Ideas For Basement Floors

Get the Look of Parquet with Laminates

Solid-wood parquet isn't acceptable for basement installation--it's too easily damaged by humidity--however, you can get the look affordably with prefabricated or laminate parquet.

Finishing Basements

Paint the Stairs

Add shade to the basement stair by painting just the risers. If the stairs have a shiny finish, apply a deglossing primer first, then brush on your choice of eggshell or satin latex paint. The risers may need scrubbing from time to time to eliminate shoe marks, however because they do not obtain the wear that the treads do, they still don't need to be painted with specialty flooring paint.

Install Budget-Friendly Vinyl Floor Tiles

Self-stick vinyl tiles are easy for do-it-yourselfers to put in above a concrete floor. They are also inexpensive and easy to wash. To create a pattern such as the one here, draw your floor to scale on graph paper and work out the positioning of colors. Begin with the diagonals across the center of the room and work toward the edges. It is a good idea to do a test patch first to see just how the adhesive performs in your ground. Put four squares and leave them in place for 24 hours. If you're able to pull them up, you will need to use a ceramic adhesive.

Pick Slate for Elegance

Slate tiles cover the stairs, landing, and lower-level guest suite within this contemporary home. Stone tiles offer you natural elegance and are durable and easy to clean, but they're cool underfoot. For lower-level places, consider installing an electric radiant-heat system above the concrete subfloor before placing the tiles.

Choose Ceramic Tile for Easy Care

Ceramic tiles laid in groups of four and also set on the pectoral create a checkerboard pattern that visually expands this living room. Ceramic tile is available in many styles and colours and installs easily over concrete. Be sure to choose tiles fabricated for floor installation. As a basement flooring material, ceramic tile is durable, low-maintenance, and moisture resistant.

Opt for Easy Care with Vinyl

To get a tough, cost-effective basement flooring covering, think about vinyl sheet flooring. Cushion-backed vinyl sheet flooring glues easily to concrete subfloors and provides an extra measure of comfort over difficult concrete slabs. The subfloor must be completely smooth and free of flaws, however, and also the imperfections will eventually show during the flooring.

For the Look of Wood, Attempt Laminates

Because most types of hardwood are not recommended for below-grade setup, consider laminate floors instead. Laminates include a cosmetic image (for instance, natural wood grain) printed onto paper or other fibrous material, treated with plastic or wax, and bonded to a rigid core like medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Laminates resist stains and moisture and can be installed over a plywood subfloor. The technology continues to improve, making ever more realistic imitations of natural substances, which means that you can get the look of real wood with no shrinking and warping.

Engineered Wood for Cellar Floors

Get the appearance of real wood in the basement using an engineered-wood flooring. Engineered wood consists of two or more layers of wood laminated together, similar to plywood (although not to be confused with laminate floors). The top layer is hardwood veneer and the lower layers are usually softwood. It's suitable for below-grade installations because it shrinks and expands less than solid hardwood floors.

Use Oversize Squares to Expand Space

Most vinyl tiles arrive in 12x12-inch squares, but to make the illusion of larger floor space, start looking for 16x16-inch squares. Carpet tiles come in larger sizes (18x18 and 19.7x19.7) so you can attain an even bolder effect and revel in the heat and texture of carpet as additional advantages.