In the best of times, basement flooring experiences some degree of residual moisture due to its close proximity to the ground. In the worst of times, basement flooring experiences flooding, the up-to-your-ankles-or-worse type of flooring that we all fear and which keeps the insurance companies in business.
So your primary thought with basement flooring is always moisture: how to avoid it and how to wring the flooring dry in the event you cannot avoid it.
Basement Flooring - 5 Essential Facts
- Does the Flooring Material Dry Out?: Flooring that will dry out (in the event of flooding) with no or little harm always are preferred. Ceramic tile is a perfect example. But this does not mean you have to stay away from the other types--laminate, wood, etc.
- You Already Have Concrete: Our overview assumes that you already have a concrete basement slab. This is the first step to any basement flooring.
- Flooring Straight on Slab: Some basement flooring can be installed directly on the concrete slab. Again, ceramic tile is the perfect example of this.
- Foam Underlayment: If installing laminate flooring, it is possible to install it directly on the concrete slab. By "directly," we mean with a foam underlayment between the laminate and concrete (no subfloor).
- Sub-Floor Sleepers: Other types of basement flooring require a sleeper system of plywood, two-by-fours, and underlayment to further raise the flooring off the slab. Resilient flooring and carpeting would require this type of sub-flooring.
