor comfortable in the winter. Sometimes, ceramic tile floors require an uncoupling membrane, a layer placed between the basement floor and tile, that can cushion any settling that can happen in a home. Settling occurs more frequently in new homes less than ten years old.
Rubber Flooring
Most often associated with exercise areas or kids’ playrooms, rubber flooring is perfect for areas in the basement that are going to be for young children. There are lots of different colors and styles of rubber tiles available and they are easy to install at your home in Locust Grove. This flooring is temporary and you always have the ability to remove it or move it to another home.
