Saturday, March 24, 2012

Basement Remodeling: Flooring Options

According to Wikipedia, a basement is one or more floors of a construction that are whether fully or partially below the ground floor. Basements are commonly found in big industrial buildings, but uncommon for particular houses in areas where there is much rain.

To remodel the flooring of an existing basement, there are points to consider:

Waterproof Laminate Flooring

Moisture - water is the whole one enemy of basements. Water may come from flooding or a condensation on the walls, or from private moisture. Granting that the area is not flood prone, the dampness of the floor should still be tested.

To test its dampness, leave several pieces of waterproof material on the basement floor for a day or two. Then, check if there is moisture on it.

Moisture can also come from a faulty water pipe, so have a plumber look into it before starting any flooring project.

Use - usually, a basement is a warehouse area to keep seldom-used things, as in old clothes, old toys and equipment. When the need for an extra room arises, the private hideaway comes to mind. It can be a relative's bedroom. It can be a gym for daily workouts. It can be transformed into a movie room or an entertainment room.

Existing basement floor - usually, it's a concrete slab laid during its customary construction. This must be considered examined for cracks and holes. If any is present, they must be filled before laying new flooring. Make sure the surface is leveled. A expert may give advice on this.

Types of basement flooring:

1. Concrete - if it's the customary existing slab, it doesn't need so much materials to redo for style. It can be simply painted and the cracks sealed along with the paint. In the event of flooding, there's nothing much to worry about with regard to floor damage.
2. Tiles - they can be laid directly on the concrete floor. Some types of tiles can be expensive. When laying them, ensure that there are no cracks on the foundation, or these tiles will crack themselves.
3. Resilient flooring - this is also known as linoleum, vinyl tiles or roll, plastic laminate, or cork. It has a cushioned feel beneath the feet. It has a wide range of colors and patterns to choose from. They will need a special adhesive to install. Advantage: inexpensive. Disadvantage: if floodwater is left standing long enough, it may seep in, because of its multiple seams.
4. Wood Laminate flooring - it is easy to install and easy to clean. A 100 % waterproof laminate is available.
5. rug - although expensive, the nice thing about carpets is the cozy and comfortable climate it radiates. It gives the look of warmth to the place. The downside is the cleaning. It needs more time for its cleaning and maintenance. When submerged in an unexpected flood, it may need a drying engine similar to those used in industries before molds set in. Carpets are nice if the basement is going to be used as a gym or a home theater.
6. Hardwood floors - they are expensive and not suitable for flood-prone areas because wood rots and warps.

Our homes are one of the best investments of our life. That is why it is always best to have a expert to do the remodeling job, rather than by ourselves.

Basement Remodeling: Flooring Options

1 comment:

  1. This post is written in a very good way and entails a lot of useful information for me. I am glad to find a good way of writing the post.


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