Deciding on a basement floor requires the same thoughtfulness as if you were choosing a living room or kitchen flooring. You should first decide the purpose for your basement space. If it will be used for storage, you might want to think about an epoxy coating since it is low budget and you will have many colors and designs to select from.

Types of Flooring

If your goal is to have a finished basement, you will need to consider tiling, carpeting and possible wood flooring. Carpeting provides better insulation to each room, especially during the cold season. However, its absorbent nature makes it almost impossible to clean up messes during a flood. It is suggested that if you do want to install carpeting in your basement, you should use a low-pile carpet instead, which is less absorbent and easier to dry out.

You can opt for ceramic tiling. You also have a multitude of colors, designs and styles available with this alternative. Ceramic tiling gives the basement a more refined appearance. Moreover, it is easier to clean and does not need a lot of maintenance. However, it does not provide the warmth that carpeting does. So you will have to think about heating options.

Wood flooring also beautifies the space, but if you are installing this type of flooring over concrete, you will have to select a kit to glue down the flooring. The same heating options apply to wood flooring.
Waterproofing your floor

Basements are susceptible to a lot of moisture, causing areas to be damp. Therefore, it is important to waterproof your floors to avoid water damage and fewer requirements for added maintenance. Two ideal options for waterproof floors in your basement are the sealed concrete and epoxy paint. These are both cost effective and durable.

When applied, epoxy paint will dry thick and hard. This provides added durability, waterproof and adequate maintenance. This option is especially good if you are using the basement as a rec room or workshop area. The epoxy paint comes in three forms: solvent-based, solid and water-based.

Use waterproof paint to seal the concrete floor in the basement. You should also think about using stain or a dye to provide color to the concrete prior to sealing it.

Laminate

If you are looking for an easy way to clean up your basement, then a laminated floor or tiles are both great choices. You can do your own installation because it requires simple preparation and less work than carpeting. This is the most waterproof and resilient alternative, in the event of a flood or leakage. This floor is easy to dry out and still remain intact in many situations.

Another popular consideration is carpet tiles. These install easily and provide warmth to the basement in cold climate. Even though, these do not waterproof the basement, they are easy to replace in a flood.

Conclusion

There are available professionals who can help you with deciding which basement floor to use. Contact Matrix Basements for more information on basement flooring or visit our website at http://www.mymatrixbasement.com.