Best Types of Carpeting to Use in Basements

Carpeting is one of the best flooring materials to use in basements. Besides making cold basements feel warmer and more welcoming, carpeting actually can dry out quickly, even when flooded. Moisture is a concern, but like any other basement flooring, vigilance is crucial to maintaining the product over the long term.

3 Types of Carpets to Consider for Basements

Berber, frieze, and carpet tiles are three types of carpeting to consider for basements.

Berber Carpet

Berber carpet is a looped carpet, with fibers that are tightly twisted and bonded. This makes Berber carpet durable and resistant to wear. Berber is a popular carpet for high-traffic areas like hallways or public spaces.

Berber comes in solid colors, along with a few multi-color or flecked offerings. Berber's low pile and toughness make it an ideal type of carpet for basements.

Frieze Carpet

Frieze carpeting has longer fibers than Berber carpeting, and it can be identified by its high-twist, long fibers. The fibers are twisted several times until the fibers curl back and form a dense texture.

Frieze carpeting is a good choice for basements when you want a longer-pile carpet than Berber. It is tough and dense and resists damage well.

Though thicker pile carpeting traps more moisture, frieze carpeting is a good compromise because of its toughness and resistance to wear.

Carpet Tiles

Carpet tiles are glued-down flooring materials that come in easy-to-install squares of consistent sizes.

Carpet tiles are an easy, convenient way to self-install carpeting in a basement, eliminating the hassle of dealing with large rolls of carpeting and padding. Carpet tiles generally cost from $1 to $5 per square foot.

Carpet tiles tend to have a low pile, which is advantageous in basements. The other advantage is that the modular nature of carpet tiles means that tiles can easily be removed and replaced without disturbing the rest of the carpeting.

Best Carpet Qualities for Basements

• Low pile: High-pile (thick) carpet takes a longer time to dry out, should it get wet. The lower the pile, the faster the drying process.
• Cut-pile: Carpet is usually made of fiber loops that can be left as-is, cut, or combined loop and pile. Cut pile carpeting tends to be more durable and easier to extract water from, should the need arise.
• Artificial materials: Carpet derived from organic materials (for instance, wool) will not stand up to moisture as effectively as artificial materials. Nylon, Olefin (polypropylene), and polyester are the most popular types of artificial carpet fibers.
• Sectioned: If you buy wall-to-wall carpeting and part of it gets so soaked that removal is necessary, the entire carpet must come out. If you buy carpet squares, though, you can excise the water-logged part of the carpet with surgical precision. Not only that, carpet squares are a DIY-friendly install.
• Waterproof: Some carpets are considered waterproof because they have special backings that prevent moisture from passing through.
  

Basement Carpet vs. Basement Moisture

Basement moisture ranges the spectrum, from mere dampness to outright flooding. At one end of the scale, in certain climates, it can be seen as a fact of life that must be managed. At the other end, basement moisture can be a huge issue indeed and a real estate deal-breaker, especially if concerns about mold and health are raised.

Tracking down moisture in the basement prior to the installation of flooring is a tricky business. The source often seems like a shifting target. But you can narrow down the sources of moisture in your basement into three categories:

• Leaks: Water leaks can come from cracks in the foundation wall, up through cracks in the floor, and down through air vents in the side of the foundation, etc. You are not always so lucky to catch an active water leak in the process. But even dried-up leaks can be identified by remnants such as calcium deposits and other trailings that are left behind.
• Humidity: Even above-grade rooms have moisture in the air. Moisture-laden air inhabits many basements. Often, the source is easier and less invasive than you might fear. A displaced dryer vent hose spewing exhaust into the basement will spike basement humidity levels. Dehumidifiers are always a great idea in basements, even ones that appear to be dry.
• Floor moisture: A crack in the concrete floor will emit moisture. But even a stable, intact concrete floor can wick moisture upward. Tape down a square of clear plastic and leave it in place for about a week. If the floor is wicking moisture, the plastic will fog up.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Breathable: Carpet has a breathability factor greater than other types and even light moisture can be mitigated with dehumidifiers.
• Easy to dry out: In the event of large water leaks, carpeting can be dried out quickly enough before mold or mildew develops. However, this job must be taken on by professional water extraction companies.
• Warm: Because carpeting is soft and welcoming, it works well in basements and feels comfortable underfoot. Carpet adds a certain R-value (or level of insulation) and warmth to basements, which can tend to be cold.

Cons

• Pad difficult to dry out: Not only does the carpet get water-soaked, but its pad does, too.
• Develops mold and mildew: Mold and mildew that can develop in carpeting material, turning the basement into an unsafe environment. Research has shown that dirt is as much a factor in the growth of mold and mildew as moisture is. Carpeting traps dirt and vacuuming is not always successful at pulling it up.

Should You Install Carpet in a Basement?

Carpeting does no worse in basements than two other popular types of flooring materials: engineered wood or laminate. Straight concrete (stained or painted) and ceramic or natural stone tile are practically impervious to water leaks or condensation—with tile and sheet vinyl running a close second.

If moisture is controllable in the basement, carpeting can be a good choice. Be sure to stick with synthetic materials, low pile, and cut pile choices, if possible.